Learn all about Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain (2134-30) in this paint color review.
If you’re looking for a dark, warm paint color that won’t look black in a well-lit room, then Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain could be right for you.
Iron Mountain is a very dark, but muted paint color with warm undertones. It’s really more of a very dark green than a black or gray. I absolutely love using this color within exterior color palettes and as an interior accent.
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Keep reading to learn more about how to use Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain in your home.
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What is the Iron Mountain LRV?
Iron Mountain has an LRV of 10.96. It’s a very dark paint color, but still reflects a lot more light than a true black (LRV of 0).
Is Iron Mountain warm or cool?
Iron Mountain is a warm paint color. This warmth helps it make spaces feel cozy and inviting, even though it’s very dark.
What are the BM Iron Mountain undertones?
Iron Mountain has strong green undertones, which give the color its warmth. In fact, it often looks more like a very dark green color than a soft black.
What is the easiest way to sample Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain?
You should always sample and test your paint colors. The easiest way to sample BM Iron Mountain (and any paint color for that matter) is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color.
There is no mess, and the cost is less expensive than purchasing a sample and a white poster board. Since you don’t need to dispose of the paint, it’s also environmentally friendly!
With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.
How to Use Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain Interior Paint
Can I use Iron Mountain interior trim?
Iron Mountain is far too dark to use as interior trim. The only exception would be if you decide to color drench a room and use Iron Mountain on the walls, trim and ceiling.
Color drenching with Iron Mountain could work really well. It’s got enough warmth that it won’t look cold and in rooms with plenty of light it won’t look black.
If you don’t have a lot of light in a space, however, Iron Mountain color drenching could be too dark.
Can I try BM Iron Mountain cabinets?
I love the idea of Iron Mountain kitchen cabinets! While it could feel heavy if used throughout the entire kitchen, it would look really nice as a kitchen island paint color or lower cabinet color in a tuxedo cabinet color scheme.
It would pair really well with white or cream upper kitchen cabinets and other white kitchen finishes.
Is a Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain accent wall a good idea?
I absolutely love using BM Iron Mountain as an accent color in a whole-house color scheme.
In the client’s home pictured below, Iron Mountain accents complement BM White Dove walls (eggshell), trim and doors (satin) and ceilings (flat).
By adding Iron Mountain accents in the client’s primary suite, we were able to highlight the expansive views from the home, which is perched on a mountain.
Normally we prefer not to use walls with windows as accent walls, but this room was an exception. The black walls highlighted the view, similar to how a computer with a black frame makes images pop.
The fireplace area was also amazing. When we were originally touring this home I noticed the brass fireplace. Iron Mountain was the perfect contrast that really made it stand out.
Is BM Iron Mountain a good whole house color?
Iron Mountain is much too dark to use as a whole-house paint color, but it can absolutely be a beautiful addition to a whole-house color palette.
I recommend using Iron Mountain as an accent color, painting accent walls or even accent rooms (like an office or home library) with this warm, dark color.
How to Use Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain Exterior Paint
While Iron Mountain can work well as an interior paint color, Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain exterior paint is truly where it shines! It looks much brighter in the sunlight, appearing more like a dark, muted gray-green when used outdoors.
I love combining Iron Mountain siding with black accents for a dark, moody exterior color palette.
The client’s suburban home pictured below was completely transformed when we painted the siding and brick Iron Mountain. The home’s front door, garage door and roofline were all painted with Benjamin Moore Black Beauty, which is dark enough to pair with Iron Mountain for a low contrast look.
I would normally expect to see it with a dark black ceiling, but this brown ceiling gave it a very nice contrast.
Iron Mountain looked so much lighter in the bright Colorado sun than I expected. It will be darker when used in the shade, further North or at lower altitudes.
Please note: to make this color scheme work, the client replaced the white vinyl windows in the front of the house with black windows. Otherwise, the white vinyl windows would have looked too stark. Keep this in mind if you’re interested in trying a similar exterior color palette.
Iron Mountain would also look great as an accent color with a white painted house, as well as with red or brown brick. We don’t have a photo of this effect, but the photo below shows SW Urbane Bronze (similar to BM Iron Mountain), paired with Shoji White and a warm brick.
