Galaxy
What Galaxy Actually Looks Like
Galaxy 2117-20 sits at the very dark end of the spectrum, a near-black charcoal with a quiet purple-gray presence. In most interior light it reads simply as a rich, deep dark, the kind that absorbs light rather than reflects it. Step close or catch it in bright daylight and a subtle cool violet character surfaces. At night under warm incandescent light it can shift toward a softer, almost smoky tone. It is a serious, low-key color that commands a room without announcing itself loudly.
Galaxy Undertones
The undertone story here is subtle but real. Galaxy carries a muted purple-gray base that keeps it from reading as a flat neutral charcoal. It is cool overall. In north-facing rooms or under cool LED or fluorescent light, that violet quality comes forward slightly. In warm amber light it retreats, and the color reads closer to a true dark gray. It is not a warm charcoal, so pairings that lean warm work well to balance it.
Where Galaxy Works Best
Because Galaxy has such a low light reflectance, it works best where you want deliberate drama or cozy enclosure, not in a room that depends on paint color to feel bright and open. Small rooms can actually benefit from committing fully to a dark like this, since the walls seem to recede and the space feels intentional rather than cramped. Large rooms with good natural light carry it comfortably on a single accent wall or across all four walls for a moody, enveloping effect. It is a natural for dining rooms, home offices, media rooms, and bedrooms where a settled, atmospheric quality is the goal.
Where to put Galaxy
All four walls in Galaxy turns a dining room into an enveloping backdrop for candlelight and warm table settings. The color recedes, making furniture and tabletop styling the focal point. Keep trim in a warm off-white to prevent the room from feeling sealed off.
A home office wrapped in Galaxy feels focused and calm, which many people find easier to work in than a pale, bright room. Balance the depth with a warm wood desk, good task lighting, and light-colored shelving to keep the space from feeling heavy during long work sessions.
Galaxy on bedroom walls creates a genuinely restful, cocoon-like quality. Pair it with warm linen bedding and light natural wood furniture. The ceiling should stay lighter unless you specifically want a fully enclosed, dramatic effect.
Dark walls reduce glare and screen wash-out, and Galaxy is well suited to the job. Its cool undertone does not compete with screen color the way a warm brown or green might. Keep light sources on dimmers for full control.
A small powder room is one of the best places to use a color this dark without overthinking it. The commitment is low, the impact is high, and guests spend only a few minutes there, which is exactly the right amount of time to appreciate something this bold.
What to Pair With Galaxy
No coordinating colors are specified in our database for Galaxy 2117-20, so the guidance below draws on how deep cool charcoal-purples behave generally. Warm neutrals, natural wood tones, brass and bronze metals, and crisp warm whites all do useful work alongside a color this dark.
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Colors that clash with Galaxy
Galaxy's purple-gray undertone and a blue-green or teal accent pull in competing cool directions, and the result can feel disjointed rather than layered.
A very cool, blue-white trim alongside Galaxy amplifies the cool undertone and can make the combination feel cold rather than sophisticated.
When the room already has very little natural light and the furniture is also dark, Galaxy can make the space feel more like a cave than an intentional design choice.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore color code is 2117-20. The precise LRV is 6.33, which puts it firmly in near-black territory. The hex and RGB values are shown in the color spec block on this page.
In most everyday interior lighting it reads as a very deep charcoal. The purple-gray character is subtle and shows itself most clearly in bright natural daylight or under cool-toned artificial light. Under warm incandescent or Edison-style bulbs it settles toward dark gray with very little visible purple.
Yes, it is available in both interior and exterior formulas, so you can use it on interior walls or on exterior surfaces like front doors, shutters, or siding.
Plan on two coats over a properly primed surface. If you are covering a much lighter existing color, a tinted primer in a dark gray will reduce the number of finish coats needed and improve the depth of the final result.
Eggshell is the most practical choice for most walls. It is cleanable, adds very slight light bounce, and does not highlight surface imperfections the way satin or semi-gloss can. On trim you can step up to satin for a clean contrast.