Universal Black
Universal Black is a Black paint color from Benjamin Moore, but its character reaches beyond a single label. Its neutral temperature leaves room for surrounding materials and light to pull the color warmer or cooler. Treat the digital swatch as an opening note, then watch a physical sample from morning light through evening lamps.
Hex
#353435LRV
5.26
Universal Black in Rooms
Follow Universal Black from one space to another and watch how light, scale and surrounding materials reshape its character. 10 sourced room photos offer a closer look at the color in lived-in settings.
3 Bedroom Photos
In a room designed around rest, softness and retreat, the most interesting quality of Universal Black (2118-10) may be the way it responds to bed linen, timber, wool and upholstered textures. Its purple undertone may become clearest at the boundary between paint and a contrasting finish.
Bedroom walls in Universal Black establish moody elegance and depth.
@nicole.facciuto.design
Dark walls in Universal Black transform the bedroom atmosphere.
@nicole.facciuto.design
Boho bedroom featuring Universal Black walls with eclectic accents.
@bohemiangeneral
1 Kitchen Cabinets Photo
Viewed across 1 kitchen cabinets image in cabinetry, where color becomes part of the room’s architecture, Universal Black (2118-10) reveals how much color depends on scale, surface and shadow. With an LRV of 5.3, it carries enough visual weight to make light, trim and texture feel especially deliberate.
Kitchen cabinetry in Universal Black adds contemporary edge.
@2nd_story_designs
1 Living Room Photo
Universal Black (2118-10) moves through 1 living room image without becoming a fixed prescription for the room. Its neutral temperature gives the surrounding palette unusual influence over the final mood.
Living room walls in Universal Black create intimate sophistication.
@alethamarshalldesign
3 Bathroom Photos
Viewed across 3 bathroom images in a compact setting where tile, fixtures and color sit close together, Universal Black (2118-10) reveals how much color depends on scale, surface and shadow. With an LRV of 5.3, it carries enough visual weight to make light, trim and texture feel especially deliberate.
Bathroom walls in Universal Black provide striking color contrast.
@this_foursquare_life
Spa-like bathroom with Universal Black walls and fixtures.
@this_foursquare_life
Bathroom vanity and walls painted in Universal Black.
@this_foursquare_life
2 Dining Room Photos
Across 2 dining room images, Universal Black (2118-10) meets natural light, candles and pendant lighting. Its neutral temperature gives the surrounding palette unusual influence over the final mood.
Dining room walls in Universal Black enhance table ambiance.
@brianinteriors
Feature wall in Universal Black defines the dining space.
@brianinteriors
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 83 vs 5, White Diamond is decisively the brighter choice.
Nickel reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 5), opening up a space where Universal Black encloses it.
At LRV 85 vs 5, Gardenia is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 5, Proposal is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 5 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 5 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 5 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 5 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Complementary Colors
Garden Path reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 5), opening up a space where Universal Black encloses it.
At LRV 70 vs 5, Silver Crest is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 51 vs 5, Woodland Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Pleasant Valley reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 5), opening up a space where Universal Black encloses it.
At LRV 35 vs 5, Greenwich Village is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 5, Palace Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Lighter Colors
A 9-point LRV gap (14 vs 5) makes Wild Mulberry the marginally brighter of the two.
Color Codes
Manufacturer description
Intriguing notes of violet intensify this dynamic shade of black.