Black Bean vs Fountain
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Black Bean reads as grey, while Fountain reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 39 vs 4, Fountain will read as the brighter of the two — a 36-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Black Bean's warm character against Fountain's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 58.6, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Bean vs Fountain in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Bean and Fountain 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 amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Fountain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Bean would.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Fountain returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Black Bean vs Fountain Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Bean on one side and Fountain 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.