In this article you’ll learn all about Behr Cracked Pepper Undertones & Coordinating Colors!
As a Designer and True Color Expert, I’m sharing everything you need to know about this gorgeous paint color, so you’ll know if it’s the right color for your next paint project!
Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-1 is a cool, soft black paint color that borders on dark charcoal gray.
Although it’s a cool color it feels warm, inviting and cozy because of it’s rich deep color.
It’s a beautiful neutral that works well with many other colors, in any room!
And it just so happens that Behr Cracked Pepper is Behr’s Color of the Year 2024, so it’s an exciting color to use in your next paint project!
I’m going to review this color as an experienced True Color Expert® to give you accurate information on this color’s undertones, the colors it works with and doesn’t work with.
You’ll be able to understand this gorgeous color better and learn why it may, OR MAY NOT be right for your room!
PLEASE PIN THIS TO REFER TO THESE TIPS LATER!
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Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-1 – Undertones and Coordinating Colors!
In this paint color guide I’m diving deep into Cracked Pepper to discuss undertones, complimentary colors, real room photos and coordinating flooring colors.
This is the Complete Beginner’s Guide to Behr Cracked Pepper!
Read on for beautiful color inspiration!
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What color is Behr Cracked Pepper?
Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-01 is a soft black paint color.
It’s softness makes it inviting and appealing.
Cracked Pepper is a popular color that provides beautiful contrast and depth to a space.
This is a versatile rich color that pairs well with neutrals, blues, greens and jewel tones.
It will add instant style and comfort to your space!
This color is True Color Expert approved!
After reading this guide, I recommend that you buy a sample of Behr Cracked Pepper to get started.
Test it in your space to see how it looks with your flooring and furniture!
Cracked Pepper Color Inspiration! Beautiful ways to use it in your home!
When using Cracked Pepper on your walls, repeat it throughout your home with these beautiful rug, decor and furniture ideas to create a stylish, pulled together, cohesive look!
Next up, I’ll discuss this color in more detail.
Need help with furniture layout, choosing paint colors, room design, selecting furniture or updating your home?
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See my Virtual Interior Design & Paint Color Services, and client reviews.
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I’d love to work with you!
Is Behr Cracked Pepper a warm or cool color?
It’s a cool color.
However, Behr Cracked Pepper is not a stark, cold black.
Even though it’s a cool color, it’s richness and depth makes it approachable, appealing and chic.
Behr Cracked Pepper is the darkest color on the bottom of page 122 in the Behr Paint Color Fan Deck:
Undertones
Behr Cracked Pepper has a blue grey undertone.
You can buy a sample of Behr Cracked Pepper here to test it and make sure it’s undertone doesn’t clash with your rooms fixed elements (flooring, countertop, fireplace stone/brick color, furniture ect).
Design Tip: Get this Behr Paint Color Fan Deck here to have on hand!
It contains 1,606 BEHR Colors to choose the perfect shade for your paint project!
Behr Cracked Pepper coordinating colors
Like a dollop of fresh whipped cream, this warm white will lighten and brighten your kitchen, bathroom or any space!
This is a dark olive green with a warm undertone.
Mountain Olive is a beautiful earthy color with a nod to nature.
Chantilly Lace Benjamin Moore OC-65
A gorgeous warm, caramel brown color.
A popular, classic kitchen cabinet color and wall color.
This was Behr’s Color of the Year 2023!
Tricorn Black Sherwin Williams SW 6258
A beautiful, crisp black color with no undertones.
White Dove Benjamin Moore BM OC-17
A popular warm white for kitchen cabinets and walls.
Evergreen Fog Sherwin Williams SW 9130
A gorgeous cool green color.
For more coordinating colors see the entire Behr 2024 Color Trends Palette!
Design Tip: Always test your paint colors in the room to make sure they work with the fixed elements of the room (flooring, tile, upholstery ect).
Similar Colors
Sherwin Williams Greenblack SW 6994 and Benjamin Moore Black Tar 2126-10 are similar to Behr Cracked Pepper.
Cracked Pepper coordinating flooring types and colors
Would you like to see this color with your flooring? If so, you can get a sample here.
Does your flooring go with Cracked Pepper? Find out below!
– White oak flooring looks stunning with Cracked Pepper
– So does ivory/beige carpeting
– Walnut and dark brown hardwood/LVP floors also work well with Cracked Pepper
– Black tile floors works well with it if you like a bold dramatic look
– Marble tile flooring that has a white background with gray veining looks beautiful with Cracked Pepper as long as the undertone in the gray veining doesn’t clash with the blue gray undertone in Cracked Pepper.
– Gray hardwood/LVP, gray tile floors and gray carpeting works well as long as the undertones don’t clash.
– Any flooring with red or orange in it, like cherry or mahogany flooring are not the best option because the orange/red in the flooring can clash with the blue gray undertone in Cracked Pepper.
Understand The Color Wheel & Color Schemes To Become A Better Decorator
– Any flooring with yellow/orange in it like honey pine, honey oak flooring can also clash with Cracked Pepper’s undertone. Also keep in mind that Cracked Pepper walls will make yellow/orange flooring look more intense and brighter yellow/orange.
