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Everything You Need to Know About Behr Cracked Pepper – The 2024 Color of the Year!

    Cracked Pepper has been chosen as Behr’s Color of the Year for 2024! (To see the Color of the Year for 2023, check out Blank Canvas.) This deep charcoal is a go-with-everything shade that you can incorporate into your home with ease.

    Behr Cracked Pepper swatched inside a ring of colorful peppercorns

    Let’s take a look at Cracked Pepper in real homes, find some coordinating colors, and check out some dupes from other brands!

    What Color is Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01)

    This is what Behr says about Cracked Pepper:

    “The versatile soft black ignites a sensory experience that transcends sight and instantly elevates every aspect of your life.”

    Wow. Almost comically bold claims.

    So, is Cracked Pepper black?

    Behr calls Cracked Pepper a “soft black” and that’s pretty accurate. It is not dark enough to be a true black color, but it may look like one in certain lights.

    Behr Cracked Pepper color card with a paint swipe of the charcoal gray

    If you are shopping for a black paint and will be disappointed with a charcoal, Cracked Pepper is not the right color for you. If you want a nearly-black paint color that isn’t as harsh, then you will like this color.

    LRV and RGB of Behr Cracked Pepper

    In my experience, true black paint colors usually have an LRV between 3 and 5. Cracked Pepper has an LRV of 8.

    Behr Cracked Pepper plotted at 8 on an LRV chart from 0 (true black) to 100 (pure white)

    The RBG of Cracked Pepper is Red 79, Green 81, Blue 82. 

    The hex code for Cracked Pepper is #4F5152.

    What Are the Undertones of Cracked Pepper

    From the pictures you will see in real homes, Cracked Pepper is most likely to have a slight blue undertone.

    Hex value of cracked Pepper on a blue chart with a dollop of the color over an image of a spoon full of peppercorns.

    Cracked Pepper may also have a greenish undertone on occasion, but this is far less common.

    Is Cracked Pepper Warm or Cool

    Cracked Pepper is a cool paint color, due to it’s cool blue undertones, but it can also look very neutral.

    Cracked Pepper on the Behr Color Strip

    Behr doesn’t really organize their colors into proper light to dark strips anymore, but using the color numbers, this is what I came up with:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on a color strip with lighter shades Pencil Point, Antique Tin, Dark Pewter, and French Silver, over a background of a wood salt and pepper dish with a wooden spoon beside it.
    • Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01)
    • Pencil Point (PPU18-02)
    • Antique Tin (PPU18-03)
    • Dark Pewter (PPU18-04)  
    • French Silver (PPU18-05)

    Lighter Version of Cracked Pepper

    One shade lighter than Cracked Pepper, is the color Pencil Point. It has an LRV of 11, so it isn’t that much lighter, but it won’t ever look black.

    Pencil Point, Cracked Pepper, and Tricorn Black, all swatched as paint dollops together

    Darker Version of Cracked Pepper

    Cracked Pepper is the darkest color on this strip, but if you are looking for a true black, you might prefer Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. It is often considered to be the blackest black paint.

    Behr Cracked Pepper in a Color Palette

    Because it was the color of the year, Behr released a whole collection of coordinating colors for Cracked Pepper:

    The Behr Cracked Pepper coordinating color booklet for the color of the year 2024

    Here is a palette featuring some of the lightest and easiest to use colors:

    Behr Cracked Pepper in a color palette featuring neutral shades Weathered White, Even Better Beige, Tranquil Gray, and Chic Taupe, and the soft pink of Malted. All colors are swatched below a photo of cracked Pepper on the wall in a powder room with a vintage pink sink
    Background Photo by @abbymbrennan

    Coordinating Colors for Cracked Pepper

    Weathered White

    Weathered White is a slightly warm off-white that is will keep your color scheme crisp:

    Cracked Pepper swatched beside coordinating color Behr Weathered White

    Even Better Beige

    Even Better Beige is a great complementary choice, because the underlying orange in beige plays off the blue of Cracked Pepper.

    Cracked Pepper swatched beside coordinating color Behr Even Better Beige

    Tranquil Gray

    Tranquil Gray is a nice neutral choice if you are wanting an all-over wall color that isn’t quite as warm as a true beige. This greigey color is still very complementary with Cracked Pepper.

