Cinnabar
DE5209 · #B9714A · LRV 22 — warm red-orange tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Burnt Cinnamon9
- 2Rookwood Terra Cotta14
- 3Cinnabar22
- 4Caramelized35
- 5Venetian Plaster42
What Color Is Cinnabar, Really?
Cinnabar reads as a warm red-orange tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DE5209 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Cinnabar
Cinnabar works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Earthy oranges and terracottas warm up dining rooms and entries.
How Lighting Changes Cinnabar
With an LRV of 22, Cinnabar is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange 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 Cinnabar 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 Dunn-Edwards DE5209 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 | TigereyeSW 6362 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.2 | 24 | Color page → |
| Behr | Copper MinePMD-41 · Behr | 3.4 | 23 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | FirenzeAF-225 · Benjamin Moore | 1.2 | 24 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Cattle Drive2007-5A · Valspar | 1.4 | 21.8 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Fresh PralinePPG16-21 · PPG / Glidden | 3.7 | 22 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Fresh PralinePPG16-21 · Glidden | 3.9 | 22 | Color page → |
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
The nearest shades to Cinnabar within Dunn-Edwards'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 #B9714A in HSL space. Pair Cinnabar with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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