Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Cabaret |
| SKU | DEA152 |
| Hex | #A22D2D |
| RGB | 162, 45, 45 |
| HSL | 0°, 57%, 41% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Red |
What Color Is Cabaret, Really?
Cabaret (DEA152) is a deep, saturated red from Dunn-Edwards. On paper its hue sits at pure red with moderate-high saturation and a medium-dark tone, which in a real room translates to a rich barn-and-lipstick red that leans warm rather than cool or purple. With an LRV of 7 it is one of the darkest colors you can pick, so it soaks up light and can read almost black-red in a dim corner.
That depth is exactly why people reach for it. It is Dunn-Edwards' signature accent and front-door red, the kind of color used in small, deliberate doses to draw the eye.
Cabaret suits homeowners who want one bold, confident moment rather than a whole quiet house. It fits traditional exteriors, craftsman front doors, dining rooms, libraries, and any space where you want warmth and drama without going fully black.
Cabaret leans clearly warm. Its hue lands at true red and, unlike burgundy or wine reds, it does not pull toward purple or blue. There is a faint brown-brick depth to it because the tone is dark, but at heart this is a clean, warm red rather than a muted, dusty one.
At roughly 57 percent saturation this is a committed color, not a near-neutral, so the red reads plainly on the wall in almost any light. Where the undertone shifts is in intensity, not direction: in bright sun it looks vivid and slightly orange-warm, and in shade it deepens toward oxblood.
To judge it honestly, tape a large sample next to a true fire-engine red and a purple-based burgundy. Cabaret should sit between them, warmer than the burgundy and deeper than the bright red. Also check it against warm wood and brass, which flatter its warmth, versus cool chrome, which can make it look heavier.
Best Rooms and Uses for Cabaret
Cabaret is a statement and contrast color, not a whole-home neutral. Its very low LRV means large wall expanses will feel intense and enclosing, so use that on purpose. It shines as a front door, where its warm red reads as classic and welcoming against neutral siding, and as an exterior accent on shutters or a porch ceiling detail.
Indoors, it works best in rooms you want to feel intimate: a dining room, a library, a powder room, or a single accent wall behind a bed or fireplace. It also makes a strong cabinet or island color in a kitchen where the rest of the room stays light.
For trim, Cabaret is too dark to serve as trim itself against dark walls, but it looks sharp as the body color framed by a crisp white. Skip it for full ceilings and for small rooms with little natural light unless a deliberately dark, cocooning effect is the goal.
How Lighting Changes Cabaret
With an LRV of 7, Cabaret returns very little light, so lighting controls how dark it feels more than what color it is. In a north-facing room, where light is cool and soft, it goes moody and can read close to black-red on the wall, which suits a cozy study or dining room. South-facing rooms get the most from it, warming the red and letting its true saturation show.
East light makes it glow warm in the morning and recede by afternoon, while west light does the reverse, deepening it early and firing it up at sunset.
Bulb choice matters. Warm bulbs around 2700K push the red richer and friendlier, which is usually what you want. Cool daylight bulbs flatten it and can make it look harsh. Because so little light bounces back, always add lamps or sconces in any room using Cabaret on the walls, or the space will feel smaller after dark.
Most complaints about Cabaret 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 →Cabaret vs Similar Colors
Cabaret sits at the darkest end of Dunn-Edwards' warm reds. Red Ink (DEA151, LRV 11) is its closest sibling but reads a few shades lighter and slightly brighter, so it feels a touch more lively and less black in low light. If you want the same red character with a little more openness on a full wall, Red Ink is the safer pick; if you want maximum depth and drama, Cabaret wins.
Scarlet Past (DEA150, LRV 11) is another near neighbor that lands a bit cleaner and lighter, better for a front door you want to pop in daylight.
Vintage Red (DET427, LRV 10) leans slightly toward a dustier, more muted brick red, which suits a traditional or historic exterior, whereas Cabaret stays purer and more saturated. In practice, choose Cabaret when you want the boldest, deepest statement and one of the lighter reds when the color will cover a larger area or sits in a darker room.
Colors That Go With Cabaret
Cabaret needs light, clean partners to keep it from feeling heavy. For trim and ceilings, a warm off-white does the most work: Whisper (DEW340, LRV 84) or Swiss Coffee (DEW342, LRV 84) both frame the red crisply without the blue-white chill that can fight its warmth.
For a second wall color or a broad neutral in the same room, Berkshire Beige (DEC760, LRV 50) and Almond (DEW348, LRV 67) echo Cabaret's warmth and let it stand out. If you want a cooler, quieter foil, Battleship Gray (DET636, LRV 22) grounds the palette.
For a deeper companion or accent, Iron Mountain (DET637, LRV 11) pairs charcoal with the red for a strong, traditional look, while Maiden Voyage (DEA178, LRV 8) brings a deep navy for a classic red-white-blue scheme. Warm wood tones and brass or aged-bronze hardware both flatter Cabaret; keep bright chrome to a minimum.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEA152 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Cabaret within Dunn-Edwards'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 #A22D2D in HSL space. Pair Cabaret 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.
The Questions Everyone Asks
Is Cabaret warm or cool?
Cabaret is a warm red. Its hue sits at true red with no blue or purple pull, so it reads as a rich barn-and-lipstick red rather than a cool burgundy or wine. In warm light it looks vivid and friendly; in shade it deepens toward oxblood but stays warm in character.
Is Cabaret more brown or more red?
It is clearly red, not brown. There is a faint brick depth because the color is dark, but at roughly 57 percent saturation the red reads plainly on the wall in almost any light. It never turns muddy or beige the way a true brown-based red would.
What trim white goes with Cabaret?
A warm off-white works best. Whisper (DEW340, LRV 84) or Swiss Coffee (DEW342, LRV 84) both frame Cabaret crisply and keep the palette warm. Avoid a stark blue-white, which can look cold against the red. These same whites also make a clean ceiling color in a room with Cabaret walls.
Does Cabaret work on cabinets and exteriors?
Yes. Cabaret is Dunn-Edwards' signature accent and front-door red, so it is a natural fit for exteriors, shutters, and front doors against neutral siding. On cabinets or a kitchen island it makes a strong statement as long as the surrounding walls and counters stay light, which keeps the deep red from closing in the room.
What does an LRV of 7 mean for Cabaret?
LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (white). At 7, Cabaret is very dark and reflects little light, so it can read almost black-red in dim corners and makes rooms feel smaller and more intimate. Plan on extra lamps or sconces if you use it on full walls.
How is Cabaret different from Red Ink?
Both are warm Dunn-Edwards reds, but Red Ink (DEA151) has an LRV of 11 versus Cabaret's 7, so Red Ink reads a few shades lighter and slightly brighter. Cabaret is the deeper, more dramatic choice, while Red Ink stays a touch more open and lively, which helps on larger walls or in darker rooms.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Cabaret behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY CABARET ON YOUR ROOM →
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