Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Cottage Red |
| SKU | HC-184 |
| Hex | #A14542 |
| RGB | 161, 69, 66 |
| HSL | 2°, 42%, 45% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Red |
What Color Is Cottage Red, Really?
Cottage Red reads as a warm red tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore HC-184 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Cottage Red
Cottage Red 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 Cottage Red
With an LRV of 11, Cottage Red 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 Cottage Red 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.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore HC-184 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Cottage Red within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #A14542 in HSL space. Pair Cottage Red with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Cottage Red behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY COTTAGE RED ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
Not sure about Cottage Red in your room?
Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.