Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron Review
All about Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
Did you know that Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron is one of the brand’s best-selling paint colors? It’s a soft black that has all the moodiness of a true black, without feeling imposing.
I love Wrought Iron as a black color for interior doors, for interior and exterior trim work, and for accent walls and cabinetry. Because it’s not a true black, I’d even use it as a wall color, though I’d probably do it in a smaller space like a powder room or bathroom, or perhaps on the top (or bottom) half of a room with board-and-batten or picture frame molding.
If you’re thinking about using Wrought Iron for your home, keep reading for more about this bestselling black paint color, including more about its undertones, what colors it works well with, and just how dark the shade is compared to other black shades.
What Color is Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron?
Benjamin Moore describes Wrought Iron as ” a shade of black beloved for its relatively soft, malleable character.” I describe it as a school chalkboard black because it reminds me of the color of a clean school chalkboard – like a dark graphite color. It’s not a pitch black, so it has some depth and doesn’t feel cold or imposing.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron: LRV and Undertones
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron has an LRV, or light reflective value, of 8.17, which means it’s a pretty dark color, but not pitch black.
If you aren’t familiar with LRV, or Light Reflective Value, it’s a measurement of how dark or bright a paint color is on a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (pure white). The higher the LRV, the more white a color has it it, so the more light it reflects, and the lighter the color looks.
There are no paint colors that are 0 or 100, and most tend to fall on a scale of 3 to 96. Shades like Benjamin Moore Simply White, a very bright white with a touch of warmth, has an LRV of 89.
For comparison purposes, Wrought Iron has about the same LRV as Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, which is 8.36. Benjamin Moore colors like Graphite, Black Panther, Black Jack, and Black Tar, all have LRVs of around 6-7.
The RGB values (or Red, Green, Blue) of Wrought Iron are 74, 75, 76, which means it’s a pretty neutral paint color. However, it does have a slightly blue undertone that can make the hue look navy-tinged in certain lighting.
Is Wrought Iron Black or Gray?
Benjamin Moore calls Wrought Iron a shade of black, so I’m inclined to agree, although I’d call it a soft black. It’s definitely not a true, pitch black, and it can look like a dark charcoal gray depending on the light and where it’s used.
In a bright room that’s flooded with natural light, Wrought Iron will likely look more like a charcoal gray. In a north-facing room that gets minimal natural light, Wrought Iron is likely to look more black.
If you’re worried about Wrought Iron looking either too black or too gray in your space, I always recommend getting a paint sample. It’s a super easy and inexpensive way to ensure that you’re happy with the outcome of your paint selection. (I’ve always done regular ol’ paint samples, but during our renovation last year I started using Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples, which make the process even easier).
What goes with BM Wrought Iron?
Because Wrought Iron has neutral undertones, it’s easily paired with lots of different colors.
Benjamin Moore suggests White Ice, White Cloud, and Wedgewood Gray as complementary colors. I love the idea of using White Ice as a wall color and Wrought Iron as an interior door color, or using Wrought Iron as an exterior color, with a Wedgewood Gray door.
Many of the most popular Benjamin Moore whites would easily work with Wrought Iron also, like Simply White, White Dove, China White, and even Swiss Coffee.
Personally, I love Wrought Iron as part of a neutral palette, paired with white and wood tones.
To get a better idea of the subtleties of the color, here’s a look at how it compares with other popular soft black paints.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron Vs. Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain is another popular Benjamin Moore soft black. It’s slightly lighter than Wrought Iron, with an LRV of 10.96 compared to Wrought Iron’s 8.17, which makes it a good choice if you’re looking for a color that reads more like a charcoal gray. Iron mountain also has a more yellow undertone, while Wrought Iron can read more blue.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron Vs. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
Iron Ore is one of Sherwin Williams’ most popular black shades. You can see, above, that it’s also a soft black, but slightly darker than Wrought Iron.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron Vs. Soot
Soot is one of Benjamin Moore’s darker black shades, so if you’re looking for something you know won’t be mistaken for charcoal gray, give soot a try.
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