Read all about Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black, plus see 31 real homes that use it!
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258) is a very dark bold black that is classy and sophisticated in all the right ways. Black is a timeless color that can look incredible nearly anywhere you want to use it. Tricorn Black is very close to true black.
In fact, this is the darkest black that Sherwin Williams offers.
However…I’ve got a bit of a warning. When it comes to evaluating super dark colors such as black, it can get tricky. Light colors like white vary tremendously based on undertones and lighting. Very dark colors can still vary, but at a certain point, they just look dark and similar to each other.
My hope is that this paint color series gives you the information and tips you need to choose a new paint color that you absolutely love for your home!
But even with very dark colors like Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black, there are things to know and better ways to use them to their advantage.
First, I’m not usually a fan of using very dark shades indoors. I tend to think that they can be very easily overused and end up looking overwhelming rather than chic. That said, black is a very rare exception. It can still be easily overused, but it’s such a classic neutral color that it really doesn’t take much effort to create a stunning effect with black.
I particularly love this shade as a dark accent wall.
There’s a reason why black fixtures and accent pieces are so popular! When you want to go bold, I highly recommend looking at ways to incorporate black into your design!
Let’s check out SW Tricorn Black and see why it needs to be on your shortlist if you’re looking for beautiful, classic black paint.
I’m not gonna lie – choosing the PERFECT paint color isn’t as easy as seeing what you like online and simply adding it to your space. There’s an entire science behind it! Grab a FREE 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!⤵️
FAQs About Tricorn Black
What undertones are in Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black?
Admittedly, undertones can be difficult to see in such dark colors. But gray, blue, or brown undertones can show up in black paint in certain lighting situations.
That’s not a problem with Tricorn Black! There are no undertones, so this color just looks rich and bold…exactly the way black should look!
Where can you use Tricorn Black?
I personally LOVE Tricorn Black on home exteriors. It creates such a timeless look when used to draw attention to interesting architectural details. You could also use it for:
– Exterior walls
– Accent walls
– Interior doors
– Exterior doors
– Garage doors
– Window shutters
– Accent pieces
– Fireplace
– Furniture
– Trim
– Cabinets and vanities
Is Tricorn Black a “true” black?
In a word, yes! Although some undertones can show through in certain lighting, Tricorn Black can definitely be considered a “true” black.
Is Tricorn Black warm or cool?
While not really considered a color, pure black is considered warming while pure white is cooling. Since Tricorn Black is pretty darn close to pure black, in that sense, I suppose we can consider it warm.
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!⤵️
Great Coordinating Colors for Tricorn Black
Since this color looks incredible with almost any other paint color, your options are nearly endless!
Thanks to its very neutral base, you can pair it with warm colors, cool colors, dark colors, light colors, and everything in between!
If you’re looking for some specific colors that you could coordinate with Tricorn Black, here are a few ideas:
- Snowbound
- Alpaca
- Mink
- Oyster Bay
- Doeskin
- Sea Salt
- Repose Gray
- Dried Lavender
- Chelsea Gray
- Lei Flower
- Cold Foam
- Agreeable Gray
- Pewter Cast
- Balanced Beige
- Fieldstone
- Accessible Beige
- Comfort Gray
- Ice Cube
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!⤵️
LRV of Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258)
Let’s take a quick look at Tricorn Black paint from a numbers perspective. Just looking at paint colors will yield very subjective results. That’s why I recommend adding objective evaluation (numbers don’t lie!) to your subjective visual methods for a more clear overall picture.
Every paint color has an assigned Light Reflectance Value (LRV), which is a number ranging between 0 and 100. Zero represents pure black because it doesn’t reflect ANY light, while 100 represents pure white because it reflects ALL the light. Or, put another way, a darker shade has a lower LRV value, while a lighter shade will have a higher LRV number.
The LRV of SW Tricorn Black = 2.45
Wow, yes. I really did just say 2.45! That means that this paint ONLY reflects 2.45% of the light that shines on it. It’s just about as black as you can get, and it’s definitely the darkest black that Sherwin Williams offers.
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!⤵️
Tricorn Black Compared to Other Colors
Dark colors can be almost as difficult as white colors to compare. Let’s get up close and personal with this rich black color to get a better understanding of its color profile.
Sherwin Williams Caviar vs Tricorn Black
Caviar is a very dark color (LRV = 2.94), indeed, but it just doesn’t tend to read quite as rich as Tricorn Black does. It is just the teensiest bit lighter than Tricorn Black, but it also sports a brown undertone.
SW Caviar will definitely look black when paired with lighter colors, but it looks muddier than a true black would when you place it side by side with SW Tricorn Black. Although you can pair Tricorn Black with nearly any color, stick to taupe and brown colors with Caviar.
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black vs Black Magic
These two beautiful colors are hard to distinguish from each other. With an LRV of 2.88, Black Magic is nearly as dark as Tricorn Black (but not quite).
The main difference between these two colors will come from the undertones. Black Magic has gray undertones, which give it a slightly lighter and softer appearance compared with Tricorn Black’s bold, classic appearance.
