California Claret
12YR 07/279 · #7D4240 · LRV 7 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Redwood0
- 2California Claret7
- 3Million Dollar Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
What Color Is California Claret, Really?
California Claret reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Glidden 12YR 07/279 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for California Claret
California Claret earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
How Lighting Changes California Claret
At LRV 7, California Claret 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 California Claret 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 Glidden 12YR 07/279 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 | Red BarnSW 7591 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.6 | 9 | Color page → |
| Behr | January GarnetHDC-CL-11 · Behr | 1.5 | 8 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Plum Raisin2082-20 · Benjamin Moore | 2.3 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Red Henna1008-7A · Valspar | 1.8 | 8.5 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Sweet SpiceberryPPG1059-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.7 | 9 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Holiday Berry303-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.4 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Glidden Colors
The nearest shades to California Claret within Glidden'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 #7D4240 in HSL space. Pair California Claret with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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