Formal Maroon
PPU1-14 · #70474C · LRV 8 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Rookwood Dark Red3
- 2Formal Maroon8
- 3Million Dollar Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
What Color Is Formal Maroon, Really?
Formal Maroon reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Behr PPU1-14 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Formal Maroon
Formal Maroon 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 Formal Maroon
At LRV 8, Formal Maroon 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 Formal Maroon 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 PPU1-14 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 | Carriage DoorSW 7594 · Sherwin-Williams | 4.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Carter PlumCW-355 · Benjamin Moore | 3.0 | 10 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Stoic1010-6 · Valspar | 2.9 | 7.2 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | ChiantiPPG13-06 · PPG / Glidden | 1.4 | 9 | Color page → |
| Glidden | ChiantiPPG13-06 · Glidden | 1.9 | 9 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Holiday Berry303-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.2 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Formal Maroon 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 #70474C in HSL space. Pair Formal Maroon with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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