    Cracked Pepper swatched beside coordinating color Behr Tranquil Gray

    Chic Taupe

    Taupe is another great alternative to beige that is staging a big comeback. Chic Taupe is a really beautiful neutral that is a bit darker than the others in this Cracked Pepper palette.

    Cracked Pepper swatched beside coordinating color Behr Chic Taupe

    I think these two look fabulous, but I am partial to a taupe!

    Malted

    Malted is a more specific choice, but for the brave, a baby pink does look really nice with Cracked Pepper.

    Cracked Pepper swatched beside coordinating color Behr Malted

    What Trim Colors Go With Behr Cracked Pepper?

    Here are some popular Behr trim colors with Cracked Pepper:

    Background of Behr Cracked Pepper with a variety of white trim colors including Ultra Pure White, Whipped Cream, Blank Canvas, and Swiss Coffee

    White Paint that Goes with Cracked Pepper

    Ultra Pure White and Cracked Pepper

    Cracked Pepper will look its deepest and darkest with a bright white like Ultra Pure White for trim.

    Whipped Cream with Cracked Pepper

    Whipped Cream is the white that Behr suggests coordinating with Cracked Pepper. It’s very close to being a bright and totally true white, but it has a hint more warmth than Ultra Pure White.

    Blank Canvas and Cracked Pepper

    A dollop of Blank Canvas over a color card of Cracked Pepper

    The former Color of the Year Blank Canvas could be a good trim option with Cracked Pepper. It is a warmer white that may emphasize the blue tones in Cracked Pepper, and will also make it look a bit more charcoal rather than black.

    Swiss Coffee with Cracked Pepper

    Behr Swiss Coffee is just a bit darker and warmer than Blank Canvas. It will also emphasize the blue undertones in Cracked Pepper and make it look on the lighter side.

    Behr Cracked Pepper for your Home’s Interior

    Let’s take a look at how Cracked Pepper looks in real life, starting inside the home:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on a wall behind a butterfly chair
    Photo Credit: @maistyleforyou

    Behr Cracked Pepper in the Laundry Room

    We don’t often get to see specific colors in the laundry room, but luckily Stephanie from @personalizedesigninteriors shared some examples with us!

    Glass door reads "laundry" in an otherwise black laundry room painted in Behr Cracked Pepper
    Photo Credit: @personalizedesigninteriors

    Here Cracked Pepper looks quite black in this smaller space:

    Cracked Pepper looks black on the walls of a laundry room with white cabinets and white washer dryer
    Photo Credit: @personalizedesign interiors

    Here is one more closer shot, where in some spots the color looks black, and others it looks charcoal:

    Cracked Pepper looks black on the walls of a laundry room with white cabinets and white washer dryer
    Photo Credit: @personalizedesigninteriors

    Cracked Pepper by Behr in a Dining Room and Office

    Amy (@simplee.amy) used Behr Cracked Pepper to turn this dining room:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on an accent wall in a dining room with white curtains around tall windows and a white wood table and chairs
    Photo Credit: @simplee.amy

    …into an office:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on an accent wall in a dining room with white curtains around tall windows and a white wood table and chairs
    Photo Credit: @simplee.amy

    Formal dining rooms are great, but a lot of people could make better use of an office. It’s a simple re-purpose that can be undone with a swap of the furniture!

    Behr Cracked Pepper in the Bedroom

    Jeanette of @bungalowandcohomes chose Cracked Pepper for all of the walls in this sophisticated bedroom:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on a bedroom wall behind a plush upholstered headboard
    Photo Credit: @bungalowandcohomes

    If you’re going to go dark and cozy, why not in the room meant for sleeping?

    Behr Cracked Pepper on all of the walls in a roomy main bedroom
    Photo Credit: @bungalowandcohomes

    In this room I find that Cracked Pepper always seems to look pretty neutral.

    Here it looks maybe a touch warmer in the artficial light:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on a textured wall in a bedroom with white curtains and brass birds on the wall
    Photo Credit: @bungalowandcohomes

    And a little cooler in this natural light:

    Cracked Pepper on walls in a bedroom with natural light shining on them
    Photo Credit: @bungalowandcohomes

    Holly (@purplepeonyhome) used Cracked Pepper on an accent wall in this gorgeous bedroom:

    Cracked Pepper wall framed by white windows in a beautiful bedroom with textured Victorian inspired ceiling
    Photo Credit: @purplepeonyhome

    Color aside for a moment: Isn’t that the prettiest ceiling you’ve ever seen??

