The 9 Best Oxblood Paint Colors -

The dark red paint color you’ve been looking for…

When it comes to trends, oxblood is gaining popularity in certain circles (vampires and horseflies, in particular).

Seriously, though, this gorgeous red-inspired hue has been hittin’ front doors, cabinets, and entire color-drenched rooms HARD. So, I figured we should spend a little time with some of my favorite shades of oxblood, including colors that lean a bit more…

Burgundy or maroon
Wine-inspired
Deep red or cranberry

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Apparently, ‘Sang de Bouef’ is another way to ask for oxblood, but the only Bouef I be sangin’ about should be on my burger.

This front door is painted a beautiful oxblood hue!

WHAT COLOR IS ‘OXBLOOD’?

That’s a tricky question. What I call oxblood, you might call burgundy or maroon. What you call dark red, I might call oxblood.

Shlong story short, it is what you make it. HOWEVER, it does need to be led by red, and blended with purple and brown. Without purple, you risk a more rusty hue. Without brown, you’ll get smacked upside the head with color.

What’s interesting to me (being a complete color nerd) is that most of the popular, asked-about oxblood colors have a significant degree of purple. Whodathunk it.

Now, let’s see what this color cowgirl has up her sleeves…]

1. BENJAMIN MOORE BEWITCHED CSP-450

By far, Bewitched is near the top of the list when it comes to the best oxblood paint colors.

But why? What makes Benjamin Moore Bewitched such a popular choice?

Well, its bewitching look is well-grounded between red, purple, and brown. While the brown takes a backseat to the other two, it definitely slows things down nicely.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Bewitched…

As for depth, its LRV of 6.37 means it’s a pretty full-bodied, Merlot-rich shade of dark red.

2. BENJAMIN MOORE DINNER PARTY AF-300

For those who want a ravishing shade of oxblood red, Dinner Party is sending out invitations.

This glorious shade of dark red has the bones of oxblood, given its red-centric look, making it the most red-forward oxblood on this page.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Dinner Party…

Now, if you have a well-lit room, you might find Dinner Party a bit less…oxblood and more muted red. For this reason, I prefer Dinner Party in a moodier, lower-light space.

Keep in mind that Dinner Party is more color-forward with it’s approach to oxblood.

If you love a color like Dinner Party, you’ll want to compare it to Sherwin Williams Borscht.
On the other hand, if you love the degree of color in Dinner Party, but want a bit more purple/less red (less oxblood), Benjamin Moore Raisin Torte is gorg.
For more warmth, Benjamin Moore Parisian Red is ‘next-level’ gorgeous, but steps further away from oxblood with its look. But hey, maybe it’s just what you’re looking for!

I included these extra colors with Dinner Party, as it’s the one color on this page that differs the most from the others.

Always sample and compare similar shades to find YOUR best paint color!

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SOMMELIER 7595

For those of you who love your oxblood colors a bit more ‘merlot’ or ‘red-wine-inspired’, Sherwin Williams Sommelier is a great place to dip your paintbrush.

Sommelier has an LRV of 5; it has more depth than Bewitched, but really, not by a bunch; they’re similarly dark and moody.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Sommelier…

As for its approach to color, compare it to Bewitched and notice that…

Sommelier looks a bit warmer compared to the intentions of Bewitched.
This warmth can make Sommelier look a ‘touch’ more brown and Bewitched a bit more red-purple, just in comparison.

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ROOKWOOD DARK RED 2801

While Bewitched is lovely and all, it doesn’t have my heart like Rookwood Dark Red does.

This beautiful oxblood paint color is DARK; pretty much as dark as red or burgundy gets. How do we know this? Its LRV is 3, which is near the very bottom of the scale.

This super sultry, sexy, dark shade of oxblood is gorgeous for doors and kitchen islands, in particular.

5. BENJAMIN MOORE CHESTNUT 2082-10

If your perfect shade of oxblood focuses on red, with an ample dose of purple and brown, Chestnut might be your color.

Benjamin Moore Chestnut is a bit more cheerful and softer than some of the other colors on this page. With its LRV of 8.76, it’s in the dark range, but not in the murky depths of it.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Chestnut…

6. BENJAMIN MOORE CASCABEL CHILE CSP 445

While Cascabel Chile doesn’t get as much chatter, it’s wickedly gorgeous. I think the reason it flies under the radar is that it’s overshadowed by the color beneath it (in the fan deck) – Bewitched (the most popular oxblood color). However, give it a chance and you’ll find a beautiful shade for those who want the COLOR of oxblood, but a bit less depth.

I know that some of these SEEM more purple in some of the images. Don’t judge a paint color until you’ve sampled it in YOUR home!

I mean, don’t get me wrong, some of these are heavier on the purple, but you might be surprised at how they settle in your lighting.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Cascabel Chile…

As for its depth, Cascabel Chile has an LRV of 8.3, making it a good dose lighter than most of the previous options.

While the name Cascabel Chile has me thinking it would be a spicier type of color, it’s not. This is a grounded, gorgeous, well-rounded dark red with enough color to hit the spot without dumping you in the ‘obnoxiously red-purple world’.

7. BENJAMIN MOORE RUBY DUSK 1267

Some people think oxblood is considerably purple-inspired (with red), others see it as a more red-dominant shade. And in the end, it doesn’t matter, as long as you find a color you love!

