Super Nova
What Super Nova Actually Looks Like
Super Nova reads as a very dark charcoal with a cool violet quality. It sits at the deep end of the spectrum, closer to near-black than mid-tone gray. In strong natural light it reveals its purple-gray character. In dim rooms or artificial light, it pulls toward almost-black.
Super Nova Undertones
The hex and RGB values place the blue channel slightly higher than red, which points to a cool violet or purple-gray undertone. This is not a warm charcoal. It leans distinctly cool, and that cool quality can shift perceptibly depending on the light source. Warm incandescent bulbs can soften the violet and bring it toward a neutral dark gray. Daylight-balanced LED or cool natural north light will sharpen the purple quality.
Where Super Nova Works Best
Because the LRV is under 10, Super Nova absorbs a lot of light. It works best as an accent wall color, on cabinetry, in a powder room, or in a moody library or dining room where low light is part of the atmosphere. Avoid using it in a space where you need brightness or where natural light is already scarce and you want the room to feel open. It rewards spaces where drama is intentional.
Where to put Super Nova
A dining room with warm candlelight or amber pendants is one of the best fits for Super Nova. The warm light softens the cool violet and wraps the space in depth. Keep trim a crisp bright white to give the eye a clean boundary.
Small and intentionally dramatic, a powder room can carry Super Nova on all four walls without feeling oppressive. Pair it with warm brass or bronze fixtures to counterbalance the cool undertone.
On the walls of a reading room or study, this color creates focus and calm. Layer in warm wood tones and task lighting pointed at your work surface, not the walls, and the room feels like a proper retreat.
Behind a bed, Super Nova anchors the headboard wall without demanding that the whole room commit to such a deep shade. Keep the remaining three walls much lighter to preserve a sense of airiness.
What to Pair With Super Nova
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for Super Nova CC-990, so pairings below draw from general color principles for deep cool violet-grays.
Colors that clash with Super Nova
Pairing Super Nova with strongly cool blue upholstery or rugs can make the room feel cold and flat rather than dramatic, because both the wall and the furnishings compete in the same cool register.
With an LRV this low, putting Super Nova on walls and ceiling in a room with an already low ceiling can make the space feel like it is closing in.
A stark blue-white trim alongside Super Nova can heighten the cool violet quality in a way that feels harsh rather than intentional.
Common questions
The LRV is 9.53, which is very low. It means the color reflects back less than 10 percent of light, so it will darken a room noticeably. Plan your lighting intentionally before committing to it across large surfaces.
According to our database, CC-990 is listed for interior use only. Check with your Benjamin Moore retailer before using it outside.
An eggshell finish is a solid all-around choice for walls. It adds just enough sheen to make the color feel rich without turning the wall into a mirror. For cabinetry or trim applications, a satin or semi-gloss will be more durable.
It can, depending on your light. In cool north-facing light or under daylight-balanced bulbs, the violet quality becomes more noticeable. In warm light from incandescent or warm-white LED sources, it reads closer to a dark neutral gray. Pull a large sample and observe it at different times of day before committing.