Little Greene Basalt (221) is a deep blue-black. In low light it reads as almost black; in daylight a soft blue undertone comes through, which makes it more interesting, and more forgiving, than a flat black. Little Greene single it out as a front door colour with lasting appeal, and it is just as good on interior woodwork, kitchen cabinets and, for the brave, whole rooms.
That blue undertone is what sets it apart. Pure blacks can look harsh against white or against warm wood, while Basalt has a softness that lets it sit comfortably with stone, brass, oak and pale greys. Here is how to use it, what to pair it with and which finish to choose.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Basalt (221), Orange Aurora (21)
Black or blue? How Basalt behaves
Basalt changes more than you might expect for such a dark colour. On a bright south-facing wall or a sunny front door, it reads as a dark, inky blue. In a north-facing room, a hallway or by lamplight, it settles into something much closer to black. That makes it a good choice if you want the drama of black without its starkness.
Very dark colours reflect little light, so they tend to make walls recede rather than close in. In a small room, painting walls, woodwork and ceiling in Basalt can make the space feel deliberate and enveloping rather than cramped. Our guide to why colour drenching works explains the approach.
Front doors and exteriors
This is where Basalt really earns its place. A blue-black door looks smart against London stock brick, white stucco, render and stone alike, and it is a classic choice for period terraces as well as modern houses. It also suits railings, window frames, shutters and garden furniture.
- Intelligent Exterior Eggshell for front doors, windows and exterior joinery.
- Intelligent Masonry Paint for rendered walls, if you want to take it further.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Basalt (221), Inox (224), Loft White (222)
Using Basalt indoors
- Woodwork and doors. Skirting, architraves and internal doors in Basalt give pale walls a crisp, graphic outline.
- Kitchens. Blue-black cabinetry with brass handles and a pale worktop is a timeless combination.
- Bedrooms. As the bedroom at the top of this page shows, Basalt walls make a calm, cocooning backdrop for soft pinks, linen and pale wood.
- Furniture. A sideboard, bookcase or chest of drawers in Basalt grounds a room. Our guide to painting IKEA furniture shows how to do it with one tin.
If dark bedrooms appeal, our piece on why most bedroom colours feel wrong at night is worth a read before you choose.
Colours that pair with Basalt
Little Greene suggest a mix of soft neutrals, related greys and one or two bold accents:
- French Grey - Pale (161) and Slaked Lime - Mid (149), gentle neutrals for walls alongside Basalt woodwork.
- Inox (224) and Grey Stone (276), for a cool, tonal scheme. Inox is a light grey with a delicate blue tint that echoes Basalt's undertone.
- Juniper Ash (115), a warm, muted blue that softens the contrast.
- Orange Aurora (21), a warm, energetic orange for a confident accent on a door or a piece of furniture.
- Jack Black (119), for a deep, layered dark scheme.
Which finish to choose
- Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15% sheen) for interior woodwork, cabinets and furniture. It is self-priming: clean, lightly key and apply two coats.
- Intelligent Gloss (87 to 90% sheen) for a lacquered, high-shine look on internal doors or a statement piece of furniture. Gloss shows every imperfection, so preparation matters.
- Absolute Matt Emulsion for walls, where a flat finish gives the deepest, most velvety colour.
As a deep colour, Basalt benefits from a first coat of Intelligent ASP tinted towards it, especially when you are painting over white or a much lighter colour.
Questions we are often asked
Is Basalt navy or black?
It sits between the two. It reads as black in low light and as a very dark blue in daylight. If you want something unmistakably blue, sample a true navy such as Hague Blue (30) or Royal Navy (257).
Will Basalt make my hallway feel smaller?
Used only on woodwork or a lower wall, it adds definition without darkening the space. Used all over, it creates a dramatic, enclosed feel that many people love in a narrow hall.
How do I test a dark colour?
Paint two coats of a sample pot onto a large board and look at it by day and by lamplight. On a front door, look at it in morning and afternoon light too.
Shop Little Greene Basalt (221)
Intelligent Exterior Eggshell · Intelligent Eggshell · All Little Greene colours