    Color back in the spotlight: It definitely has a blue undertone in this space.

    For one final bedroom, let’s take a look at this one by @Jessiburkeathome:

    Cracked Pepper on board and batten in a bedroom
    Photo Credit: @jessiburkeathome

    Here I find that Cracked Pepper has a slightly teal undertone:

    Behr Cracked Pepper with a deep teal undertone
    Photo Credit: @jessiburkeathome

    If you do like how Cracked Pepper looks here, you would probably prefer Benjamin Moore Black Forest Green, which looks like this more predictably.

    Behr Cracked Pepper in a Bathroom

    Abby (@abbymbrennan) used Cracked Pepper to update this retro powder room:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on the upper half of the walls in a powder room with white tile, white vanity, and a pink sink.
    Photo Credit: @abbymbrennan

    Wait… How does an original pink sink look so good now??

    Behr Cracked Pepper in a bathroom with a white vanity and white tile lower walls
    Photo Credit: @abbymbrennan

    I love the black, white, and hint of pink.

    Behr Cracked Pepper in the Living Room

    Rachel (@racheldeal.studio) created a board and batten feature wall for behind her fireplace using Cracked Pepper:

    Cracked Pepper on a board and batten fireplace wall behind a white fireplace
    Photo Credit: @racheldeal.studio

    Here Cracked Pepper looks more charcoal than black.

    Danielle (@gracefulglambydanielle) used Behr Cracked Pepper for the accent wall in her classic and neutral living room:

    Behr cracked pepper on a wall in the living room behind a fireplace.
    Photo Credit: @gracefulglambydanielle

    The other walls here are Kelly Moore San Francisco Fog. You can see a few more images in her blog post.

    Jacquie (@jacqofalltrades) used Cracked Pepper on her interior doors:

    Behr Cracked Pepper on interior doors in a neutral living room with a vaulted ceiling.
    Photo Credit: @jacqofalltrades

    The walls here look very close to Behr Silver Drop.

    If you like the dark doors, you will love my post on Black Interior Doors!

    Behr Cracked Pepper on Kitchen Cabinets

    I have a couple of example kitchens today that are close to Cracked Pepper, but not exact.

    Here is a kitchen in Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart. It is just the slightest bit more blue than Cracker Pepper:

    SW Peppercorn and Cracked Pepper swatched together over a kitchen with cheating heart on an island and natural cream on perimeter cabinets
    Photo Credit: @sprayandsave

    These two colors are so close that you can pretty much see what Cracked Pepper will look like. The perimeter cabinets are Benjamin Moore Natural Cream, which I covered briefly in this post.

    For one more example, here is SW Peppercorn on cabinets, which happens to be the closest match that Sherwin Williams offers:

    SW Peppercorn and Cracked Pepper swatched together over a kitchen in Peppercorn
    Photo Credit: @modernantiquityhomes

    Cracked Pepper will be just a touch darker than these cabinets.

    Behr Cracked Pepper as an Exterior Color

    Here is the similar color Peppercorn again, on an exterior, just to give you an idea of the look:

    Acacia haze on front and side doors of sw peppercorn house
    Photo Credit: @barbaraanne.art

    The doors here are Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze. Again, Cracked Pepper wil be a touch darker than this.

    Cracked Pepper on the Front Door

    Holly, who used Cracked Pepper in her bedroom, also used it on her exterior doors:

    A white farmhouse with Behr Cracked Pepper on the front door.
    Photo Credit: @purplepeonyhome

    In this first photo it looks more blue.

    Here it looks totally neutral (just gray).

    Behr Cracked Pepper on a front door with white siding
    Photo Credit: @purplepeonyhome

    Here is one more:

    Cracked Pepper on a front door with white siding and a lighter gray porch
    Photo Credit: @purplepeonyhome

    Cracked Pepper on Garage Doors

    Finally for exteriors, Ali (@thestyledcloset) used Cracked Pepper on the garage doors of her home:

    A white house with Behr Cracked Pepper on the garage doors
    Photo Credit: @thestyledcloset

    Here Cracked Pepper almost looks navy!

