Black green vs Retreat
Where Black green belongs to RAL Classic's range, Retreat is a Sherwin-Williams color. Black green reads as blue-green, while Retreat reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Retreat (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than Black green (LRV 7), a difference of 14 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 28.8, 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 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black green vs Retreat in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black green and Retreat 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. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black green.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black green.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Retreat reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black green.
Color Details
Black green vs Retreat Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black green on one side and Retreat 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 Black green comparisons
See how Black green stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
