Ammonite vs Black Bean
Where Ammonite belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, Black Bean is a Sherwin-Williams color. Ammonite reads as beige-greige, while Black Bean reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Ammonite (LRV 69) reflects noticeably more light than Black Bean (LRV 4), a difference of 65 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 64.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ammonite vs Black Bean in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Ammonite and Black Bean in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Ammonite reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Bean.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Ammonite reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Bean.
Color Details
Ammonite vs Black Bean Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ammonite on one side and Black Bean on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Ammonite comparisons
See how Ammonite stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
