Last year, I stood in my living room staring at walls that bored me to tears. White, beige, gray, I’d done it all.
I wanted something bold, but not loud. That’s when I found Onyx (2133-10) by Benjamin Moore.
I worried it might be too dark or make my space feel small. Would I regret this choice? Six months later, I can tell you exactly how this paint performs in real life.
No fancy talk, just my actual results with this deep, rich color.
In this blog, I’ll show you:
- How Onyx looks in different lighting
- Where it works best in a home
- Common problems and how to fix them
- Tips for getting the best results
If you’re stuck choosing a dark paint color, I’ve been there. Let me help you decide if Onyx is right for you.
The Rich Undertones of Onyx by Benjamin Moore
When I first painted a test spot of Onyx on my wall, I thought, “It’s just black paint.” I was so wrong. After living with it for months, I can tell you this color changes throughout the day.
Onyx has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 4.99, making it very dark but not pure black. This matters.
Morning sunlight pulls out subtle coffee-like browns that warm up my office walls. By midday, they shift to what I’d call soft charcoal.
And at night? Under my warm lamps, there’s a hint of deep navy that surprises guests.
Want to see the real magic? Place Onyx next to true black fabric. You’ll spot the difference right away.
My north-facing bedroom shows Onyx’s cooler side. But my south-facing kitchen? The color feels warmer and richer.
The most striking thing about this paint isn’t how dark it is, it’s how much depth it has.
I’ve found that LED bulbs make Onyx look more blue-black, while old-school incandescent bulbs bring out brownish notes.
This isn’t the flat, harsh black I feared. Instead, it’s a color that feels both bold and calm at the same time.
The Psychology of Onyx by Benjamin Moore
I never thought paint would change how I feel in my own home. But Onyx did exactly that. This color creates a mood.
When I painted my dining room, the space instantly felt more grown-up, not stuffy or formal, just more put-together. It was like I finally got rid of my college futon and bought real furniture.
Did it make my room look smaller? Yes, and no. My 10×12 office did shrink a bit visually, but it also felt more cozy and less empty. That was worth the trade-off for me.
The biggest surprise? How calm I feel in my Onyx rooms. Dark colors get a bad rap for being sad or heavy.
My experience has been the opposite. These walls feel like a soft hug at the end of a long day.
Friends ask if I get tired of such a strong color. Six months in, I still smile when I walk into these rooms.
One honest drawback is that my mood drops when the room is messy. Light colors hide clutter, while onyx shows every speck of dust and paper pile.
If you want a space that feels both calm and special, this color delivers. It’s not trying to be trendy, it just feels good to live with.
Why Onyx Is an Ideal Paint Color for Any Room?
1. My Experience with Onyx in Different Spaces
I’ve now used Onyx in three rooms of my home. Let me be honest, it’s not perfect for every wall in every room.
In my small powder room, painting all four walls made the space feel like a cave. I had to add extra lighting to make it work.
But as an accent wall in my living room? It’s perfect. The dark backdrop makes my art pop without taking over the whole space. This balance matters.
2. Where Onyx Really Shines
Kitchen cabinets. If you’re thinking about using Onyx, consider painting wood cabinets instead of walls.
My lower cabinets in Onyx with white uppers created a look that feels both classic and fresh.
Doors also look amazing in this color. I painted my interior doors, and the contrast against white trim looks custom and high-end without trying too hard.
3. When to Think Twice
Bedrooms can be tricky with Onyx. In my guest room, the dark walls make the space feel cozy but also make it harder to wake up in the morning.
Consider your sleep habits before going this route.
Small rooms with little natural light might suffer. My windowless hallway, painted in Onyx, needed extra light fixtures to feel welcoming rather than gloomy.
4. Practical Tips from My Experience
Sunlight changes everything. My south-facing office looks rich and warm in Onyx, while the same color in my north-facing bathroom feels cooler and more stark.
Testing is worth the extra time. I put sample patches on all four walls and checked them at different times of day.
The color looked different on each wall, something I wouldn’t have known from just a paint card.
Best Places to Use Onyx in Your Home
Onyx adds a touch of class to any home with its striking patterns and glossy finish.
This natural stone comes in many colors, from white and honey to green and black, making it a top choice for homeowners who want to add a bit of luxury to their living spaces.
1. Living Room Accent Wall
I took a chance and painted the wall behind my TV in Onyx. It was the best decision ever. The TV blends in when turned off instead of being a big black box on a light wall.
My artwork and photos stand out like they’re in a gallery. One wall was enough, I kept the other walls light to balance the room.
