Real Red
SW 6868 · #BF2D32 · LRV 13 — warm red tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Rookwood Dark Red3
- 2Rumors8
- 3Real Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
- 5Rejuvenate30
What Color Is Real Red, Really?
Real Red reads as a warm red tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6868 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Real Red
Real Red works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
How Lighting Changes Real Red
With an LRV of 13, Real Red is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Real 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.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 6868 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 | Edgy RedUL110-7 · Behr | 2.0 | 13 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Neon Red2087-10 · Benjamin Moore | 1.6 | 13 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Oh So Red1009-1 · Valspar | 2.3 | 14.3 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Red Geranium19YR 14/629 · Glidden | 3.3 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Poppied Red106-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.5 | 14 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Scotch Bonnet PepperHGSW 1081 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 4.5 | 15 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Real Red 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 #BF2D32 in HSL space. Pair Real Red with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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