Railings vs Tricorn Black
A side-by-side comparison of Farrow & Ball Railings (No.31) and Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258).
| Farrow & Ball Railings | Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Code | No.31 | SW 6258 |
| Hex |
#313638
|
#2F2F2F
|
| RGB | 49, 54, 56 | 47, 47, 47 |
| LRV | 5.05 | 3 |
| Undertone | Blue-Black | True Neutral Black |
| Family | Black | Black |
| Best Rooms | Front Door, Railings, Trim, Cabinets, Accent Wall | Front Door, Accent Wall, Exterior Trim, Shutters, Statement Furniture |
LRV Comparison
Light Reflectance Value measures how much light a color reflects. Railings has an LRV of 5.05 (dark) and Tricorn Black has an LRV of 3 (dark). These two colors reflect a similar amount of light, so the brightness of a room will feel comparable with either choice.
The Full Comparison
Two of the most popular near-blacks from premium and mainstream brands. Railings (F&B) has a distinctive blue undertone that gives it complexity and depth that reveals itself in changing light. Tricorn Black (SW) is a clean, true black with minimal undertone. For woodwork and railings where you want the color to shift subtly throughout the day, Railings is unmatched. For a modern, graphic impact where black should read as simply black, Tricorn Black is cleaner. Railings costs significantly more, so if you want a large area of dark color, Tricorn Black delivers similar drama at a fraction of the price.
Railings Undertones
A deep, complex blue-black. Softer than a pure black with a subtle blue undertone that gives it depth and sophistication.
Tricorn Black Undertones
About as close to a true, pure black as Sherwin Williams offers. No visible blue, brown, or green undertone. Just black.
Lighting Behavior
Railings: In bright light, the blue undertone is visible and beautiful. In dim rooms, it reads as a soft, sophisticated black. Stunning on woodwork and front doors.
Tricorn Black: Reads as a true black in all conditions. In very bright direct light, you might detect the faintest warm lean, but functionally this is a neutral black.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, Railings (Farrow & Ball) and Tricorn Black (Sherwin Williams) are not the same color. They're in the same family (black), but they differ in undertone, LRV, and how they behave in different lighting. Railings has blue-black undertones, while Tricorn Black has true neutral black undertones. Always compare physical samples before choosing.
Railings is lighter with an LRV of 5.05, compared to Tricorn Black's LRV of 3. LRV (Light Reflectance Value) measures how much light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (black) to 100 (white).
You could, though most designers would recommend the opposite: Tricorn Black (the darker shade, LRV 3) on walls and Railings (the lighter shade, LRV 5.05) on trim. That said, rules are made to be broken.