Black Emerald
SW 2936 · #12221D · LRV 1 — near-black with a faint undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Black Emerald1
- 2Sage Green22
- 3Evergreen Fog30
What Color Is Black Emerald, Really?
Black Emerald reads as a near-black with a faint undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 2936 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Black Emerald
Black Emerald earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Greens bridge indoors and out, so they suit living rooms, kitchens and sunrooms.
How Lighting Changes Black Emerald
At LRV 1, Black Emerald 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. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Black Emerald 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.
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Black Emerald within 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 #12221D in HSL space. Pair Black Emerald with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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