What Color Is Anthracite?
Anthracite is a type of coal that is used to fuel power stations in the process of generating electricity. The color name of anthracite is taken directly from the distinct color of the coal that fuels these thermal power stations. Unlike other types of coal, anthracite is not black but has a gray hue. Read on to learn more about anthracite, its exact color hue, and more about color types in general.
More About the Color Anthracite
There is no distinct term that quite describes the color of anthracite. Some refer to it as near-black, dark gray, or a metallic luster. Adjectives used to describe the color are “earthy” and “chalky.”
How Is Anthracite Used?
Anthracite can be used in many ways — for art projects, fashion, home decor, and more. If you’re using the color as part of room decor, and it’s a choice you’re making over using the color black, anthracite can give a much softer look when compared directly to black. Anthracite can also have different hues. If it has a green tint or hue to it, it can add warmth to a room instead of harshness.
What Colors Does Anthracite Pair With?
Anthracite’s dark hue and simplicity make it an ideal color to pair with many other colors without clashing. It pairs best, however, with other colors that have a metallic hue or tinge to them. It goes effortlessly well with colors such as bronze, silver, gold, or brass. If you’re trying to create a look of contrast, you can pair anthracite with a soft color, such as pink, mauve, or cream. The neutrals of those colors and the dark hue of anthracite pair well together.
Home Decor Tips With Anthracite
Anthracite has certain colors it pairs well with, but it is often used as part of kitchen hardware or furniture. For example, anthracite gray countertops or cabinets are relatively popular choices. When used in the kitchen, anthracite goes exceedingly well with metallic hues, so pairing it against your sink and faucet hardware can create a sophisticated look. Anthracite also works well with wood, so a good idea would be to use anthracite gray color for the countertops or cabinets, with wooden handles or wooden hardware. It’s not as sharp of a contrast as pairing anthracite with white or pink but instead creates a warm hue.
Where Does Gray Fall on the Color Wheel?
Anthracite, or any shade of gray, is considered a neutral color. Other neutral colors include black and white. Beyond neutrals, colors are usually organized into three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. These are what are known as pure colors. All other colors (except for neutrals) are based on these. Secondary colors are created by mixing two or more primary colors. For example, red and blue make purple, which is a secondary color. Tertiary colors are made by mixing primary and secondary colors, often with equal parts, to make different hues. Magenta is an example of a tertiary color. As gray (and anthracite) is a neutral color, it’s often used to add depth, warmth, or to make brighter colors “pop.” This can be true either in fashion or in home decor.
