Abyss
2128-20 · #42444B · LRV 6 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Abyss6
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Retreat21
What Color Is Abyss, Really?
Abyss reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2128-20 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Abyss
Abyss earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Abyss
At LRV 6, Abyss 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 blue 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 Abyss 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 Benjamin Moore 2128-20 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 | Charcoal BlueSW 2739 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.0 | 6 | Color page → |
| Behr | BlackbirdECC-23-3 · Behr | 1.6 | 6 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Downing Street8004-47G · Valspar | 2.0 | 6 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Wright MidnightFLLW36 · PPG / Glidden | 1.3 | 5 | Color page → |
| Glidden | NapoleonPPG1013-7 · Glidden | 1.3 | 5 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | No LimitsHGSW 1461 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 2.3 | 6 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Abyss within Benjamin Moore'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 #42444B in HSL space. Pair Abyss with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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