California Poppy
S-G-160 · #A4102D · LRV 8 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Rookwood Dark Red3
- 2California Poppy8
- 3Million Dollar Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
What Color Is California Poppy, Really?
California Poppy reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Behr S-G-160 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for California Poppy
California Poppy earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
How Lighting Changes California Poppy
At LRV 8, California Poppy 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 red 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 California Poppy 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 S-G-160 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 | CardinalSW 2908 · Sherwin-Williams | 4.9 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | FlamencoCSP-1195 · Benjamin Moore | 1.9 | 11 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Classic Red1009-2 · Valspar | 4.8 | 10.5 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Rapture Red07YR 10/489 · Glidden | 4.8 | 10 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Sugared Maple104-7DB · Dutch Boy | 4.3 | 11 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Show StopperHGSW 1052 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 3.5 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to California Poppy 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 #A4102D in HSL space. Pair California Poppy with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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