Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Rectory Red |
| SKU | No. 217 |
| Hex | #7E3D33 |
| RGB | 126, 61, 51 |
| HSL | 8°, 42%, 35% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Brown |
What Color Is Rectory Red, Really?
Rectory Red reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Farrow & Ball No. 217 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Rectory Red
Rectory Red earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes Rectory Red
At LRV 8, Rectory Red 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 Rectory 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 Farrow & Ball No. 217 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Rectory Red within Farrow & Ball'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 #7E3D33 in HSL space. Pair Rectory 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 Rectory 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 RECTORY RED ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
Not sure about Rectory Red in your room?
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