Tar vs Obsidian Green
Tar (Farrow & Ball) and Obsidian Green (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Tar reads as grey, while Obsidian Green reads as green — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 8-point LRV gap — 9 for Tar vs 1 for Obsidian Green — means Tar will open up a space more effectively. Where Tar leans neutral, Obsidian Green reads green — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 25.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Tar vs Obsidian Green in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Tar and Obsidian Green in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Tar reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Tar has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Tar vs Obsidian Green Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Tar on one side and Obsidian Green 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 Tar comparisons
See how Tar stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
