Watusi
M152 · #7E4B40 · LRV 9.8 — warm red tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Black Bean4
- 2Watusi9.8
- 3Cavern Clay20
- 4Redend Point30
What Color Is Watusi, Really?
Watusi reads as a warm red tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Valspar M152 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Watusi
Watusi 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 Watusi
At LRV 9.8, Watusi 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 Watusi 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 M152 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 | 2.2 | 9 | Color page → |
| Behr | Deco RedS140-7 · Behr | 2.2 | 10 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Harvest Brown2104-30 · Benjamin Moore | 1.0 | 10 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Antique MahoganyPPG16-08 · PPG / Glidden | 1.9 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Antique MahoganyPPG16-08 · Glidden | 1.9 | 10 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Red Mesa408-6DB · Dutch Boy | 4.0 | 11 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Watusi 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 #7E4B40 in HSL space. Pair Watusi with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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