Design tip – if you have honey oak, honey pine flooring Cracked Pepper can possibly work as a wall color if you add a large area rug like this one, that has the color of Cracked Pepper in it (to cover a lot of honey flooring) and add whites/creams to the room (drapes, light colored furniture).
As always, it’s all about testing the paint color in your room to see if it will work with your flooring and in your home’s lighting!
Behr Cracked Pepper as part of a whole home color scheme
Cracked Pepper is a sophisticated, soft black color is a beautiful color to incorporate as part of a whole home color palette and can be repeated as an accent color in furniture and builtins or as an accessory accent color for decor.
Behr Cracked Pepper vs Iron Ore
These 2 colors are similar, both are dark, deep neutral colors.
Also both are soft black paint colors, as compared to a true black color like SW Tricorn Black
However Sherwin Williams Iron Ore is slightly warmer looking because it has a green gray undertone.
As I mentioned above, Behr Cracked Pepper had a blue gray undertone.
I recommend that you test both colors in your room to choose the best one that works with your flooring color, furniture color and brick/tile colors in the room.
You can buy a paint sample of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore here.
And a peel & stick paint sample of Cracked Pepper here!
Behr Cracked Pepper Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color
Are you looking for a kitchen cabinet color?
Something different from white cabinetry?
Behr Cracked Pepper looks stunning on kitchen cabinets!
Black kitchen cabinets are popular right now and are timeless too.
This color will give a kitchen a striking, chic look without being sterile or cold feeling.
It’s a beautiful kitchen cabinet color for an open concept kitchen or a kitchen that’s separate from the main living spaces.
Behr Cracked Pepper One-Coat Hide Satin Enamel Stain-Blocking Paint and Primer Sample
Behr Cracked Pepper Kitchen Island Paint Color
As a kitchen island color it’ is’s stunning!
If you love the look of white kitchen cabinets with a dark island, I highly recommend that you paint your kitchen island Behr Cracked Pepper!
It looks stunning with white cabinets.
It also looks gorgeous with wood cabinets – both lighter white oak and with darker walnut wood tones.
Wall Color for an Eat-In Kitchen Dining Area
I love this color for a cozy eat-in-kitchen dining nook.
This beautiful banquette is also painted Cracked Pepper for a gorgeous cohesive look.
Living Room Paint Color
Create a chic moody vibe in your living room with this paint color!
Paint Color For Dining Room Walls
How stunning does Cracked Pepper look in a dining room, for family and friends to enjoy?
It creates a gorgeous dramatic vibe for entertaining, savoring a meal and lingering over dinner conversation.
Home Office Paint Color
Cracked Pepper is a beautiful color for a home office!
It’s rich, deep color creates the perfect atmoshphere to focus and concentrate!
Behr Cracked Pepper Bedroom Wall Color
- As an accent wall color
To be honest, I’m not a big fan of accent walls….however this bedroom accent wall looks stunning as a focal wall and paired with the wall molding!
- On all of the bedroom walls
This color looks gorgeous on all bedroom walls and creates a cozy feeling, perfect for sleeping and recharging and relaxing in!
Kids Bedroom Paint Color
This is a timeless color for a kids bedroom!
Pair it with white or any color your child loves!
Cracked Pepper Bathroom Wall Color
Cracked Pepper will look stunning in a bathroom, especially a powder room!
Look how fabulous it looks with the lighting, white vanity countertop, black and nickel accents.
Pair it with a light wood vanity or white vanity for a chic stylish look.
Cracked Pepper Exterior Paint Color
This color will give your home beautiful curb appeal!
It looks gorgeous with black or white windows.
Pair it with white siding/stone for beautiful contrast and style!
Outdoor fencing or a pergola painted in Cracked Pepper adds a chic look to any backyard space.
The soft black color looks beautiful against greenery, trees, grasses and flowers.
More Design and Decor Ideas:
- How to Make A Mood Board For Interior Design
- How To Decorate A Room In 5 Simple Steps
- Get Paint Color Help From A True Color Expert®
- How To Arrange Furniture In A Rectangular Living Room
- Modern Organic Living Room Design Ideas
- 5 Best White Trim Paint Colors
- Top 50 Bestselling Paint Colors At Sherwin Williams
- Small Bedroom Ideas To Maximize Space & Style
- 7 Ways To Make A Small Living Room Feel Larger Instantly!
- 5 Cozy Small Spaces And Nook Ideas
- Agreeable Gray – Undertones & Coordinating Colors
- How to Pick Paint Colors With Confidence!
Pam says
When I started reading your post, my first thought was wondering how Cracked Pepper compares to popular Iron Ore, and I soon found you had it covered! : ) Thank you for the information. Your posts analyzing color are so helpful in understanding the colors to use.
heather says
Wonderful! I’m so glad you love this article on Cracked Pepper! It’s a gorgeous color!
Janet says
Thanks for your post. I just picked up a swatch of Cracked Pepper at Home Depot after agonizing all week about painting a couple of walls in my basement guest room Raccoon Fur by Benjamin Moore. I love them both! I do find them to be more similar than Cracked Pepper and Black Tar, in spite of Raccoon fur’s blue/purple undertone.
heather says
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the info! Cracked Pepper is a gorgeous color!