Bitter Chocolate
SW 6013 · #4D3C3C · LRV 5 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Redwood0
- 2Bitter Chocolate5
- 3Million Dollar Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
What Color Is Bitter Chocolate, Really?
Bitter Chocolate reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6013 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Bitter Chocolate
Bitter Chocolate 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 Bitter Chocolate
At LRV 5, Bitter Chocolate 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 Bitter Chocolate 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 6013 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Polished LeatherUL110-23 · Behr | 1.4 | 5 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Tucker ChocolateCW-175 · Benjamin Moore | 3.9 | 5 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Christmas Pudding8004-5G · Valspar | 1.1 | 5 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Ranch House Brown85RR 05/082 · Glidden | 2.9 | 5 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Blackened Walnut403-7DB · Dutch Boy | 0.0 | 5 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Fertile SoilHGSW 3421 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 5 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Bitter Chocolate within Sherwin-Williams'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 #4D3C3C in HSL space. Pair Bitter Chocolate with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Bitter Chocolate?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question