Looking for the perfect deep and moody paint color for your home? Let's talk about Behr Cracked Pepper and if it might be the perfect charcoal paint color for your space!
Deep and moody paint colors have been having a moment for a while, so I wasn't completely shocked when Behr paint announced that they're 2020 for paint color of the year is Cracked Pepper.
This is a deep charcoal, paint color, sometimes described as a soft black. And it can feel moody, modern, and very cozy.
Let's dive into what makes this color of the year so popular.
Behr Cracked Pepper
Cracked Pepper is a dark charcoal paint color. It is soft, meaning it doesn't read as too harsh on the eyes, and has slightly cool undertones.
Color Family
Cracked Pepper is in the black color family.
Light Reflectance Value
8
Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100 with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.
With an LRV of 8, Cracked Pepper is a VERY dark paint color!
RGB Colors
R: 79 G: 81 B: 82
RGB describes the amount of each color - red, green, and blue - present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!
Hex Code
#4C4D4F
Undertones
Cracked Pepper has slight cool blue undertones.
However, they are slight. It is really neutral enough to pair well with warm or cool accents. Remember that warm lighting will make it feel warmer, and cool toned lighting will bring out those blue tones!
One of the best ways to see these undertones is to look at the color swatches Behr puts out. All of the lighter shades are blue - indicating the strong blue undertones in this color.
It's very important to swatch colors on your wall to make sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.
Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!
Best uses
Because this color is so dark, it can be a bit much for the walls. I love it for:
- an accent wall
- furniture
- trim
- doors
- shutters
Similar Colors
- Benjamin Moore French Beret
- Sherwin Williams Dramatic Black
- Benjamin Moore Nightfall
- Sherwin Williams Perle Noir
- Behr Deep Charcoal
- Valspar Muted Ebony
Coordinating Colors
Honestly, Cracked Pepper is neutral enough to work with almost any color scheme. Layer it with cool grays for a soft look, blues for gentle contrast, and muted warm shades for bold contrast.
Cool grays
- Platinum
- Silver Feather
- Sterling
- Misty Coast
- Falcon Gray
Blues
- Glass Saphire
- Monet
- Sailor's Bay
- Laguna Blue
Muted warm shades
- Cornstalk
- Sunwashed Brick
- Lingonberry Punch
- Laurel Tree
- Perfect Penny
Trim Colors
Since this color is slightly cool, I prefer to pair it with a crisp white trim color.
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin Williams Extra White
- Behr Ultra Pure White
Behr Cracked Pepper color palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home's aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!
Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?
Choosing paint doesn’t have to be stressful! My free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide walks you through the exact steps to confidently choose the perfect color — without the overwhelm, second-guessing, or endless swatch testing.
👉 Click here to download the free guide!
My Paint Color Formula course walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
Morgan is passionate about home decor and paint colors. She has been sharing DIY home decor tips since 2012 at CharlestonCrafted.com. From there, she learned to love paint colors, and the Paint Color Project was born in 2022!
