Scarlet Tanager
M212 · #C23730 · LRV 14.5 — warm red tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Rookwood Dark Red3
- 2Rumors8
- 3Scarlet Tanager14.5
- 4Inferno22
- 5Rejuvenate30
What Color Is Scarlet Tanager, Really?
Scarlet Tanager reads as a warm red tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar M212 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager 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 Scarlet Tanager
With an LRV of 14.5, Scarlet Tanager 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 Scarlet Tanager 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 Valspar M212 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 | StopSW 6869 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.4 | 15 | Color page → |
| Behr | Flirt AlertP150-7 · Behr | 1.6 | 14 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Tomato TangoCSP-1145 · Benjamin Moore | 2.6 | 16 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Red Geranium19YR 14/629 · Glidden | 3.0 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Poppied Red106-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.9 | 14 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Scotch Bonnet PepperHGSW 1081 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 3.3 | 15 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Scarlet Tanager within Valspar'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 #C23730 in HSL space. Pair Scarlet Tanager with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Scarlet Tanager?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question