Forest Black works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 10 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it if you want a crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #5B5752 · 30YY 10/038
Forest Black
10%LRV Value
Forest Black Technical Profile
What color is PPG Forest Black (30YY 10/038)? It's a dark warm gray — hex #5B5752, LRV 10. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Forest Black is Behr Equestrian Leather — a near-identical match on the wall, with Sherwin-Williams Prelude and Valspar English Tea Party also close. With an LRV of 10, Forest Black creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. As a warm neutral, Forest Black pairs with off-whites for trim, white oak or walnut floors, and brass or warm brushed nickel hardware. Deep green, navy, or terra-cotta all read well as accent colors. As a deeper neutral, Forest Black reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. Warm neutrals come alive under 2700K bulbs, where their underlying yellow or peach undertones add visible warmth. Under 4000K daylight they read cleaner and slightly cooler. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Forest Black in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Forest Black
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Equestrian Leather
Behr
Nearly identical
Prelude
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
English Tea Party
Valspar
Nearly identical
Sturgis Gray
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Charcoal Sketch
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Sturgis Gray
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Iron Mountain
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Ship'S Anchor
Dutch Boy
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Forest Black
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Forest Black
#5B5752
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#84865A
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Forest Black
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Forest Black Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar PPG Colors
Other PPG colors close to Forest Black.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Forest Black — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Forest Black from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Forest Black are Equestrian Leather by Behr (a near-identical match), Prelude by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), English Tea Party by Valspar (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Forest Black's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Forest Black?
Forest Black has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 9.6, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Forest Black
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Forest Black depends on the room. Here's how to choose.