Read about Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, and see 13 real homes that use it!
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain (2134-30) is a rich and deeply saturated gray with brown undertones. This popular muted black makes a space feel cozy, intimate, and elegant with a touch of drama.
Homeowners and interior designers often choose medium to light neutrals because they’re safe and versatile. Sure, grays, beiges, and greiges make great go-tos that work in nearly any area.
But if you want to add a little drama, I recommend taking a leap to the dark side. Various shades of black can easily add that bold, striking, and eye-catching element you crave to any space.
The key is finding the RIGHT black. And today, I am reviewing a color that hits that dramatic sweet spot while remaining incredibly dynamic. Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain is a popular deep shade that looks right at home nearly anywhere.
If your home needs a refresh, but the thought of picking colors raises your blood pressure, my extensive paint color review post series will help you find the perfect new shade with ease. Each “paint post” spotlights a single hue and covers all the details you need to make a stress-free and ultra-pleasing choice.
I’ve even created a few “best of” posts to help you narrow down the plethora of choices – and the library continues to grow! Now it’s time to see if Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain is going to be the perfect shade for your home.
What color is Iron Mountain?
Iron Mountain (BM 2134-30) is a deep gray (aka, muted black) with brown undertones reminiscent of a dark mountain face. It’s a shade that adds a bold touch while also creating an intimate and cozy ambiance – especially in large rooms.
This is a color you can use anywhere because its rich undertones make it versatile enough to work well with both warm and cool decor palettes.
If you want a soft black that will infuse a good dose of drama, Iron Mountain could be the ideal neutral for your home!
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
FAQs about Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain
What other colors are similar to Iron Mountain?
Due to color blending differences between each paint company, matching paint colors across paint brands is nearly impossible and will only result in extreme levels of frustration.
If you want a color similar to Iron Mountain from a different brand, I recommend Sherwin Williams Stony Creek (which is a tad more brown), Sherwin Williams Peppercorn, or Behr’s Catskill Brown.
Is Sherwin Williams’s Iron Mountain warm or cool?
Iron Mountain is a balanced shade that has both cool and warm undertones. You’ll notice bright, warm-toned lighting makes it read warmer, while shadowy lighting brings out its coolness.
Overall, however, it falls on the warmer end of the soft black range and pairs well with both warm and cool colors.
Where can I use Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain?
Let Iron Mountain add coziness and intimacy to your:
Walls (accent walls are best)
Accents (built-ins, shutters, board and batten, etc.)
Kitchen or laundry room cabinets
Kitchen islands
Bathroom vanities
Trim
Front door
Interior doors
Exterior
Thanks to its versatility, Iron Mountain successfully works in ANY style of home, including minimalist, mid-century modern, contemporary, traditional, coastal, transitional, modern farmhouse, Scandinavian, and more.
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain Undertones
This gorgeous shade would win the homecoming king title because of its enduring popularity – it sees no end to its reign among homeowners and interior designers!
This rich hue can thank its brown and violet undertones for its fame. They lend warmth and richness to make BM Iron Mountain much more dynamic and versatile than you may realize at first glance.
And, at times, you’ll notice a hint of blue peek through for just another layer of depth and interest.
Want to avoid unexpected undertones? Take advantage of my no-paint-regret secret weapon: peel-and-stick paint samples. No other tool is more EFFECTIVE for vetting undertones in paint colors!
If undertones make your head ache, you’re not alone! Grab your no-cost copy of “5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes” Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
How Different Types of Lighting Affect Sherwin Williams’s Iron Mountain
As sure as the sun comes up in the morning, moves across the sky, and sets in the evening, the way it looks changes. And that constantly shifting appearance has a huge impact on how the paint looks.
Because the sun’s light changes throughout the day, EVERY paint color will display some amount of variation during the course of the day, too. It’s your job to figure out which shades (and variations) work for you and which ones don’t – here’s where those samples come in handy!
Let’s break down how different natural light exposures will influence Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain’s appearance.
- North-facing light – Hello, deep, cool, gray! Shadowy northern lighting will make Iron Mountain appear its darkest (black) and coolest, with a hint of blue in direct northern light.
- South-facing light – Hello, warm brown undertones! On the opposite end of the undertone spectrum, bright, consistently warm southern lighting will make Iron Mountain look its brightest and softest and highlight those brown undertones.
- West-facing light – You’ll see Iron Mountain go quite dark with the cooler, darker morning light before appearing warmer and softer in the afternoon.
- East-facing light – Expect Iron Mountain to do the same shift in the opposite order of western lighting. It will appear warmer and softer in the morning before shifting to its darker side in the afternoon.
