Notre Dame
What Notre Dame Actually Looks Like
Notre Dame is a very dark, almost near-black charcoal. At full saturation it reads as a dense, moody gray with a slight green-teal lean depending on the light around it. In bright daylight it shows itself as a dark charcoal gray. In low or artificial light it can read almost black, with very little differentiation from true black. It is not a color that reveals itself quickly. You have to pay attention to catch its undertone.
Notre Dame Undertones
The hex sits equally between gray and a muted teal-green, which means the undertone is subtle but real. In rooms with warm incandescent lighting the green note recedes and the color reads as a straight cool charcoal. In rooms with daylight from north or east exposures, that quiet green-gray undertone becomes more visible. It is never a loud or obvious green, but it keeps Notre Dame from being a flat neutral black.
Where Notre Dame Works Best
Notre Dame is suited to interior use. Its very low light reflectance means it absorbs a lot of light, so it works best in spaces where drama or cocooning is the goal rather than brightness. It reads well on accent walls, in dedicated home offices, libraries, or dining rooms where lower light levels are acceptable or even desirable. It can also work on cabinetry and millwork where a near-black but not pure-black finish is wanted.
Where to put Notre Dame
Notre Dame is a natural fit here. The depth of the color creates focus and a sense of enclosure that suits concentrated work or reading. Keep trim in a warm white to prevent the room from feeling too enclosed.
Dark dining rooms have a long tradition, and Notre Dame delivers that feeling without going pure black. Candlelight and warm pendants will bring out its gray quality and soften the cool undertone nicely.
Used on a single wall behind a sofa or shelving, Notre Dame anchors a space without committing the whole room to this depth. Balance it with lighter furnishings and natural materials.
On cabinetry Notre Dame offers a near-black look with just enough green-gray life in it to keep things interesting. Pair with brass hardware for contrast and warmth.
What to Pair With Notre Dame
No coordinating colors were specified in our database for Notre Dame CSP-570. Generally, a color this dark pairs well with warm off-whites on trim and ceilings, natural wood tones, and brass or aged bronze hardware to counterbalance its cool depth.
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Colors that clash with Notre Dame
Notre Dame already carries a cool undertone. Pairing it with strongly cool blue or purple accents can push the overall palette toward feeling cold and flat rather than sophisticated.
With an LRV below 8, Notre Dame absorbs light aggressively. In a small windowless bathroom or hallway it can feel oppressive rather than dramatic.
Common questions
Notre Dame's color code is CSP-570, its hex is #404343, and its precise LRV is 7.57, which places it firmly in near-black territory.
Not obviously green, no. The green-teal note in its undertone is subtle and mostly surfaces in rooms with cool north or east daylight. In warm incandescent or LED lighting it reads as a cool dark charcoal without a pronounced green cast.
Yes, based on our product data Notre Dame is listed for interior use.
For walls, a matte or eggshell finish keeps the depth rich and absorbs light evenly. A higher sheen on cabinetry or millwork adds some reflectivity, which can be useful in darker rooms.