Paint Deep Dive: Behr Ink Black

Today, we’re doing a deep dive on my favorite dark paint color: Behr Ink Black!

This is easily the most asked about paint color in my entire house. We painted our bedroom Behr Ink Black shortly after moving into this house, and it’s still probably my favorite paint choice we’ve made. Today, I’m doing a little deep dive on this paint color and everything you need to know if you’d like to try it in your home!

Behr Ink Black (N490-7): The Details

First of all, let’s get into some of the details about this paint that might be helpful if you’re deciding if you want to use it or not. This might be a little too technical for some people, so if that’s you, just keep scrolling or use the table of contents to get where you want to go!

Behr Ink Black Undertones

Ink Black is described on Behr’s website as being in the gray family. However, if I were placing it anywhere I’d label it as a blue! In person, Ink Black reads as a very deep blue. It is almost black in some lights, but to say it is anything other than a blue is downright incorrect, if you ask me.

Of course, it’s important to remember that every paint color on the planet is going to look slightly different in every single space. I always recommend testing a paint color in your room before making a decision about it! What looks very blue in my space might read a tad more gray in yours.

What are the RGB Numbers?

RGB colors indicate how much red, green, and blue are in any given color. The numbers for Ink Black are: R 69 G 73 B 77.

What does this tell us? Well, RGB numbers range from 0-255, with 0 being “that color doesn’t exist here” and 255 being the absolute maximum amount of pigment of a given color. Paint colors with higher RGB numbers will be more saturated, and lower numbers will be more muted. As you can see here, Ink Black is considered a more muted paint color, with the highest number being in (surprise, surprise) blue!

What is the LRV of Ink Black?

LRV is the Light Reflectance Value of a color. It represents the amount of light that is reflected off a paint color. An LRV of 0% would be a pure black, and an LRV of 100% would be a pure white. This number tells you how much light the paint is going to reflect. So, if you have a darker room and want it to feel brighter, you’ll want to choose a number with a higher LRV!

Behr’s Ink Black has an LRV of 7%. That means it has a pretty non-reflective finish and would be considered a very dark paint color. Which, thankfully, is exactly what we wanted for our bedroom!

Where Should I Use Ink Black?

Ink Black should be used in a room where you’re comfortable with a dark and moody vibe. We chose it for our bedroom, but it’s a great choice for dining rooms, bathrooms, kids’ rooms, hallways, family rooms, and more. There’s no limit to where you can use this paint. Heck, it could give off the exact right curb appeal vibe you’re going for if you wanted to paint your exterior brick with it!

The most important thing to consider here is to use this paint color in a space where it brings you joy. For example, it might seem counterintuitive that we painted both our walls and ceiling in this super dark color. Doesn’t it make our room feel like a cave? Well, kind of! And I love that!

In the end, only you will know if Ink Black is a good fit for your home. But, you can definitely get a good idea by testing it out before you paint the entire space! I recommend it for a room with a fair amount of natural light, where you don’t mind a deep and cozy mood.

What Are Some Similar Paint Colors?

If you want to find some similar Paint Colors to Ink Black for further research, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of some close color matches from other popular paint brands:

• Benjamin Moore: Black Horizon
• Sherwin Williams: Cyberspace
• Farrow & Ball: Railings

Other Behr colors that are similar but slightly different hues would include:

• Starless Night (see that in Jackson’s room here!)
• Very Navy
• Carbon
• Night Club
• Midnight Blue

I’m Actually Looking for a Good BLACK Paint!

I hear from a lot of people who are actually looking for a black paint and have stumbled upon Ink Black. It might surprise you to hear that I would not recommend this color if you’re actually looking for black!

Here are a few of my favorite Behr black and dark gray paint colors that might be a better fit for you:

• Cracked Pepper
• Limousine Leather
• Graphic Charcoal
• Little Black Dress
• Spade Black

Which Paint Type Should I Choose?

Finally, let’s talk a little bit about which type of paint you should choose if you’re going to use Ink Black in your home. It might surprise you to know that the type of paint you choose can be just as important as the color! If you choose a cheap, less durable option you are likely to be unhappy with the finish.

Behr paint colors come in lots of different paint types. Some promise one-coat coverage, some promise scuff defence, some have primer built in. So, which one is the best?

If I’m choosing paint for my home, I typically choose Behr Marquee paint in a matte sheen. I love the velvety appearance of matte paint, and the Marquee line is really high quality! They’ve recently released Behr Dynasty paint, which is one step above – this is another great option, too!

Choosing the sheen can feel really overwhelming – there are so many interior paint sheen options! Do you want a shiny appearance or a pearl-like finish? What about a super high gloss enamel sheen so you can get a glass-like finish?! My head used to start spinning with words like flat sheen, satin enamel sheen, and semi-gloss enamel sheen. Don’t worry, though, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You can read my full guide to paint sheens right here, and it will help you wrap your brain around things!

The bottom line is, Behr’s Ink Black paint is a great color option if you’re looking for a statement-making color that feels dramatic and moody. It’s a color that has brought me so much joy in our home, and I’m so glad we went with it! It’s not for everyone, but it’s truly the perfect color for us.