Black Swan
SW 6279 · #3A373E · LRV 4 — cool violet tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
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- 2Oyster Catch9
What Color Is Black Swan, Really?
Black Swan reads as a cool violet tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6279 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Black Swan
Black Swan 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 Black Swan
At LRV 4, Black Swan 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 Black Swan 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 6279 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Rich BordeauxBXC-87 · Behr | 4.6 | 4 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Dark Basalt2072-10 · Benjamin Moore | 3.7 | 5 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Black Currant8004-1G · Valspar | 0.9 | 4 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Onyx Black00NN 05/000 · Glidden | 4.3 | 5 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Deepest Purple445-7DB · Dutch Boy | 0.0 | 4 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Bohemian BlackHGSW 6988 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 1.2 | 4 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Black Swan 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 #3A373E in HSL space. Pair Black Swan with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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