Black Magic vs Still Water
Black Magic and Still Water come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Black Magic belongs to the grey family and Still Water to the blue-grey family. The 7-point LRV gap — 10 for Still Water vs 3 for Black Magic — means Still Water will open up a space more effectively. Where Black Magic leans neutral, Still Water reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 19.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Magic vs Still Water in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Magic and Still Water 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. Still Water reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Still Water has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Still Water has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Still Water 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. Still Water 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. Still Water has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Black Magic vs Still Water Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Magic on one side and Still Water 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 Magic comparisons
See how Black Magic stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
