When I first thought about considering a black shade for my space, I went through a lot of paint stores and tried different samples on my walls. After repainting my walls many times, the two colors that kept catching my eye were Tricorn Black vs Black Magic.
Both are from the Sherwin-Williams family. They look nearly identical on a chip but on walls the difference starts to show up clearly. Before going with either of these shades, you must know their different LRVs, undertones, lighting behaviors and other important features that work differently depending on your room style.
I’ve made many dark-paint mistakes on my paint journey. Here’s everything I have learned after working with tricorn black vs black magic in different projects and rooms with specific lighting, finishes, trim and many other important elements.
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Color Personality of Tricorn Black (SW 6258)
Tricorn Black is a true neutral black by Sherwin-Williams.
Its LRV sits at 2.45 which is usually rounded to 3. This means it reflects almost nothing back in the room. HEX code is #2F2F30 and the RGB values are 47, 47, 48 which is equal across all the shades. This balance makes it feel complete.
It doesn’t pull warm, neither lean towards cool with no undertone behaviour. It feels crisp, graphic and clean. I painted an interior door in Tricorn Black , and after the paint dried, the whole room looked like a real visual anchor. It didn’t demand attention and settled quietly in the surroundings.
It works across modern, minimalist, farmhouse and classic styles naturally. This versatility makes it a popular black choice. No other black from Sherwin-Williams handles such a wide range of styles.
Color Personality of Black Magic (SW 6991)
Black Magic is a completely different color, even though it looks the same on the chip.
Its LRV is approximately 3.12 which is slightly higher than Tricorn Black. HEX code is #323132 and RGB values are 50, 49, 50 which are almost identical numbers… but the small difference in value separates them on walls.
Black Magic carries a subtle warm undertone with slight red, sometimes faint brown and occasionally a soft blue cast depending on the lighting. It shifts in different lighting which makes it feel rich rather than dark.
It’s a very dark near-black with a velvety and enveloping quality. Tricorn Black feels clean and bold, while Black Magic feels softer, warmer and lived-in. It feels cozy, sophisticated and a little mysterious. If Tricorn Black is the crisp shade, then Black Magic feels warmer and relaxed.
Understanding the Differences Between Tricorn Black vs Black Magic
Both shades look similar on a chip but after using them on multiple spaces, the difference between Tricorn Black and Black Magic shows up quickly. They show up under specific lighting, next to certain finishes and when placed side by side in the actual room. Understanding both the shades help you select the right color for your space:
LRV
LRV reflects the Light Reflectance Value which measures how much light a color bounces back on the scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). Tricorn Black lands at LRV 2.45 while Black Magic comes in at LRV 3.12.
Tricorn Black is technically darker, but the subtle gap is not visible without a direct side-by-side comparison
In a north-facing room with limited daylight, the LRV difference influences whether Black Magic’s undertones surface visibly or if it feels flat or solid black. LRV isn’t only about darkness. It also affects the undertone’s behavior in different spaces.
Undertones
This is the biggest differentiator between tricorn black vs black magic.
Tricorn Black has virtually zero undertones. It might appear like a faintest blue in a north-facing room under certain lighting, but in most situations it appears as clean and neutral black that stays consistent.
Black Magic carries a subtle warm red brown undertone that shifts based on the room’s lighting and surrounding finishes. In south-facing rooms flooded with warm daylight, the warmth surfaces noticeably while in cooler north-facing rooms, it feels deeper and more neutral.
If the room has warm wood tones, brass fixtures or a warm palette, then prefer Black Magic because it feels intentional while Tricorn Black holds its neutrality regardless of surroundings,which makes it easier to coordinate but also a little less characterful.
Lighting Behavior
Tricorn Black is stubbornly consistent. It appears the same under Incandescent, LED, fluorescent and full daylighting. This predictability is preferred if you want unexpected surprises after paint dries.
