Maroon Color Bedroom: Burgundy Shades and What to Pair Them With
A maroon color bedroom works best when the burgundy is very deep and the rest of the room stays light and warm. The three reds here have an LRV between 3 and 6, so they behave like dark neutrals with a red cast.
Quick answer
Use the warm linen (LRV 65) on most walls and keep the burgundy for one wall, the bed linens or the curtains. Add the redwood brown on wood pieces.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Shades of burgundy
#713232LRV 6
Oxblood Red
A very dark red with a warm red-orange undertone and an LRV of 6. It suits a headboard wall or curtains; the nearest paint match is Sherwin-Williams Red Theatre. Measured from Catena's Portrait of a Venetian Senator.
A very dark pink-red at LRV 5, a little cooler than the oxblood. Use it on a feature wall or a deep upholstered bed; Sherwin-Williams Merlot is a very close match. Measured from Cornelis de Vos's Portrait of a Woman.
The darkest and most saturated of the three, with an LRV of 3 and a pink-red undertone. Keep it to small pieces such as pillows or a throw. Measured from Portrait of a Woman by Cornelis de Vos.
A light, warm neutral with a yellow undertone and an LRV of 65. It makes a calm wall color next to burgundy bedding. Measured from Catena's Portrait of a Venetian Senator.
Sherwin-Williams SW 7596 Only Natural
Near-identical
Behr 250E-2 Pebbled Courtyard
Near-identical
Valspar 3001-10C Tagsale Linen
Near-identical
Farrow & Ball No. 241 Skimming Stone
Close
#914939LRV 11
Redwood Brown
A deep warm red-orange at LRV 11 that links the reds to wood furniture. Use it on a dresser, a bench or a rug. Measured from Cornelis de Vos's Portrait of a Woman.
Sherwin-Williams SW 7598 Sierra Redwood
Very close
Behr MQ1-24 Smokin Hot
Very close
Valspar 2011-7 Russet Red
Close
Farrow & Ball No. 42 Picture Gallery Red
Similar
Try these colors in a room
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Portrait of a Venetian Senator.
Which burgundy shade should you choose for a bedroom?
All three reds are very dark, so the choice comes down to undertone. The oxblood (#713232) leans warm red-orange, which looks cozy next to wood and cream. The dark plum red (#573439) and the deep wine (#610F32) lean pink-red, which reads a little cooler and more formal.
If you are unsure, start with the oxblood. It sits closest to the middle of the group and is easiest to match with ordinary bedroom materials such as oak, linen and brass.
The LRV values matter here. At 3 to 6, these colors absorb nearly all the light that hits them. A full burgundy room can feel snug and enclosed, which many people want in a bedroom, but it will need good lamps. If you want a softer effect, use the color on one wall or on fabric instead of on every surface.
What colors go with maroon walls and bedding?
The painters paired these reds with a warm linen (#DFD0C1) and a redwood brown (#914939), and both work well in a room. The linen is light at LRV 65, so it brings back the brightness the burgundy takes away. Use it on the walls around a burgundy bed, or on sheets and a duvet cover.
For trim, a soft white with a similar yellow undertone looks cleaner than a stark white. A very bright white can make the dark red look heavy by contrast.
The ceiling should stay light. A white or the linen shade keeps the room from closing in. On the floor, medium oak or walnut suits the warm reds. A cream or oatmeal rug softens the contrast. Use the redwood brown for a dresser or a bench so the room feels layered instead of one flat dark block.
How do dark reds look in bedroom light?
Dark reds change more than light colors do as the day moves on. In north light, which is cool and even, the oxblood can look browner and the plum red looks more purple. In south light the warmth of the oxblood and the redwood comes forward.
Under warm evening bulbs, which is how most bedrooms are used, these reds deepen and look richer. The pink-red shades hold up well at night, because the lamp light adds warmth to their cooler base.
Gloss levels matter too. A matte or flat finish keeps the color soft and hides wall flaws. A satin finish will show every roller mark and bounce glare from the lamp. Use matte on walls and satin only on trim. If your bedroom has little daylight, paint one wall instead of four so the room still feels open.
How do you test burgundy paint samples?
Dark colors need larger samples than light ones. Paint two coats on a sheet of poster board, about two feet square, and tape it to the wall you plan to paint. Do the same on a second wall that gets different light.
Look at the samples in the morning, at midday and at night with your usual lamps on. Notice whether the red turns brown, purple or orange, and check it next to your bedding and floor.
The closest paint matches measured here are Sherwin-Williams Red Theatre for the oxblood, Merlot for the dark plum red, and Behr Cinnamon Cherry for the deep wine. Matches are approximate, so always compare the real chip with your sample. Keep the sample up for at least two days before you decide, because dark reds often look different once you live with them.
FAQ
Is maroon too dark for a small bedroom?
It can be, if it covers every wall. With an LRV of 3 to 6 it absorbs light, so use it on one wall or on fabrics and keep the other walls light.
What is the difference between maroon and burgundy paint?
People use the words loosely. The shades here run from warm red-orange (oxblood) to pink-red (plum red and wine), so compare undertones instead of names.
What color should the ceiling be in a burgundy bedroom?
A light warm white or the warm linen shade (LRV 65). A light ceiling reflects lamp light back into the room.
Which wall color goes with burgundy bedding?
The warm linen (#DFD0C1) is a soft wall choice. It shares a warm base with the reds and keeps the room bright.
Can I use dark red on wood furniture?
The redwood brown (#914939, LRV 11) works as a stain or paint color on a dresser or bench. It sits between the burgundy and a natural wood tone.
Save these colors
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain (CC0).
Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
From Portrait of a Venetian Senator, Catena (Vincenzo di Biagio)
