Sherwin-Williams Black Fox is a perfect black color with extremely rich brown undertones.
Sort of medium black and brown, this color has an extremely elegant touch to it.
With a tinge of warmth, this color promises a cozy and dignified look.
So, if you are not looking for absolute black but still want to attain the beauty and sophistication of it – Black fox could be your solution!
This color has unknown underlying theories and details that you must know before choosing it.
When, where and how to use Black Fox? What should it be paired against? What best complements the color?
Yes, you will have the solutions to them all!
However, remember not to take risks with this color. It could get daunting if you mess it up!
Bold and daring, Black Fox has limits. Yes, I feel sad to say that.
It is not ‘free to go’ option!
And that is why you need to think and rethink this color.
I am going to spill beans!
Are you excited? Have a look below!
Sherwin-Williams Black Fox SW 7020 Details and Specifications
Do you observe that mysterious look behind the color?
Well, yes! The color has a lot to speak to you!
Isn’t it interesting how all these colors have their own stories to tell and paint not just walls but our lives as well?
Here comes an important point – before choosing paint, it is crucial to know the basic theories that the color is linked with.
One such important term is LRV or Light Reflectance Value!
For all the newcomers, LRV defines how much light the color reflects (or in short, how light, or dark the color is)!
Well, the LRV of Black Fox is 7!
Woah!
That means the color hardly reflects any light!
It is too dark.
But don’t let that dissuade you – you can still use it in your home!
I mean, that is the sole purpose behind writing this blog, right?
So, before I let out all my recipes, let’s first discuss the other associated values.
Red = 79
Green = 72
Blue = 66
HEX Value = #4f4842
By this time, you know Black Fox got a lot for you.
What I like to do is sample Black Fox under different lights where I’m going to use it. I use Samplize stick-on samples. Get some samples now!
You can say – it is either dark grey – soft charcoal/black – or dark brown!
How Does Black Fox Feel in a Space?
Blogger Ayisha from The Pursuit of Handyness remodels her home, showing that Black Fox doesn’t look as dark as one would expect.
If your space is not spacious enough – Black Fox will definitely feel congested and dingy!
And that is why I said – this is quite a smart color and you can’t afford to just randomly use it!
Due to its low reflectivity, the color appears to be even darker when not exposed to ample light – maybe feels like SW 7048 Urbane Bronze (just so you know UB was declared as the ‘Color of the Year’ by Sherwin-Williams for the year)!
But if you pair it with light and subtle hues – your problem is solved!
However, remember to use it in the right amounts!
Highly recommended for Hollywood Glam Style, this color has absolute magic to it!
The crispness of the color is bound to make your space feel elegant, sophisticated, and timeless!
And also unique!
Since you are not using absolute black or brown – this shade goes much on the exotic side of the scale.
How Does Light Affect the Color?
Designer Carla Aston loves Black Fox to create contrast and accentuate interesting elements in her designs.
Black Fox in north-facing rooms will make your room, even more, darker, and dingier!
So, I highly recommend using this color in rooms with south-facing light or afternoon western light!
Also, make sure to aptly choose the temperature of the light! Too warm might make it look more brown whereas too white can lighten the color.
With natural lighting, the actual color is well protruded out!
If you have a huge space with immense lighting conditions, Black Fox would be a great daring solution!
In a smaller room, you can use Black Fox as an ACCENT wall!
So, you can have the best of BOTH worlds!
I’ll have to say again, the absolutely coolest way to check a color like this out in your home is with a wall sample from Samplize. Buy yours here.
What are the Coordinating Colors for Sherwin-Williams Black Fox?
Sherwin-Williams Black Fox is a deep and rich brown neutral paint color that can add an extremely modern and contemporary feel to a space.
Highly recommended for exteriors – this color truly has the potential to pair with some nice warm colors for an ultimate cohesive appeal.
But you must know that this color can be quite selective! Well, not very easy to pair with.
To name a few, SW Black Fox can be best paired with creamy off-whites, yellow, lighter soft blues, and red cherry!
In terms of metallic accents, it’s best to pair this color with antique brass, satin brass, or even oil-rubbed bronze for a subtle look.
Here are the following two color palette suggestions – monochromatic and coordinating (cool and warm)!
Monochromatic Color Palette
The complementary colors for the monochromatic palette are as follows –
- SW 7019 Gauntlet Gray
- SW 7018 Dovetail
- SW 7017 Dorian Gray
This monochromatic palette is ideal for design styles like Japandi that crave a neutral, organic, and earthy look indoors.
You can best add satin brass to this palette for a luxe and rich appeal.
Also, don’t forget to add creamy off-whites to give a break to the richness of browns!
Contrasting Cool Color Palette
The complementary colors for the contrasting palette are as follows (cool) –
- SW 7551 Greek Villa
- SW 9178 In The Navy
- SW 6535 Solitude
This cool palette will readily contradict the warm brown paint color and rather make the space appear crisp and eye-catchy.
The navy and soft blue paint color can be added as a calming statement to tone down the home!
You can best pair it with shades of warm white like SW Greek Villa on the trims and moldings.
Contrasting Warm Color Palette
The complementary colors for the contrasting palette are as follows (warm) –
- SW 7551 Greek Villa
- SW 7036 Accessible Beige – see my guide here!
- SW 7513 Sanderling
This warmer color palette is ideally a wonderful choice for traditional and modern farmhouse interior design styles.
Also, if you’re residing in a colder state, this color will help create a soothing experience.
You must add shades of off-white like SW Greek Villa to break the monotony.
On the other hand, if you are wondering what contrasts would best complement the color, I would recommend pairing up with greens and beiges!
Because it has a warm tinge to it.
- SW 7008 Alabaster
- SW 6162 Ancient Marble – see my guide here!
- SW 6253 Olympus White – see my guide here!
Do you feel confident about using these palettes? I am sure your space will look cohesive!
More SW Black Fox Gray Color Palettes
Sherwin-Williams SW 7020 Black Fox Vs. Similar Colors
There are quite a few alternatives for Black Fox.
But I must tell you that there are no two colors alike!
However, if you are looking for options, I have enlisted a few color options that you might want to consider!
Black Fox Vs. SW 7048 Urbane Bronze
2021, the color of the year, Urbane Bronze is highly recommended for Minimalistic and Contemporary styled homes!
With a slight golden-brown touch, this color has deep undertones with an intensive warm touch!
With an LRV of 8, this color is lighter than Urbane Bronze and like other similar colors, it has a crisp and clean touch to it!
To see how these look in your home, get some large peel-and-stick samples and try on your walls with different lighting sources.
Learn more about Urbane Bronze in my article here!
Black Fox Vs. Sealskin
Another alternative to Black Fox, SW Sealskin has rich brown undertones with a slight crispness.
With an LRV of 6, the color has almost similar scaled darkness.
This color is highly recommended but not quite popular in the industry.
Definitely check out my article covering the SW Black collection if you want to consider other similar colors
Try out the looks of these colors in your own home with some temporary wall samples. You can find them here!