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black vs Iron Ore
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black is dark enough to be considered a true black. It has an LRV of 2.45, so it’s just shy of absolute pure black. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore, on the other hand, has an LRV of 6, so it’s quite a bit lighter and considered to be a balanced charcoal color.
When you want a dark color with a slightly less dramatic appearance, consider the very popular Iron Ore!
More Colors to Consider
Not ready to commit to Tricorn Black just yet? Check out these other colors to see if they catch your eye!
- Classic Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a light to medium greige with brown undertones
- Urbane Bronze (Sherwin Williams) – a refined, sophisticated dark gray-brown shade
- Repose Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm gray neutral with green and taupe undertones
- Chelsea Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a moody deep gray
- Agreeable Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium soft warm gray
- Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) – a mid-toned gray
- Mindful Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium greige with blue and green undertones
- Anew Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium warm greige that works everywhere
- Peppercorn (Sherwin Williams) – a very popular medium to dark true gray (not quite charcoal)
- Wrought Iron (Benjamin Moore) – a charcoal gray, softer than a true black
And to move you quickly from paint zero to hero, I have a great, free resource for you. Grab a copy of 5 Massive Paint Mistakes to Avoid…because when all else fails, as long as you stay away from these 5 cardinal painting sins, you’re probably doing A-OK!
31 Real Life Homes Using SW Tricorn Black
Alright, time to dig into the good part: all that eye candy! But first, a warning. Do NOT fall in love with one of these rooms, run out and buy 4 cans and start painting your space! Remember the cardinal rule of painting: sample before you swipe that paintbrush!!!
As far as sampling goes, I highly recommend these non-messy, re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples ⤵
Living Rooms in Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
1. Living Room Window Trim in Tricorn Black
Black and white will be a classic combination for all eternity. I love Home on Mount Forest’s idea of painting the window framing trim in Tricorn Black. It creates a dramatic look that frames the view out of the window.
2. Black Fireplace Background Wall
One option for this room would be to paint the fireplace Tricorn Black and the wall a different color. But as you can see in the home of @thejoyfulfox, making the wall black creates a very dramatic look.
3. Black Piping in Living Room
Construction 2 Style creates an elegant updated style by painting this wall and cabinetry black. A similar look in the 60s and 70s would have seen this same space as wood (also a lovely look). Add some gold accent pieces and let the wall texture do the rest of the work for this look.
4. Go Flat for the Ultimate Black
When using Tricorn Black in a flat sheen, you can REALLY see how dark and bold this color is, like here in this living room from @hillaryschenninginteriors.
5. Black Shiplap Living Room Fireplace
Look at this design by The House of Silver Lining. It takes the words “timeless” and “stunning” to a whole new level. Black is used very intentionally to create a dramatic and eye-catching design. What a great chandelier!
6. A modern living room accent color
Using black as an accent piece is an easy way to create a look that never goes out of style. Tricorn Black has a sheen to it, making it look a little lighter in the areas where the light directly hits it, as seen in this updated living room from @herviewfromlondon.
7. SW Tricorn Black Brick Fireplace
Here’s a black fireplace! Houseologie always nails her designs. There’s just something about bricks painted black that draws you in. And the flat sheen looks right at home with the light wood tones.
Tricorn Black Bedrooms
In general for bedrooms, and low-traffic areas, flat paint is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (and more ease of cleaning) opt for eggshell or satin.
8. A Dark and Serene Ceiling
First I’ll show you my own master bedroom which features our hue-du-jour! This room features walls painted in rich, creamy Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, and the ceiling has an accent design in Tricorn Black.
9. Black Accent Wall in Master Bedroom
Bedrooms should either be supremely cozy or elegant. There are very few in between. In this space from A Fresh Coat, Tricorn Black helps to create a bold, elegant bedroom. The accent wall is tied in with the rest of the room through the use of intentional black accent pieces.
10. Cozy, Calming Bedroom in Black
Here’s a very bold design from @wilder_eden_design_company. Tricorn Black is essentially being used as a neutral background color, much like you would use a neutral gray or off-white. Create interest through pops of color in your decor.
11. Faux Wallpaper with Tricorn Black Paint
I love faux wallpaper – it’s so much fun and deceptively easy to create yourself. Here in this example from Plank and Pillow, Tricorn Black on white draws the eyes in and keeps them there through the use of the wall pattern as well as the other black decor pieces.
12. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black Bedroom
Any other wall color combined with this decor from Bigger Than the Three of Us would have created a very cozy bedroom. Using black paint on the walls took this simple room and elevated it to an entirely different level.
13. Tricorn Black in a Nursery
Too often, nurseries are cutesy rooms that don’t fit into the decor in the rest of the home. If you use Tricorn Black in your color scheme, don’t be afraid to pull it into the nursery too, like @girllovesglam shows here! Want a colorful nursery? Colors will REALLY pop against a black background.
Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black Bathrooms
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
14. Tuxedo Bathroom with Tricorn Black
Nothing beats the timeless look of a tuxedo. Black and white kitchens are supremely popular and anything but ephemeral. And the same goes for bathrooms! If you want a timeless bathroom that you won’t need to remodel every 5 years, give black vanities a try. It’s a gorgeous look as @mo_metz proves here.
