Looking for the perfect soft black or deep charcoal paint color for your home? Let's compare Wrought Iron vs Cheating Heart to see if one might be perfect for your space!
If you're after a rich, bold paint color that's not quite pitch black, consider the charm of a soft black or deep charcoal!
These paint colors offer the same bold elegance as black but with a softer, warmer feel.
Soft blacks and deep charcoals blend seamlessly with various decor styles, colors, and finishes, whether used to cover entire walls or as accent features like around a fireplace.
Just remember, these nuanced colors can shift in different lighting, appearing as black, gray, or even navy, so it's worth paying attention to the details!
Today, I want to compare two popular shades of soft black / charcoal paint – Wrought Iron and Cheating Heart.
Let's talk about the difference between these two popular shades.
Read my full review of Wrought Iron
Read my full review of Cheating Heart
Wrought Iron vs Cheating Heart
Wrought Iron and Cheating Heart are similar paint colors that straddle the line between soft black and deep charcoal.
They have similar LRVs and undertones, but the two have some subtle differences.
What is similar about Wrought Iron vs Cheating Heart?
Cheating Heart and Wrought Iron are very similar paint colors. They often appear as deep charcoals or soft blacks.
In well-lit south-facing rooms, they typically appear as deep charcoal shades.
In north-facing rooms without much natural light or interior rooms such as a bathroom, both tend to look more like solid black tones.
Their Light Reflectance Value (LRV) numbers are similar, meaning they reflect a similar amount of light.
Both colors look great for a home exterior, doors, shutters, cabinets, a fireplace, or built-ins.
What is different about Wrought Iron vs Cheating Heart?
Benjamin Moore refers to Cheating Heart as charcoal and Wrought Iron as black, though these descriptions can interchange depending on the lighting conditions.
Cheating Heart is slightly lighter than Wrought Iron, with LRVs of 8.79 and 8.17, respectively.
Wrought Iron has soft blue, gray, and brown undertones, often appearing as a muted or true black depending on lighting.
Cheating Heart, on the other hand, is a deep charcoal with cool blue undertones, giving it a range of appearances from gray to navy or black.
The biggest difference between the two is that Wrought Iron is grayer, and Cheating Heart has a bluer hue.
| Wrought Iron | Cheating Heart | |
| LRV | 8.17 | 8.79 |
| RBG | R: 74 G: 75 B: 76 | R: 75 G: 77 B: 79 |
| Undertones | soft blue, gray and brown | cool blue |
Light Reflectance Value
Light Reflective Value measures 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.
Wrought Iron and Cheating Heart are both very dark grays / light blacks.
With an LRV of 8.17, Wrought Iron is a bit darker than Cheating Heart (LRV of 8.79). However, the LRVs are similar.
Undertones
While both Wrought Iron and Cheating Heart have blue undertones, they come across differently. Wrought Iron has soft blue undertones, and Cheating Heart has cool blue undertones.
Also, Wrought Iron also features gray and brown undertones.
Between the two, Wrought Iron leans more gray, and Cheating Heart has a darker blue hue.
In south-facing rooms with lots of natural light, Cheating Heart will appear as more charcoal, and Wrought Iron will appear as more deep charcoal or muted black.
The blue undertones in both colors will prevent either color from looking black in rooms with lots of light. Cheating Heart may even look like a deep blue-gray.
In north-facing rooms without much natural light or in interior rooms such as a bathroom, both Cheating Heart and Wrought Iron will most often look black. Wrought Iron's gray undertones will be more apparent.
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!
How do I decide between these two colors?
Wrought Iron and Cheating Heart are very similar colors, so odds are, if you're deciding between these two, you'll be happy either way.
However, if you want a bit more gray, go with Wrought Iron. If you want a bit of a bluer hue, go with Cheating Heart.
Wrought Iron 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!
Cheating Heart 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!
Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.
