Black grey vs Black Magic
Black grey (RAL Classic) and Black Magic (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Black grey reads as blue-grey, while Black Magic reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 3-point LRV gap — 6 for Black grey vs 3 for Black Magic — means Black grey will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 1.9 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black grey vs Black Magic in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Black grey and Black Magic are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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 grey reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Black grey has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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 grey 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. Black grey has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Black grey vs Black Magic Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black grey 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 Black grey comparisons
See how Black grey stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
