Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Beluga |
| SKU | PPU18-02 |
| Hex | #5B5953 |
| RGB | 91, 89, 83 |
| HSL | 45°, 5%, 34% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
What Color Is Beluga, Really?
Beluga reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr PPU18-02 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Beluga
Beluga works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Beluga
With an LRV of 11, Beluga is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Beluga are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr PPU18-02 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Beluga within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #5B5953 in HSL space. Pair Beluga with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Beluga behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY BELUGA ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
Not sure about Beluga in your room?
Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.