I’ve worked with dark colors which transformed under different bulbs. Tricorn Black doesn’t change and remains consistent. Black Magic is more reactive. In bright southern-exposure daylight, it shifts from jet black towards a softer charcoal-black. The warm undertone becomes more visible. In dim light or evening conditions, it looks indistinguishable from Tricorn Black.
If you prefer consistency across different lighting conditions, then Tricorn Black is the suitable color, but if you want subtle mood variation at different times of day, then Black Magic is the preferred choice.
Style and Uses
Tricorn Black is built for bold, graphic and modern spaces. It works well with sharp trim, front doors, built-ins and cabinetry with white counters and chrome fixtures. It delivers maximum contrast and holds no color bias, which means it pairs cleanly with almost anything.
Black Magic belongs in spaces with character like traditional homes, transitional interiors, warm modern styles and rustic settings. It works well with library walls, moody bedrooms, fireplace surrounds and spaces where black should feel warm and enveloping rather than stark and cold.
For a front door, prefer Tricorn Black while for a bedroom feature wall or fireplace surround, Black Magic is the suitable choice.
Tricorn Black vs Black Magic: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Tricorn Black (SW 6258) | Black Magic (SW 6991) |
| LRV | 2.45 (≈3) | 3.12 (≈3–5) |
| RGB | 47, 47, 48 | 50, 49, 50 |
| Undertones | Virtually none | Subtle warm red/brown |
| Overall Feel | Crisp, clean, graphic | Soft, warm, velvety |
| Lighting Behavior | Highly consistent | Shifts noticeably in bright light |
| Style Fit | Modern, minimalist, classic | Traditional, transitional, rustic |
| Best For | Trim, doors, cabinets, exteriors | Feature walls, warm interiors |
Different Room Suitability: Tricorn Black vs Black Magic
Choosing the right black depends on the space. A shade that looks stunning on a kitchen island can feel completely wrong on a bathroom wall. I learned this after painting a bathroom accent wall without testing the color in the room’s lighting.
The result was completely different from what I expected. Here is how Tricorn Black and Black Magic perform in different rooms.
Bathroom
Bathrooms mostly run on artificial light, have limited square footage and often get no natural light. This combination changes the appearance of dark colors on walls.
Tricorn Black works well for vanities, cabinet doors or a single accent wall in a bathroom with decent window exposure. Its neutral tone works cleanly with chrome, brushed nickel or any standard bathroom fixture finish.
Black Magic is the better pick when the bathroom uses warm lighting with brass or gold hardware. The faint warmth makes the space feel cohesive and deliberate rather than stark.
A small bathroom with no natural light, prefers Iron Ore (SW 7069) instead of tricorn black vs black magic. It feels less intense and more forgiving.
Kitchen
In Kitchens, I’d prefer Black Magic over Tricorn Black, specifically for islands and lower cabinetry.
In the kitchen, Black Magic’s warm undertone comes alive alongside wood counters, warm oak tones and brass hardware. It feels coherent.
Tricorn Black is the right call for kitchens chasing a stark and graphic look with bright white counters, chrome pulls and minimal styling. It feels sharp and intentional.
For warm-palette kitchens with white oak shelves and unlacquered brass faucets, Black Magic is the suitable choice.
Use eggshell or semi-gloss in kitchens because a matte finish in a kitchen shows every splash, smear and fingerprint.
Bedroom
For a fully moody bedroom setup with dark walls, layered warm lighting and heavy textiles, Black Magic is the better choice.
The velvety near-black creates a cocooning and enveloping atmosphere that feels designed for rest. Tricorn Black in a bedroom sometimes feels cold and severe, especially when everything in the room leans towards warm.
Tricorn Black works well on bedroom doors and trim. Black interior doors are a popular choice, and Tricorn handles this without any undertone complexity.
My recommendation is Black Magic on walls for the moody effect while Tricorn Black on doors and frames for sharp and graphic details. Both in the same room when used deliberately look beautiful.
Living Room
Living rooms see shifting light throughout the day. Both colors behave differently in that variation.
Tricorn Black works steady regardless of these shifts. With large accent walls, built-ins and bookshelves, it stays consistent from morning to night.