Ruby Dusk is awesome because it’s not hardcore about purple or red. Sure, it’s a bit more red-centric (as I believe it should be), but it has a nice, gentle, dusky blend of red, purple, and a neutral base.

OXBLOOD-INSPIRED PAINT COLORS THAT LEAN MORE PURPLE

If your best oxblood paint color is a bit more purple-centric and less red, check out these next shades…

8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MAROONED 6020

COME TO MOMMA! Dang, I love this color so much! That said, I also love a fresh, crisp bag of Cornuts with my white wine, so I’m obviously easy to please.

Seriously, though, whether you call it oxblood or…maroon(ed), Marooned is a gorgeously dark, rich approach to red.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Marooned…

With its LRV of 4, Marooned ain’t messin’ around – she be dark. As for ‘color’, it’s one of the more neutral or brown versions of oxblood, while still holding a good purple-red base.

Want more burgundy-vibes? You might like reading about the best burgundy paint colors!

9. FARROW & BALL PREFERENCE RED No.297

Preference Red is, by far, Farrow & Ball’s best shot at oxblood. Because they have a gorgeous, but severely limited palette, you often get only one or two versions of a certain color/depth.

That all said, THANK GOD, Preference Red is amazeballs (can I say balls and God in the same sentence??). Anyway.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Preference Red…

Preference Red is beautiful and approaches oxblood with a bit more of a ‘merlot-inspired’ look. This is thanks to a slightly more purple backdrop compared to oxblood colors like Bewitched, and it features much more purple than Sommelier.

If your best oxblood paint colors cater a touch more to purple-red, Preference Red could be the perfect shade.

Personally, I find it a touch too purple and colorful for my preference (pun intended), but if you’re here for it, you do you, boo!

THE BEST SLIGHTLY LIGHTER OXBLOOD PAINT COLORS

While I’m not diving as deep into these gorgeous shades, the links will get you started!

Benjamin Moore Hodley Red has an LRV of 11.02, making it more of a medium-dark oxblood vs a ‘dark’ shade.
Benjamin Moore New London Burgundy is ridiculously gorgeous. Personally, I find it a wink too light to hit my happy place, which likes being hit much harder (when it comes to oxblood).
Farrow & Ball Eating Room Red. You call it oxblood, I call it muted red. But it doesn’t matter, as if you love darkish reds that wink at oxblood, Eating Room Red could fill you up.

On this gorgeous farmhouse, we painted the front door (which you can’t really see) and the garage doors Hodley Red.

WHAT ABOUT BENJAMIN MOORE TOWNSEND HARBOR BROWN?

Some people refer to Townsend Harbor Brown as oxblood, but if you ask this color cowgirl, it’s just a bit too purple-brown for that.

WHERE’S MY RED AT?

Sure, if you’re hankerin’ for a super grounded, purple-inspired approach to oxblood, it could be just what you’re looking for. However, if you prefer a color that’s a bit more ‘color-forward’, I’d stick with the previously suggested shades.

WHAT COLORS GO BEST WITH OXBLOOD?

Ooooo, great question. But it’s also a HARD question.

Why?

What are you using this other color on? An adjoining room? Do you need accent colors to complement your oxblood walls? Or maybe you’ve painted an oxblood accent wall and need the perfect shade for the surrounding walls? Context matters.
Which oxblood-inspired paint color have you chosen? While many of the above colors share palettes, some have serious preferences.

However, to get you started, here are a few blog posts to explore…

Naturally, you can create a tone-on-tone palette by using lighter and darker versions of your chosen color.
A wide range of beige and tan paint colors coordinate well with oxblood walls or cabinets. In general, I lean into light depth, warm neutrals (I don’t use off-whites as much), or tan/beige paint colors with a bit more moody depth (tans are sometimes a bit nicer than beiges – it’s an undertone thing).
While I wouldn’t choose it for adjoining walls, I’d definitely consider a dark, moody shade of green for an adjoining room or for my room’s accent colors.
Darker brown paint colors can be glooorious in a palette with oxblood.
Dusky, mauve/blush-inspired paint colors can be interesting partners to the right shade of oxblood.
Medium-depth taupes can also be interesting additions to a palette, but tend to need a bit more color vs. being super neutral.

And that’s just a start!

WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE TO USE OXBLOOD PAINT COLORS?

Not every color is great for every surface. Let’s take a look at where oxblood paint colors look their best…

Kitchen cabinets – especially with timeless black countertops for a moody, dramatic look
Kitchen islands for a hit of contrast and color
Entire rooms, when you paint the walls, trims, doors, and usually the ceiling the same color, just in different finishes (color-drenching)
Entire rooms with more traditional white or off-white trim
Front doors, inside and outside
Accent doors, including French Doors to offices or dens

WHAT’S THE BEST OXBLOOD PAINT COLOR?

Let’s rephrase that to ‘What’s the most POPULAR oxblood paint color?’

Why?

The BEST color is the one that suits your interior finishes, exposure, and personal taste, and it can change from room to room. The most POPULAR color is the one that the average oxblood lover leans into, and that most definitely is Benjamin Moore Bewitched (#1 on the above list).

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The Best Burgundy & Red Front Door Paint Colors

Accent Walls: Where & Why?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting for the BEST color advice!