Black Magic vs Holly Glen
Black Magic and Holly Glen come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Black Magic reads as grey, while Holly Glen reads as green-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 54-point LRV gap — 57 for Holly Glen vs 3 for Black Magic — means Holly Glen will open up a space more effectively. Where Black Magic leans neutral, Holly Glen reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 60.8 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.
Black Magic vs Holly Glen in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Magic and Holly Glen 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. Holly Glen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Magic.
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. Holly Glen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Holly Glen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Holly Glen will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black Magic would.
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. Holly Glen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Holly Glen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Holly Glen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Magic.
Color Details
Black Magic vs Holly Glen Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Magic on one side and Holly Glen 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.