When to Avoid BM Iron Mountain
One of the reasons this shade is so enduring and popular is that there aren’t many times you’ll want to avoid it.
I would recommend avoiding heavily using this shade in small rooms because its deepness will make the space feel small and cramped.
Also, vet those undertones carefully. If you want to avoid seeing a flash of blue or purple, don’t paint Iron Mountain in areas where it will receive direct light or pair it with colors that have blue-green undertones.
Great Coordinating Colors for Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain is a flexible shade that looks wonderful with many other colors. Generally speaking, I recommend pairing it with warm whites, true whites, lighter grays, greens, beiges, yellows, browns, earthy shades, or even purples.
And when choosing hardware or metal accents, this shade looks stunning with brass, brushed chrome, and brushed nickel finishes!
If you need a few specific colors that work well with Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, try:
- Sea Haze
- Powder Sand
- Whitestone
- Edgecomb Gray
- Rocky Road
- Ballet White
- Shaker Beige
- Van Deusen Blue
- China White
- Silver Bullet
- White Dove
- Barren Plain
- Snowfall White
- Stardust
- Big Chill
For trim and ceiling paint colors to pair with Iron Mountain (if you aren’t using this shade AS trim), Pure White, Chantilly Lace, or White Dove are terrific white paints that look great with it.
Paint Sheens and Finishes
From repainting low-traffic bedrooms to the rooms where you spend the most time, finding the right paint finish is crucial anytime you paint a surface.
Here’s what you need to know about the different paint finishes available on the market to help you achieve the perfect interior paint job every time.
- High gloss – high gloss paint is shiny and shows less-than-perfect surfaces, but it provides an easy-to-clean surface.
- Semi-gloss – use this sheen in small spaces, rooms with low light levels, and high-humidity environments (ex: bathrooms).
- Satin – this finish falls right in the middle of the sheen spectrum, making it the most popular finish. Use it on a wide variety of surfaces, in high-traffic areas, and appreciate its color rub-off resistance when you use soap and water to wash away grime.
- Eggshell – more durable than a flat paint, the slight sheen of eggshell is appealing for many people and can stand up to a little GENTLE scrubbing.
- Flat (or matte) – a luxurious matte finish appeals to many people. Although its shine-free appearance provides excellent hiding abilities for imperfections, it’s really only ideal for low-traffic areas because it will lose paint coverage if you wash it.
Put another way, finding the perfect sheen will help you achieve your precise paint needs and goals!
LRV of Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain (2134-30)
LRV (or Light Reflectance Value) is a scale that measures the reflection of light a color has, with 0 being totally black and 100 being totally white.
The LRV of Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain = 10.96
Okay, so what does that mean? BM Iron Mountain is a deep shade, no doubt about it. It won’t wash out and appear light, and it can be too much for small, darker spaces.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! This no-cost guide will help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Iron Mountain Compared to Other Colors
How does Iron Mountain stand out from other popular deep gray colors on the market? Let’s find out!
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain vs. Kendall Charcoal
To kick things off, compare Iron Mountain with Ben Moore’s Kendall Charcoal (HC-166). Although Kendall Charcoal is a little lighter (LRV 12.96), we’re still talking about two shades that are (at most) 13% lighter than true black. Yep, they’re both deep shades.
It’s important to note that both colors have brown undertones, but Kendall Charcoal has pronounced green undertones compared to Iron Mountain’s purple and blue undertones.
While both colors are very versatile and flexible, I would say that Kendall Charcoal’s green undertones give it a slight edge in the versatility department.
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain vs. Wrought Iron
Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron (2124-10) comes in darker than Iron Mountain with an LRV of 6.16. Unless you put them side by side, you may not notice this difference, but on a wall, Iron Mountain looks significantly softer (more charcoal) and less intense.
In addition, Iron Mountain’s complexity makes it slightly more versatile but less neutral than Wrought Iron with its deep navy undertones.
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain vs. Iron Ore
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (SW 7069) is next up for comparison. Coming in with an LRV of 6, its appearance is closer to Wrought Iron than Iron Mountain.
What’s more, Iron Ore has more undertones, making it more variable than Iron Mountain. Opt for Iron Mountain when you want a softer black.
More Colors to Consider
Can you see why Iron Mountain is a popular contender for adding bold richness? If you aren’t sold on this shade yet, check out these popular alternatives!
- Gauntlet Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a balanced, medium-dark gray.
- Peppercorn (Sherwin Williams) – a neutral dark gray with creamy undertones.
- Chelsea Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a warm, velvety charcoal gray.
- Cheating Heart (Benjamin Moore) – a rich gray with deep navy undertones.
- Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze – a deep gray and Sherwin Williams’s 2021 Color of the Year.
- Tricorn Black (Sherwin Williams) – a deep, neutral shade just barely lighter than black.
- Black Fox (Sherwin Williams) – a deep, warm black with strong brown undertones.
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! Get a zero-cost copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Real Life Homes Using Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain
It’s time to see this color doing what it does best – showing off!
Let’s check out examples of Iron Mountain that show a range of lighting and decor influences so you can see just how this color REALLY looks. Then you can decide whether this is a shade that could be part of your own perfect color palette!
Living Rooms Painted BM Iron Mountain
1. Rich Black-Brown
It isn’t often that Iron Mountain looks just as brown as it does black, but J Hirsch Interiors achieved it with the use of gold and bronze accents and a few warm, rustic pops of color! (Photo credit: Chris Little Builder/Developer: Hedgewood Homes)
2. A Cozy, Intimate Affair
One of Iron Mountain’s specialties is the ability to make large spaces feel much more comfortable and cozy, exactly what @ellenhouseandco accomplished in this large living room (Photo credit: James Robbins).
The bright natural light and light-toned furniture keep this room from feeling too dark.
Ben Moore’s Iron Mountain Bedrooms
In general for low traffic bedrooms, a flat coating (flat sheen) is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (rather than the look of a matte finish) opt for eggshell or satin, both of which will give a softly polished glow.
3. Accent Wall Geniusness
One of my favorite ways to use (and see) this shade is on accent walls and features. In bedrooms, like this one from Harbour Breeze Homes, it shows extremely well behind the head of the bed.
4. Dramatic Neutral
Iron Mountain can also give a large and airy bedroom a much-needed dose of intimacy and drama.
Sherry Hart Design made smart choices by keeping the ceilings white and using board and batten on the wall to add a hint of texture.
5. Restful Retreat
Light, bright and white bedrooms are certainly more common, but give me a dark, moody restful retreat like this one from @sandrajessicainteriors any day of the week. A super saturated shade like Iron Mountain just screams out “naptime”.
Kitchens Painted Iron Mountain
For kitchens, eggshell (closer to the look of a flat finish) or satin (has more shine) are popular finish choices for walls…each of these are a bit more spatter resistant, which let’s be real…even the best chef could use every now and again!
For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
6. Dreamy Lower Cabinets
I love two-toned cabinets in kitchens!
The white uppers keep this kitchen from Paint Works NYC looking light and bright, while the dark lowers keep the room grounded and add a bold touch. Check out that red stove – wow!
7. Steely Gray-Blue
Here’s something you don’t see every day. The bright lighting in this kitchen from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia really lightens and softens Iron Mountain so that you get to see more of those blue undertones than normal.
8. Pairs with Wood Tones
The rich brown undertones in BM’s Iron Mountain make it possible to pair well with rich wood tones, as you can see here from @cottage4c.
BM Iron Mountain Exteriors
9. Rich and Warm
Iron Mountain’s rich, warm nature makes it an ideal shade to pair with brick exteriors. This home from Our Hideaway Home highlights Iron Mountain’s great depth of color that still feels soft and inviting.
10. Trim and Accent Magic
It may look incredible as an exterior main color on the right house, but Life on Virginia Street proves that Iron Mountain is an equally powerful and stunning trim and accent color…notice how great it looks on the window frames!
Ben Moore Iron Mountain Home Offices
11. Perfect for Nooks and Crannies
Want to designate a certain area for a specific purpose, use a color like Iron Mountain! I love the hint of brown popping forward in this example from @the_nelsen_homestead.
12. Bold and Dramatic
Although this room from Nuestra Vida Dulce is personally too dark for my taste, it highlights Iron Mountain’s ability to go dark and add dramatic flair.
Other Homes Featuring Iron Mountain Paint
13. Terrific Door Color Choice
I love this color for both interior and exterior doors. Don’t you love the great depth of color that this eye-catching color offers in this image from Nyla Free Designs?
Plus, bold hues like this one are such a great complement to white paint colors, like the trim details you see here on the door and base moldings…and even the wall color. It provides such a great “pop”.
Oh, and the wall color here? It’s BM Simply White.
So what do you think? Does Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain make you say “WOW”? It’s a pretty extraordinary color. It seems to be one of those richer hues, those deeper colors that can be used in so many places with beautiful results!
So if this is a color you’re seriously considering using to get a fresh look somewhere in your own home, don’t forget to grab those peel and stick paint samples to thoroughly vet it out in your home before grabbing your paintbrush.
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, bland walls who’s the boss at home? This no-cost guide will help you sidestep mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
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