Perpetual Purple
MQ5-42 · #594D79 · LRV 9 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Liberty Blue1
- 2Perpetual Purple9
- 3Blue Nova17
- 4Gothic Purple24
What Color Is Perpetual Purple, Really?
Perpetual Purple reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Behr MQ5-42 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Perpetual Purple
Perpetual Purple earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
How Lighting Changes Perpetual Purple
At LRV 9, Perpetual Purple is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its violet undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Perpetual Purple 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.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr MQ5-42 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Fully PurpleSW 6983 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.1 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Dark Lilac2070-30 · Benjamin Moore | 3.9 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Velvet Beret1001-3A · Valspar | 4.2 | 7.7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Imperial PurplePPG1175-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.3 | 8 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Imperial PurplePPG1175-7 · Glidden | 1.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Violet143-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.1 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Perpetual Purple within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #594D79 in HSL space. Pair Perpetual Purple with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Perpetual Purple?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question