In this article, I will take you on a deep dive into the color Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams. As a personal favorite, this paint color holds a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to share its unique qualities with you.
It’s no secret that I love the color Iron Ore. From my plate rack to my previous homes dining room/office space, I have loved the color and vibe it gives off! There is something about a rich dark shade of black that makes a space feel like home.
If you have ever considered using Sherwin Williams Iron Ore in your space, I have compiled all the info you will need. From undertones, Light Reflectance Value and what Iron Ore looks like in real homes.
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Iron Ore Paint Color Overview
Iron Ore Stats
- Sherwin Williams Paint Code: SW 7069
- LRV: 6
- RGB: 67 / 67 / 65
- Hex Value: #434341
What Color Is Sherwin Williams Iron Ore?
Is Iron Ore Warm Or Cool?
From my experience with using Iron Ore in a ton of my spaces I would say it comes off more of a warm charcoal gray than a cool gray. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore has a richness to its color, I wouldn’t say that it’s a true black.
I always suggest trying a sample in your space to make sure you like it before jumping all in.
But, I will say lighting will play a big role on whether Iron Ore shows up more gray or black in a space! Iron Ore on the LRV scale is significantly lighter than its darker contenders! Ultimately, this color falls somewhere in between a dark gray and a black.
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore LRV
Iron Ore has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 6, categorizing it as a soft black or a deep charcoal shade. LRV, is a measurement indicating the lightness or darkness of a color, ranges from 1 (pure black) to 100 (pure white).
With an LRV of 6, Iron Ore is characterized as a very dark color on this scale.
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore Undertones
One of the trickiest things when it comes to picking a paint color is determining what the colors undertones are. Depending on your lighting, the color of other items like flooring or decor surrounding the paint color can drastically make it look different.
In the spaces I have used Iron Ore I have noticed a few different undertones depending on lighting. Sometimes Iron Ore will pull little shades of blue or navy undertones and other times if there’s a ton of natural light it will read more of the soft charcoal gray color.
For example look at these two pictures! Depending on the time of day you have one picture that looks more navy, and the other looks more charcoal grey.
Where Can You Use Sherwin Williams Iron Ore?
Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams is such a versatile paint color, it can be used in so many ways.
Some of my favorite ways to use this paint color has been in accents walls and even painting a whole room! When painting a whole bedroom like I did in my son’s room, Iron Ore creates a cozy space that is great for winding down and relaxing at the end of the day.
In our dining room/office space, I went as far as painting not only the walls and ceiling Iron Ore, but our custom built-ins that I designed were also painted Iron Ore. With all parts of that room in that color the room had such a high-end modern feel!
Iron Ore also looks great against white tiles in a kitchen. I had this awkward wall in our last kitchen and decided to build a plate rack. I ended up painting it Iron Ore with light wood tones as the accent rails. Still to this day, that plate rack is one of my most popular builds I did in that house.
Just recently, I decided I needed more dark moody colors in my current home. So, I painted our basement walls and built-ins Iron Ore. I am so glad I did, it was the missing piece to this space. As I loved the other color I was just craving something different for this area!
Final Thoughts
Iron Ore can look good in just about any space. You can use it as an accent color or go as bold as using it as your main color in a room! It’s more of a soft black instead of a true black. And depending on lighting it can have navy or charcoal gray undertones.
Overall, Iron Ore is one of my favorite colors to use in an interior space and plan on still using it for years to come! Let me know, have you used Iron Ore in your home?!
**Note: I am not a professional and do not claim to be an expert. Please be sure to always read instructions for all tools and products. Safety is very important and should be your top priority. Wear necessary protection when using tools (eye wear, hearing protection, gloves, etc.) and dust masks when sanding or cutting. Simply Aligned Home is not responsible for any injury or damage. All of my designs are not professionally designed and are for private use only.**
