Carpe Diem
MQ1-16 · #905859 · LRV 14 — warm red tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Rookwood Dark Red3
- 2Rumors8
- 3Carpe Diem14
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
- 5Rejuvenate30
What Color Is Carpe Diem, Really?
Carpe Diem reads as a warm red tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr MQ1-16 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
How Lighting Changes Carpe Diem
With an LRV of 14, Carpe Diem is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Carpe Diem 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 MQ1-16 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 | Toile RedSW 6 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.3 | 12 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Fading Twilight1258 · Benjamin Moore | 2.0 | 13 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Maroon RoverV079-6 · Valspar | 2.3 | 12.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Barn DoorPPG1055-6 · PPG / Glidden | 0.8 | 14 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Barn DoorPPG1055-6 · Glidden | 0.8 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Strattford304-6DB · Dutch Boy | 3.3 | 12 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Carpe Diem 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 #905859 in HSL space. Pair Carpe Diem with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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