Which Colors Look Best with Iron Mountain?
Does Iron Mountain go with white?
Yes, Iron Mountain looks really lovely paired with white and off-white paint colors. The key is to use warm off-whites and creamy white colors. Clean whites such as BM Chantilly Lace (see article) or cool whites like BM Decorator’s white (article) paint colors will look too stark next to Iron Mountain.
You can see in our client’s bedroom, however, that a warm white like Benjamin Moore White Dove looks really beautiful next to an Iron Mountain accent wall. BM Swiss Coffee (article) would look great too!
Does Iron Mountain go with black?
Iron Mountain works really well with black paint – especially outdoors. As exterior paint, Iron Mountain looks like more of a very dark, muted green-gray paint color. As a result, black accents stand out much more than they would indoors.
I absolutely love the way my clients’ black front door paint color and black garage doors pictured above look with BM Iron Mountain siding.
What are the Best Trim and Ceiling Colors For Iron Mountain?
In general, warm and creamy whites are the best trim colors for Iron Mountain. The best interior trim colors are Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore White Dove and other creamier colors.
Crisp off-white trim colors like Sherwin-Williams Pure White, Benjamin Moore Simply White, Benjamin Moore Cloud White, and Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa would also work.
Don’t use clean or cool whites, such as Sherwin-Williams Extra White, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, Sherwin-Williams White Snow and Sherwin-Williams Decorator’s White. They will look too stark next to Iron Mountain.
The Best Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain Alternatives
BM Iron Mountain vs SW Urbane Bronze
Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze is very similar to Iron Mountain, but is a bit darker, with an LRV of 8. Urbane Bronze also has warm, green undertones but it’s less muted than Iron Mountain.
BM Iron Mountain vs Farrow & Ball Railings
Farrow & Ball Railings is an almost identical paint color to Iron Mountain. Farrow & Ball doesn’t assign LRV to their paints, but we can estimate the LRV of Railings to be about 6, making it slightly lighter than Iron Mountain. It also has blue undertones, making it cooler.
BM Iron Mountain vs BM Black Beauty
Benjamin Moore Black Beauty is one of the darker blacks, with an LRV of 5.8. It’s much darker than Iron Mountain and has similar warm undertones. They are different enough to show a contrast, especially in the sun. I love to pair these colors together in exterior color palettes.
BM Iron Mountain vs SW Tricorn Black
Tricorn Black is another true black, with an LRV of 3. This is another black that would pair well with Iron Mountain because it’s dark enough that you can see a contrast.
BM Iron Mountain vs SW Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore is darker than Iron Mountain, with an LRV of 6. But both colors have warm, green undertones. The undertone is much more subtle in Iron Ore, which looks more like a soft black, even outdoors.
BM Iron Mountain vs BM Onyx
Benjamin Moore Onyx is much darker than Iron Mountain, with an LRV of 5. It has neutral undertones, so it doesn’t lean overly warm or overly cool.
What Is the Best Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain Sherwin-Williams Equivalent?
There is no exact match to Iron Mountain in the Sherwin-Williams inventory of colors. The closest match is probably SW Urbane Bronze, which also has warm green undertones. Urbane Bronze is warmer than Iron Mountain, but can be used in similar applications.
Key Learning Points
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain is a gorgeous, dark paint color perfect for moody exterior color palettes and interior accent walls.
- Iron Mountain is dark, but has enough pigment that it won’t look black in the wall in rooms with plenty of light.
- Iron Mountain is a great foundation for a dark exterior color palette, pairing well with black paint colors and warm white paint colors.
- Opt for warm white and off-white trim colors for Iron Mountain, such as BM White Dove, BM Cloud White and BM Swiss Coffee.
Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.
No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors here.
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Related Posts
- Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze Color Review
- Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore Color Review
- Benjamin Moore Onyx Color Review
- Black Paint Colors for Brick Homes
- How to Use Black Paint
- Accent Walls Ultimate Guide
- Painted Brick Exterior Color Palettes
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person. I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, please consider purchasing a color consultation. Thank you for your understanding.