Black Magic benefits from the shifting light. The way it moves from a softer charcoal-black in afternoon daylight to a richer deeper black by evening feels atmospheric. It is hard to replicate with a flatter neutral.
For a fireplace wall specifically, Black Magic works every time. The subtle warmth against the warm light of a fire creates something that can’t be replicated by Tricorn Black.
Exterior
Tricorn Black is the better exterior color.
Its true neutral black feels crispy against any siding color. It looks sharp and intentional with front doors, shutters, railings and window sash.It does not lean warm or cool and works well with the existing color palette.
Black Magic also works outside, but it is usually better suited for interiors. The warm undertone feels richly deliberate indoors and looks inconsistent on exterior elements under full outdoor light.
If you want your front door to feel crisp, timeless and bold, then prefer Tricorn Black.
Comparing Tricorn Black vs Black Magic with Other Similar Shades
SW Tricorn Black vs Black Magic aren’t the only dark alternatives from Sherwin-Williams. There are other colors that give more defined warmth or a charcoal that eases you in before committing fully to black.
I’ve worked with a few of these and each shade works for a specific space. Knowing these other choices helps you confirm whether Tricorn or Black Magic are suitable or If something else is better for your space.
Caviar (SW 6990)
Caviar is SW 6990 which sits right next to Black Magic in the Sherwin-Williams lineup. It carries more defined brown undertones.
Black Magic’s warmth is subtle and shifts with light while Caviar’s warmth is more committed. In certain lighting, it appears like a deep espresso instead of a clean black.
Against Tricorn Black, Caviar feels noticeably warmer and softer while Against Black Magic, it leans more towards the brown direction.
In spaces with heavy warm wood tones like dark walnut furniture and rich hardwood floors, caviar feels grounded and intentional. But for versatility across different palettes and styles, Tricorn Black remains the reliable pick.
Black Beauty (BM 2128-10)
Black Beauty comes up often in these comparisons. It sits in the middle range.
It appears slightly warmer than Tricorn Black but doesn’t carry the defined undertone personality like Black Magic. It’s a compromise option for people who find Tricorn very stark and Black Magic very warm.
The real-life difference between the three shades is so subtle that most people could not tell them apart without samples held directly side by side in good light.
Tricorn Black stays the most versatile, Black Magic has the most characterful and Black Beauty is a suitable choice without leaning towards one direction. If you’re already leaning toward Tricorn or Black Magic, Black Beauty probably won’t change your mind.
Iron Ore (SW 7069)
Iron Ore belongs in a different category. Its LRV is 6 which is double of Tricorn Black’s 2.45. This gap shows up clearly in real life. Iron Ore appears as a deep charcoal. The gray undertones soften everything. The walls feel less intense and the contrast against white trim feels less sharp and graphic.
If you want to commit to full black or haven’t done a dark room before, then Iron Ore is the preferred starting choice. I recommend it to anyone who prefers Tricorn Black or Black Magic but is nervous about the intensity of a black on a large wall.
But if you want black, then Iron Ore is the suitable choice.
Inkwell (SW 6992)
Inkwell (SW 6992) is the cool-toned black which carves out a very specific lane.
Tricorn Black is neutral and Black Magic is warm while Inkwell pulls towards cool and appears like dark navy when lightning hits. It is a small shift, but is noticeable in the right room
In gray-dominant or blue-toned interiors, Inkwell fits more naturally than either Tricorn or Black Magic because it doesn’t fight with cool palettes like warm black might.
It doesn’t have Tricorn’s universal versatility and doesn’t have Black Magic’s warmth. It is a color with its own qualities. Most people looking at this comparison will still prefer Tricorn or Black Magic, depending on their space.
