Carbonized
HGSW 1481 · #434341 · LRV 6 — neutral with no strong undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Cordovan Brown0
- 2Carbonized6
What Color Is Carbonized, Really?
Carbonized reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 1481 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Carbonized
Carbonized earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
How Lighting Changes Carbonized
At LRV 6, Carbonized is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Carbonized are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 1481 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Iron OreSW 7069 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 6 | Color page → |
| Behr | Black SuedeS-H-790 · Behr | 0.7 | 6 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Notre DameCSP-570 · Benjamin Moore | 2.0 | 6 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Arrowhead8006-11F · Valspar | 2.3 | 5 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | OnyxPPG1011-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.8 | 6 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Deep Onyx00NN 07/000 · Glidden | 1.7 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Carbonized within HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #434341 in HSL space. Pair Carbonized with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Carbonized?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question