Unexpected bonus: The dark wall actually makes my space look bigger by creating depth.
2. Kitchen Cabinets
My kitchen island cabinets in Onyx completely changed my cooking space. Against white upper cabinets and walls, the contrast feels clean but not boring.
Spills and fingerprints show less on the dark paint than they did on my old white cabinets.
A word of caution: I had to apply three coats for even coverage. If you try this, plan for extra time and paint.
3. Bathroom Vanity
The old brown vanity in my guest bathroom looked dated. A coat of Onyx made it look like a fancy hotel piece.
I kept the walls light and added gold hardware; the look feels both modern and classic.
What surprised me? How easy it is to clean. Water spots that showed on my old finish now blend right in.
4. Bedroom Wall Behind the Bed
My bedroom felt flat until I painted the wall behind my headboard. Now, the bed is the main focus of the room.
The dark color also helps me sleep better; it reduces the early morning light that used to wake me up.
I was worried it might feel gloomy, but paired with crisp white bedding, the effect is cozy rather than heavy.
Flooring Options that Pair Beautifully with Onyx
When picking floors to match with onyx features in your home, the goal is to find options that highlight onyx’s beauty without competing with it.
Since onyx comes in bold patterns and rich colors, your floor should complement your room’s look, not compete with it.
1. Light Oak Hardwoods
When I painted my living room wall Onyx, my light oak floors suddenly looked brand new. The stark contrast between dark walls and blonde wood creates a clean, fresh look.
My floors were starting to show wear, but next to Onyx, they became a feature instead of a flaw.
If you’re stuck with floors you don’t love, Onyx might be your fix. The contrast draws attention away from minor floor issues.
2. Polished Concrete
My kitchen has polished concrete floors that I once thought were too cold. Paired with Onyx cabinets, they now look purposeful and modern.
The slight shine of the concrete picks up light in a room that could otherwise feel dark.
What I learned: Shiny floors help bounce light around a space with dark walls. This balance keeps rooms from feeling like a cave.
3. Neutral Carpets
I tried Onyx in my carpeted office and found that my beige carpet suddenly looked more high-end.
The dark walls make even basic carpet feel intentional. My cream-colored area rug now stands out as a design choice rather than just a floor covering.
One warning: very yellow-toned carpets clashed with the cool undertones in my Onyx paint. If your carpet has gold or yellow tints, test carefully before going all-in.
4. Natural Fiber Rugs
The jute rug in my dining room works magic with my Onyx accent wall. The rough texture against smooth dark paint creates depth that feels natural, not forced.
When I first painted, my red Persian rug fought with the walls. Swapping it for natural fibers fixed the whole room without buying new furniture.
Onyx Compared to Other Paints of Benjamin Moore
| Paint Color | My Experience | How It Compares to Onyx | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onyx | My final choice for most rooms | The truest near-black with subtle depth | Making a bold statement without going pure black |
| Wrought Iron | Tested in my office first | Much more gray than Onyx, shows more blue in daylight | Spaces where pure black seems too strong |
| Black Beauty | Sampled on kitchen cabinets | Warmer with more brown undertones than Onyx | Rooms with wood tones and warm lighting |
| Soot | Used in a friend’s home | Definitely more blue-black, almost navy in some lights | Spaces where you want a hint of color |
I put samples of all four colors on the same wall and checked them throughout the day. The differences were striking.
Morning light showed Wrought Iron as clearly gray, while Onyx kept its deep, rich tone.
Why Onyx won for me: It stayed true to itself in all lighting. The others changed too much from morning to night, which felt less stable.
In bright sun, Black Beauty looked almost brown to my eyes, not what I wanted. Soot was pretty but felt like a color rather than a neutral.
If your room gets very little natural light, Wrought Iron might work better than Onyx. It feels less heavy in dim spaces.
Conclusion
After living with Onyx for six months, would I use it again? Absolutely yes—but with some thought.
This isn’t a paint color to slap on every wall of your home. It’s a tool that works magic in the right spots.
I’d use it again for accent walls, cabinets, and smaller spaces where I want depth and warmth.
For anyone still unsure: paint a 2×2-foot square on each wall of the room you’re considering.
Check it at 8 AM, noon, 5 PM, and with lamps on at night. The color will change throughout the day.
Is Onyx worth the extra work? For me, it was. No other dark paint I tried had this much character without feeling like a true black hole.
My final tip is to pair it with extra lighting. Even the most beautiful dark room needs good lamps to shine.