Obsidian Green vs Black Magic
Obsidian Green (Little Greene) and Black Magic (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Obsidian Green reads as green, while Black Magic reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 1 vs 3 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Obsidian Green leans green, Black Magic reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 13.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Obsidian Green vs Black Magic in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Obsidian Green and Black Magic 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. Black Magic brings more warmth to the space, while Obsidian Green keeps things cooler and crisper.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Obsidian Green reads more restrained here, while Black Magic adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Obsidian Green reads more restrained here, while Black Magic adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Obsidian Green reads more restrained here, while Black Magic adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Obsidian Green reads more restrained here, while Black Magic adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Black Magic brings more warmth to the space, while Obsidian Green keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Obsidian Green reads more restrained here, while Black Magic adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Obsidian Green vs Black Magic Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Obsidian Green on one side and Black Magic 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 Obsidian Green comparisons
See how Obsidian Green stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