Tricorn Black vs Black Magic vs Other Shades
| Color | SW # | LRV | Undertones | Best For |
| Tricorn Black | SW 6258 | 2.45 | None | Modern, exteriors, trim, doors |
| Black Magic | SW 6991 | 3.12 | Warm red/brown | Warm interiors, feature walls |
| Caviar | SW 6990 | ~4 | Defined brown | Spaces with warm wood tones |
| Black Beauty | BM 2128-10 | ~3–4 | Slightly warm | Middle-ground, no strong lean |
| Iron Ore | SW 7069 | 6 | Gray/charcoal | First-timers, softer dark rooms |
| Inkwell | SW 6992 | ~4 | Cool/navy | Cool-palette interiors |
Helpful Tips To Keep in Mind While Considering Tricorn Black vs Black Magic
These are certain things I wish someone had told me before starting my paint journey. Choosing between SW Tricorn Black and Black Magic depends on room size, lighting, finish and other important details. Every tip below comes from personal experience after working with both colors in different projects and rooms. Follow these tips to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
- Always sample on your actual wall: Use Samplize peel-and-stick samples or paint a minimum 12×12 inch patch directly on the wall and live with it for a few hours before committing.
- Check that sample at different times of day: Check during morning light, afternoon sun, evening lamps and overhead artificial lighting because all of these change the color appearance on walls.
- Know your undertone environment before you pick: With warm wood floors, brass fixtures and warm-toned textiles, Black Magic feels more natural and cohesive while for a neutral or cool palette, Tricorn Black is the safer choice.
- Finish selection matters more than most people realize: Kitchens and bathrooms need eggshell or semi-gloss while Living rooms and bedrooms look richer in matte or flat finishing. The finish changes the color appearance on the walls.
- Use primer when painting over a previously light-colored wall: Near-blacks need two or three full coats without primer, to reach complete opacity.
- Exterior application, Go Tricorn Black: Black Magic is better suited for interior spaces.
- Pair with white trim to anchor the room: Pure White (SW 7005) works cleanly with both colors while Extra White (SW 7006) or High Reflective White (SW 7757) push the contrast further.
- Do not rely on phone screens or digital previews alone: Both colors look different in real life than they do on a screen. Physical samples in the actual space are the only reliable test.
Conclusion
Tricorn black vs black magic… this is my honest recommendation:
Tricorn Black is the more reliable and universal choice. It is a true neutral black with no undertone complications that works well with front doors, trim, cabinetry and exterior accents. If versatility and consistency are the goal then Tricorn Black is the suitable option.
Black Magic works when warmth matters. It works when you want a room to feel enveloping and rich rather than sharp and graphic or when the finishes lean warm and you prefer the color to blend with the finishes instead of competing with them.
Both colors are made for different purposes. Treating them like similar colors will result in repainting of the walls. Get samples of both tricorn black vs black magic on your actual wall under real lighting before committing to either shade.
FAQs on Tricorn Black vs Black Magic
Tricorn Black is popular because it’s one of the closest things to a true neutral black that Sherwin-Williams offers. It doesn’t lean warm or cool and appears as clean pure black across virtually any lighting condition. This kind of consistency makes it a reliable choice for designers and homeowners, whether it’s going on a front door, trim, cabinetry or a full accent wall.
Tricorn Black pairs cleanly with crisp whites like Pure White (SW 7005), Extra White (SW 7006) and High Reflective White (SW 7757). It also works well with natural wood tones, warm off-whites like Alabaster (SW 7008) and warm grays like Agreeable Gray (SW 7029). Brass and gold hardware add warmth and prevent the space from reading cold or flat which is especially useful in rooms with limited natural light.
A small north-facing room with minimal windows will feel very enclosed with Tricorn Black on all four walls. But on one accent wall, a front door, trim, or cabinetry, it never appears too dark. If you’re hesitant, Iron Ore (SW 7069) is a softer charcoal alternative with the LRV of 6 which is still dramatic and dark, but less intense overall.
If “prettiest” means cleanest and most graphic then,Tricorn Black is very hard to beat. But if you want a black that feels alive or one with subtle warmth and depth, then Black Magic might actually edge it out depending on your space and what you’re surrounding it with. Honestly, beauty here is entirely context-dependent. The prettiest black is the one that works in your specific room.
