Our Review of Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore

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We recently shared our list of the best black and dark gray paint colors for exteriors, and naturally, Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore made the cut. Wrought Iron is a beautiful soft black/dark gray that can add depth and softness to a home exterior. It’s refreshingly versatile and a fantastic option if you’re looking for a dark color that will turn heads.

We share all the important details below so you don’t have to go looking for them. Our recommended applications, color pairings, and more may have you considering Wrought Iron for your home exterior!

Finding the perfect exterior paint color for your home has never been easier. With our paint visualizer, we can show you just how great Wrought Iron (or any other color) could look on your home. We can also help with garages, vertical siding, courtyards, or any other design element. Learn about our virtual exterior design services.

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Rendering of a cottage style home in Benjamin Moore's Wrought Iron paint, with three dormer windows, and a black modern front door.

Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron: The specs

Wrought Iron is a bold black paint color with blue undertones. It has an LRV of 8.17, making it a sleek and moody choice for your home exterior design plans. (Curious about LRV? Learn more here, including why LRV is so important to keep in mind when choosing the perfect paint color for your home.)

Wrought Iron leans cool due its blue undertones. Those same undertones give it just the right amount of color that is more prominent in sunny environments. In shaded settings, it has a lovely depth that doesn’t come across too dark, but just right for a dramatic exterior. Its chalky appearance contributes to its softness.

WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND SAMPLING AND TESTING PAINT COLORS BEFORE COMMITTING. FACTORS SUCH AS NATURAL LIGHTING, UNDERTONES, AND YOUR PROPERTY’S FIXED ELEMENTS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW A COLOR WILL APPEAR ON YOUR EXTERIOR. OUR FRIENDS AT SAMPLIZE OFFER EXTRA-LARGE 9 X 14.75 INCH PEEL-AND-STICK PAINT SAMPLES OF THE COLORS WE LOVE FOR EXTERIORS. ORDER YOUR ‘REAL PAINT, NO MESS’ SAMPLES FROM SAMPLIZE HERE.
Mid-century style home with stone siding, black windows, and wood stained columns.

Recommended applications for Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron really shines in its application possibilities. This a paint color that will look equally as good in a wooded setting as it does in a bright and sunny location. Our designers have used it for cabins, ranches, and even colonials. Not only does it look amazing on many home styles, but it complements a variety of building materials, such as stone, brick, and wood. We’ve applied Wrought Iron as the primary color on many homes, but we most often apply it as an accent color on design elements such as trim and shutters.

In the design above, the stacked stone siding was painted with Wrought Iron. A darker black paint color, Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams, was applied to the eaves and trim. Black accents like the awning, chimney cap, and patio furniture keep the modern and moody vibe flowing throughout. A lighter stone walkway softens the design and ties in with the gray concrete on the right side of the home. Wood details on the columns, front door, and portico ceiling add warmth to the cooler façade.

Traditional stye home with large windows, a tall portico, wood lintels, and a stone and paver walkway.

Wrought Iron color pairings

We normally recommend pairing Wrought Iron with other black and gray paint colors. Tricorn Black is a popular choice among our designers, as is Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty and Sherwin Williams’ Caviar.

When we do pair Wrought Iron with lighter colors, many times they’re light grays or warm or pure whites. The brick on the home above features Seapearl by Benjamin Moore with Wrought Iron on a small section of siding in the middle. Other whites that look wonderful with Wrought Iron are Chantilly Lace and Cloud White, both by Benjamin Moore.

Brick English colonial style home with white windows, dormers, and black shutters.

One of the best features of Wrought Iron is how well it pairs with natural red brick. Red brick can be a real head-scratcher when it comes to color pairings, but Wrought Iron never fails.

The beautiful home above features Wrought Iron on the trim, shutters, and front door. We love using darker accent colors on brick homes to add a bit of drama while still remaining timeless. If Wrought Iron was replaced with a white paint on the home above, it would give the façade an entirely different feel. This design, with the darker color choice, feels a bit more elegant and modern.

Contemporary home with black windows, a glass sunroom, and a balcony with cable style railings.

Another way to use Wrought Iron is color blocking. Color blocking is a great way to create separation between different parts of the home. It also helps to highlight different textures like the vertical siding and the brick on the home above. Benjamin Moore’s Glacier White brightens the home and balances the dark elements of the design.

One story rancher with thermory wood siding, black paint, and cement columns.

Pros and cons of Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore

PROS:

  • Perfect for a moody color palette
  • Easily pairs with natural red brick
  • Looks great on many home styles

CONS:

  • Might be too dark for some
  • Somewhat limited color pairing options

Wrought Iron alternatives

Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore is a fantastic choice for your home’s exterior, however we have two other choices that are just as appealing.

Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal vs. Wrought Iron

Kendall Charcoal is a dark gray hue and an excellent choice if you’d like something lighter for your home. Its LRV is 12.9, which is a bit lighter than Wrought Iron. It has beautiful green and brown undertones that make it perfect for densely wooded locations. Its color pairings are similar to Wrought Iron, but it also pairs well with browns like Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams. In application, it works best with wood, stone, and metals.

Benjamin Moore’s Black Knight vs. Wrought Iron

Black Knight has stunning green undertones that give it a rich, deep, almost-teal appearance. If a black with minimal undertones isn’t for you because you still like some color interest, Black Knight might be a good choice.

Coming in at 4.76 on the LRV scale, Black Knight is darker than Wrought Iron. In sunny environments the green undertones will be highlighted, and this difference in LRV won’t be too drastic. In shaded locations you can expect Black Knight to appear deeply saturated. When paired with a crisp white trim, Black Knight can be a part of a classic color palette. For a modernized style, it can be more subdued as seen in the design above.

The bottom line on Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron is a gorgeous choice for an exterior paint color and a sure way to add a dramatic touch to your home. Even though it’s quite dark, it’s surprisingly versatile — complementing stone, wood, and brick alike. When we consider application, it impresses us with its ability to be used as a central color or an accent color on a home. If you’re interested in black paint colors for your home’s exterior, definitely consider Wrought Iron as a contender.

Our designers at brick&batten are experts in virtual exterior design. We make it easy for you to visualize your home with all the upgrades you want, from the driveway to the front door and everything in between. All it takes to get started is your answers to our simple questionnaire. You’ll be able to see your home in a completely custom design, and you’ll also receive a clickable resource list that will help you execute the upgrade. Get started here.

Author

Originally from Tennessee, Ami currently lives in South Carolina, which has been home since leaving the military in 2016. Interior and exterior design has always intrigued Ami, especially the styles and characteristics seen in other countries as an avid traveler and photographer. She lives for the renewal of older or historic homes that maintain their character, and regularly creates her own mood boards and virtual designs for inspiration or to help others with their spaces. Having always had a passion for design and following their work for years prior, Ami was excited to be brought onto brick&batten’s team of writers. Her writing endeavors actually started in an academic/scientific setting, then in a regulatory aspect. Writing about paint colors, emerging or current trends in exterior design, and so much more revolving around something she’s always enjoyed was a fun and welcomed change!