Black Of Night vs Inkwell
Black Of Night and Inkwell come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 4 vs 4 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Black Of Night leans neutral, Inkwell reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 0.8 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Of Night vs Inkwell in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Black Of Night and Inkwell 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. Inkwell brings more warmth to the space, while Black Of Night keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Black Of Night reads more restrained here, while Inkwell adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
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 Of Night reads more restrained here, while Inkwell adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
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. Inkwell brings more warmth to the space, while Black Of Night keeps things cooler and crisper.
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 Of Night reads more restrained here, while Inkwell adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Black Of Night vs Inkwell Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Of Night on one side and Inkwell 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 Of Night comparisons
See how Black Of Night stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 4, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 4, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 4, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 4, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
With LRVs of 4 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 55 vs 4, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (13 vs 4) makes Bancha the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 4, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 4, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 4, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 4, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
A 5-point LRV gap (8 vs 4) makes Duck Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 4, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 4, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Of Night encloses it.