The color is a smokey black so when the light hits it’s definitely lighter but honestly I think it only looks grey when you take a photo of it... otherwise you think it’s black passing by! Black cushions are very thickcomfortable, back rest is supportive, good weight, chairs don’t wobble, all the wood matches. It’s our first dining room set ever so the only reason we’re replacing it is size — it’s great if you want to seat 4-6!