    Cracked Pepper Compared to Other Dark Gray Paint Colors

    This is how Behr Cracked Pepper stacks up against other popular colors you may be considering:

    Behr Cracked Pepper swatched beside similar colors including Carbon Copy, Cyberspace, Forged Steel, Graphic Charcoal, Iron Ore, Peppery, and Peppercorn

    Behr Cracked Pepper vs Carbon Copy

    Carbon Copy is a green-based gray as opposed to the blue of Cracked Pepper. It is also a tiny bit lighter, with an LRV of 9.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with Carbon Copy on the other half behind a white sofa and neutral living room decor

    Behr Cracked Pepper vs Graphic Charcoal

    Graphic Charcoal is lighter than Cracked Pepper, and a touch closer to indigo.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with Graphic Charcoal on the other half behind a wooden chair and a potted plant

    Behr Cracked Pepper vs Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

    Iron Ore is a good bit darker than Cracked Pepper. It has blue undertones, but isn’t actually a blue paint color at all.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with Iron Ore on the other half behind a blue sofa, a bicycle, and retro tv set

    You can read my post about Iron Ore here.

    Behr Cracked Pepper vs Peppery

    You can see that Peppery is a very warm charcoal in comparison with the blue charcoal of Cracked Pepper.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with Peppery on the other half behind white wainscoting

    Dupes for Behr Cracked Pepper

    Want to get the look of Cracked Pepper in another brand? Here are the best alternatives from Benjamin Moore, Valspar, and Sherwin Williams:

    Cracked Pepper with dupes Muskeg Gray, Peppercorn, and Wrought Iron over a marbled gray background

    Benjamin Moore Cracked Pepper Equivalent

    From Benjamin Moore, the best color match for Cracked Pepper is the color Wrought Iron.

    Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (2124-10)

    Wrought Iron is approximately the same color as Cracked Pepper, it’s just a little bit darker.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with dupe Wrought Iron on the other half behind a white sofa and neutral living room decor

    Cheating Heart (which we saw on cabinets) is also a good alternative, but it is a bit more blue.

    Valspar (Lowe’s) Equivalent to Cracked Pepper

    From Lowe’s the best color match for Cracked Pepper is the color Muskeg Gray.

    Valspar Muskeg Grey (4005-2C)

    Muskeg Gray is a bit darker and a touch less gray than Cracked Pepper.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with Valspar dupe Muskeg Gray on the other half behind a bed with white linens

    Behr Cracked Pepper vs Valspar Cracked Pepper

    Valspar does also have a shade named “Cracked Pepper” that doesn’t seem to be on their website any more. That color was a true black:

    Two tone cream and black cabinets. Cream on the perimeter and black on the island with light wood floors and a puppy
    Photo Credit: @theholley_home

    Cracked Pepper Sherwin Williams Equivalent

    From Sherwin Williams I wasn’t able to get as close as I would have liked, but Peppercorn seems to be the best match.

    Sherwin Williams Peppercorn (SW 7674)

    Peppercorn is a bit lighter than Cracked Pepper, and a bit less blue.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on one half of a wall with Sherwin Williams dupe Peppercorn on the other half with a wooden dining set in the background

    For more on this popular Sherwin Williams color, check out my post: Peppercorn in Real Homes! (Review & Dupes)

    Here are all of the dupes once more:

    A cracked pepper background with swatches of dupes over top incuding Muskeg Gray, Peppercorn, and Wrought Iron over a sketch of a white koi fish

    Cracked Pepper Pros & Cons

    That’s all I have for the latest and greatest Color of the Year!

    Let’s recap:

    Pros

    • Makes a great choice for exteriors or accent walls
    • Pretty neutral – goes with almost any other color
    • A good dark choice to make your other decor pop

    Cons

    • Not a true black

    Thanks so much for being here and reading to the end! That really helps my site. Here are some other colors that you might also like:

    Graphic reads "Benjamin Moore Soot Dupes" and features paint dots of Soot, Cyberspace, Ink Black, and Chimney Smoke, over a white background with black smoke rising
    Iron Ore dupes including Benjamin Moore Deep River, and Notre Dame, Valspar Arrowhead, and Behr Blackout, over a background of a photo of Iron Ore
    Grays Harbor dupes Powell Gray, City Rain, and Iron Frost, swatched with Grays Harbor over a photo of a rough sea at sunset