15. Tricorn Black Powder Room
Nothing says you can’t put black paint on the ceiling! Unconventional? Sure (that’s half the fun)! And wow, this bathroom from Home on Mount Forest! Black door, ceiling, window trim, and vanity paired with white shiplap? Yes, please!
16. SW 6258 as a Supporting Actor in a Bold Bathroom
Tricorn Black is just showing off its ability to play well with a huge range of colors. A true neutral, you can pair nearly any color with this paint, and it will look even better than it does alone. It really allows this fun wallpaper to take center stage in this space from @vjamesandcointeriors.
Dining Rooms in Tricorn Black Paint
17. Dark and Cozy Dining Room
Black walls with white board and batten paneling come together to create a simple yet sophisticated dining room as shown in this space from @yorktownhouse.
18. Tricorn Black Above Board and Batten
@ourbigred_house shares another take on black walls with white board and batten panels: adding an intricate black and white wallpaper on an accent wall to create another fun focal point!
Want to see more board and batten ideas? Check out this 👉 post!
19. Elegant SW Tricorn Black Dining Space
I don’t recommend using this much Tricorn Black in a room with little natural light. However, I absolutely love it at The House of Silver Lining because the intricate woodwork in the walls creates visual interest against the bold black background.
20. Bold, Black Gallery Wall
Tricorn Black and white can create a timeless look that works in almost any style of home, from traditional to modern farmhouse and even contemporary. In this very bright room from @house_of_7feathers, Tricorn Black holds its own and doesn’t show any undertones.
21. Tricorn Black On a Window Wall
@the.mari.foster shows here how the use of black for your window wall manages to create a picturesque effect that puts the visual focus on what’s on the other side of the windows!
SW Tricorn Black Kitchens
For kitchens, eggshell or satin are popular finish choices for walls. For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
22. Tricorn Black Cabinets
Kitchens are another room in the house that thrives with Tricorn Black. Using a flat sheen and matching door pulls allows the cabinets to fade into the background, so other elements can take the stage like seen here in this kitchen shared by @m.i.pcabinetry.
23. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black Island
Isn’t this island from Clark and Aldine gorgeous? I love accent colors on islands! They’re bold, beautiful, and ultra-chic.
24. Tricorn Black Hood and Kitchen Island
If you want to pull such a bold color like this one into your kitchen without fear that it will cause your room to feel too dark or enclosed, try this happy compromise. Paint the center island and hood vent black while keeping everything else light and bright, like seen here in this kitchen from @bullseyecustomcabinetry.
25. Kitchen Cabinets Painted SW Tricorn Black
Alternatively, if you don’t have a center island, just paint the lower cabinets black. It’ll create a similar effect as you can see in this amazing space by Studio McGee.
Laundry Rooms Painted SW Tricorn Black
26. Laundry Room Featuring Tricorn Black
I love this accent wall from The House of Hood Blog! Just adding a small amount of black behind lovely wood shelving ties everything from the floor tiles to the white cabinets together. And look how amazing the decor looks in front of the black wall!
27. SW Tricorn Black Ceiling in a Laundry ROom
Here’s a fun alternative from Room for Tuesday: paint the ceiling black! A word of caution. A black ceiling will automatically draw your eyes upward. It also naturally causes the room to be darker, so use it with care in rooms with little or no natural light.
Home Exteriors in Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
28. A Tricorn Black Exterior Update
@mrsemily shows how Tricorn Black helped transform this brick and siding house from ordinary to “Woah, look at that house!” The use of white for the garage doors, window trim, and small accents prevent the house from looking too dark or monochrome.
29. Home Exterior with Tricorn Black Accents and Front Door
Here’s the opposite color scheme, and it’s just as beautiful, albeit slightly less dramatic. The black front door and garage doors add a nice bold flair over at The House of Hood Blog.
Tricorn Black Paint in Other Spaces
30. Tricorn Black Bookshelves
At this point, I think I’m convinced that I like black shelving more than white shelving. The decor just seems to look so much better against the bold background shared by @houseofrad405.
31 Tricorn Black Stairs
I love these two-tone wood and black stairs shared by @design._block._ . They’re bold and beautiful, adding a lovely sophisticated touch to the decor.
32. Tricorn Black Interior Doors
Interior doors! All too often, interior doors are white or some other light color. I love this bold change of pace shared by @bln_home.
What do you think? Is Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black on your black paint shortlist? Trust me, add this balanced, versatile black to your list yet.
Then create peace of mind with your choice by using color swatches around your home so you can see how this paint looks with your surrounding decor.
And if this is a color you’re seriously considering, remember paint-sampling is better than ending up paint-sorry! I highly recommend these peel and stick samples because they are inexpensive, re-usable and re-positionable…
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.
Anna M Bledsoe says
Do you have this same thing for Gossmeir Veil… one step up on the color deck (right above DoM) I’m trying to decide for our home.
Heather Thibodeau says
Hi Anna! We haven’t done an article yet on Gossamer Veil, but we should!!