Cherry paint colors
Cherry is a saturated warm red named after the fruit, and it lands right in the sweet spot between two harder-to-wear shades. It is brighter and more open than burgundy, but deeper and more grounded than a true scarlet. Think of it as a confident pink-leaning red with real punch — the kind of color that reads as cheerful and a little glamorous at the same time.
The Truest Cherry Matches
The truest cherry matches across every US brand — start here.
The truest cherry match in the Benjamin Moore deck.
The truest cherry match in the Behr deck.
Razzle Dazzle is a real hot pink — saturated, slightly blue-violet, and completely uninterested in being a background.
Saturated candy pink (LRV 26) — the classic bold pink for accent walls and furniture.
Nearby Shades
Not quite cherry? Each tile opens the full cross-brand hub for that nearby shade, painted in the shade itself.
All 550 Cherry Paint Colors
Every cherry from every brand we track, merged into one shelf. Truest match first. Filter by brand or depth, or change the order.
Swatches are each brand's published display value, not a physical sample under controlled lighting. Screens vary, and so does your light. Order a brand-direct sample or preview the color on a photo of your own wall before you specify.
Upload a photo of the room. We paint it in the cherry you chose with your light and your floor, and you can swap colors until one holds.
How Deep Each Cherry Deck Goes
How many cherry colors each brand carries, drawn with that deck's own cherrys from light to dark. Pick your store first, then the color. Every brand equal, no favorites.
More on cherry paint colors
The digital reference for this shade is around #DE3163, with an LRV (light reflectance value) of about 19. That number matters: it tells you cherry sits on the deeper end of medium, so it will hold its color on a wall rather than washing out, but it will also soak up light rather than bounce it around the room. Knowing that up front saves a lot of disappointment later.
One thing to keep in mind from the start: "Cherry" is a color name and a digital benchmark, not a single can of paint you pull off a shelf. You get cherry by having a paint store match the shade and mix it to order, and that same target can be matched across most major US brands. The hex value is only the starting point — what ends up on your wall is a custom-tinted match in the line and finish you choose.
What Cherry Actually Is
Cherry is a warm red with a clear lean toward pink and a whisper of blue underneath. That blue undertone is what keeps it from going orange or brick — it stays crisp and fruit-like instead of muddy. A good version of cherry feels vivid and clean, never dusty.
The undertone is the whole game here. Push it too warm and it slides toward tomato or coral; pull it too cool and it tips into magenta or fuchsia. The cherry you want stays balanced: rich red first, with just enough pink-blue lift to keep it lively.
How Cherry Reads on a Wall
With an LRV near 19, cherry is a deep, color-saturated shade rather than a soft one. It will read clearly as cherry on the wall and keep its identity in most light, but it absorbs more light than it reflects, so a room painted in it will feel cozier and more enclosed than the same room in a pale color. Plan for that — it is a feature, not a flaw, when you want drama.
Expect the color to shift through the day. In strong direct sun it can look almost glossy and electric, while in dim or evening light it deepens toward a richer, wine-adjacent red. Always test a large sample and watch it morning, noon, and night before committing.
Where Cherry Works Best
Cherry shines as a statement, not a whole-house neutral. It is fantastic on a single accent wall, a powder room, a front door, a dining room, or built-in cabinetry where you want energy and a sense of occasion. North-facing rooms, which get cooler indirect light, let cherry stay true and saturated without overheating.
Where it struggles is large, low-light spaces you want to feel airy — a small windowless room wrapped entirely in cherry can feel heavy and close. South- and west-facing rooms with intense warm light can also push it toward orange, so those need extra sample testing. Use cherry where you want presence, and lean on lighter colors where you want openness.
Pairing Cherry With Trim, Ceilings, and Other Colors
Crisp white trim is the classic move and the safest one — it frames cherry cleanly and lets the red do the talking. A soft warm white or creamy off-white softens the contrast for a cozier feel, while a true bright white keeps things sharp and modern. For ceilings, white keeps the room from closing in, though a deeper room can carry a color-matched or slightly tinted ceiling for full envelopment.
For coordinating colors, cherry plays beautifully against warm neutrals like greige, oatmeal, and soft taupe, which calm it down. For more contrast, deep navy and forest green make it feel rich and intentional, while natural wood tones and brass hardware bring out its warmth. Avoid pairing it with competing bright reds or hot pinks, which fight for attention.
How to Actually Get Cherry in Real Paint
Because cherry is a target color rather than a specific product, you get it by bringing the reference to a paint counter and having it color-matched and mixed to order on a tinting machine. Nearly every major US brand can mix to a custom match, so you are not locked into one company — you choose the brand and product line you trust, then have it tinted to the cherry target.
Remember that the digital hex is only a guide; screens glow and paint does not, so the mixed result will read a little softer and deeper in person. Saturated reds like cherry also almost always need a tinted primer and two or more coats for even, full coverage. Order a small sample pot first, paint a big swatch, and approve the real mixed color in your own light before buying gallons.
Cherry Paint FAQ
What undertones should I look for in a good cherry?
Look for a warm red with a slight pink-blue lift underneath. That undertone keeps cherry crisp and fruit-like instead of sliding into orange-brick on one side or hot magenta on the other. If a sample looks dusty or muddy, it is off-target.
Is cherry too dark for a small room?
It can be, since its LRV of about 19 means it absorbs more light than it reflects. In a small, low-light room it will feel cozy and enclosed, which is great for a powder room or dining nook but heavy for a space you want to feel airy. Test a large swatch in that exact room before deciding.
What trim and ceiling colors go with cherry?
Crisp white trim is the reliable choice and frames the red cleanly. A warm or creamy white softens the look, while a true bright white keeps it modern. Keep ceilings white in most rooms so the space does not close in.
Can I get cherry in any paint brand?
Yes. Cherry is a color target, not a single product, so you bring the reference to a paint counter and have it custom-mixed. Nearly every major US brand can match to it, so you can pick the brand and finish you prefer and have it tinted to the cherry shade.
Will the paint look exactly like the hex value I saw online?
Not exactly. A screen emits light while paint reflects it, so the mixed color will look a little softer and deeper in person. Treat the hex as a starting point and always approve a real painted sample in your own lighting.
What are the most common mistakes people make with cherry?
The biggest ones are skipping a large in-room sample, not using a tinted primer, and underestimating how many coats a saturated red needs for even coverage. People also tend to use too much of it, which overwhelms a space. Use cherry as a focused statement and let neutrals balance it.
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