A deep grey that changes with the light, anthracite brings definition to panelling, cabinetry and window frames. Three palettes show how to work with it at home.
A deep grey that changes with the light, anthracite brings definition to panelling, cabinetry and window frames. Three palettes show how to work with it at home.
Anthracite grey, also spelled anthracite gray, is a deep grey close to black. Its best-known paint reference is RAL 7016 Anthracite grey. Daylight and the finish can bring out its cooler undertones. In interiors, sand and ivory soften the contrast, oak introduces warmth, and pale travertine stands out against it.
Look at a cabinet door beside a window and you’ll see why anthracite is hard to choose from a photograph. Light skimming the surface brings out the texture, while the shaded side reads deeper. Even the timber floor changes how cool the grey appears. Start by deciding what you want the colour to draw attention to.
What colour is anthracite grey? Anthracite vs graphite and black
Named after a dark, lustrous coal, anthracite describes a family of deep greys in interior design. Upholstery, painted timber and powder-coated aluminium can all be sold as anthracite and look quite different next to one another. RAL codes give you a starting point for comparing painted finishes.
| Colour | RAL Classic | How it reads |
|---|---|---|
| Anthracite grey | RAL 7016 | A deep grey that gives definition to window frames and lacquered cabinetry. |
| Graphite grey | RAL 7024 | A dark grey that generally reads lighter when the two swatches are placed side by side. |
| Jet black | RAL 9005 | A full black that creates a sharper outline against pale surfaces. |
What is the HEX code for anthracite grey?
For a digital mood board, use #383E42 (RGB 56, 62, 66) as an indicative swatch. When ordering paint, cabinetry or window frames, ask for a physical RAL 7016 sample in the specified finish. Compare smooth matt and fine-textured samples in the same light. A smooth lacquer can read more evenly, while a textured profile catches the light across its grain.
What colours go with anthracite grey?
Anthracite, sand and natural oak
This palette works particularly well in a living room with pale parquet. Use sand colour on the walls and let the grain of the oak show through. A bookcase or the frame of a coffee table can carry the anthracite. If the windows already have dark frames, echo the colour at a different height, such as on the legs of an armchair.
Anthracite, ivory and travertine
In a kitchen or bathroom, anthracite gives the base units definition, ivory lifts the walls and travertine bridges the two. Choose the ivory by looking at the stone’s base colour, which can read cream, beige or grey. View a piece of the slab and a cabinet sample in their installed positions. A horizontal worktop and an upright door catch light at different angles.
Anthracite, olive green and walnut
Olive green and walnut give anthracite a quieter setting for a study or reading corner. An olive wall can sit behind an anthracite bookcase, with a walnut desktop introducing warmth. In a room with limited daylight, a directional task lamp and a lighter wall elsewhere help the darker shapes stay legible after sunset.
How to use anthracite grey on walls, cabinetry, floors and windows
Anthracite walls in the living room
Give an anthracite wall a specific job. It can frame the television, set off a collection of pale ceramics or define a reading area. Test the paint where it will go. On the far wall of a room, the shade can deepen enough for a matching bookcase to blend into it. A lighter backing or a light directed at the shelves makes the outlines easier to read.
Anthracite kitchen cabinets with a light or dark worktop
A light worktop makes the working surface easy to read and lightens the look of a run of dark units seen from the living area. A dark worktop continues the cabinet colour and draws attention to the thickness of the slab. Test that combination with the under-cabinet lights on. Try cleaning a sample door as well, particularly around the handle and on frequently touched surfaces.
Anthracite flooring with pale walls
Ivory and sand make the junction between walls and anthracite flooring easy to read. Grout colour is part of the design. A shade close to the tile gives the floor continuity, while paler grout makes the grid visible. View several tiles together under the room’s own lighting to assess both colour variation and the rhythm of the layout.
Anthracite window frames with timber
Anthracite frames draw a line around the view. If you have oak flooring, compare a frame sample, a piece of the timber and the wall paint on site. When coordinating windows and doors from different suppliers, check sheen and texture alongside the RAL reference. Two profiles specified in the same colour can reflect light differently.
Frequently asked questions about anthracite grey
Is anthracite grey warm or cool?
RAL 7016 tends to read as a cool grey. Walnut, oak and natural linen can make the overall palette feel warmer. Look at the materials together in the room where they will be used.
What white goes with anthracite grey?
Ivory softens the contrast beside warm stone and timber. A crisper white gives window frames and mouldings a more defined edge. With a beige floor, start by sampling a white that echoes its undertone.
Can you use anthracite grey in a small room?
Yes. Try it on the back of a bookcase, on kitchen base units or on the wall behind the bed. In a dim room, compare a generous swatch with the lighter walls under the lighting you actually use in the evening.
Explore more shades in the Archi&Interiors interior colour dictionary (in Italian).
