Charlton Brown
What Charlton Brown Actually Looks Like
Charlton Brown CW-265 is a very dark, warm brown with red and orange depth in it. Think aged brick, dried tobacco leaf, or old mahogany furniture. At full strength it reads almost as a near-black in low light, but in bright daylight you can see that warm reddish-brown character clearly. It is a heavy, grounded color with real presence on the wall.
Charlton Brown Undertones
The red and orange sit underneath the brown, and they surface most noticeably in direct or warm incandescent light. In cool north-facing rooms or under cool LED bulbs it can pull more toward a flat, dark neutral brown. In south- or west-facing rooms with plenty of warm afternoon light, the reddish warmth is much more visible.
Where Charlton Brown Works Best
This color comes from Benjamin Moore's Williamsburg collection, a line developed in partnership with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. That heritage points you toward its natural home: traditional interiors, historic houses, formal rooms, and spaces where depth and weight are intentional design choices rather than accidents. It works as a full wall color in a study, library, or dining room, and it is also a strong candidate for accent walls, exterior trim on a historic structure, or painted millwork where you want serious contrast.
Where to put Charlton Brown
A very dark warm brown envelops a book-lined room and creates the kind of focused, settled atmosphere that is hard to achieve with lighter colors. Keep the ceiling lighter to prevent the room from feeling like a box.
At LRV 8.32 this color absorbs light, which makes a dining room feel intimate and enclosed, especially in candlelight or warm pendant lighting. It is a strong choice if drama is the goal.
On a historic or traditionally styled home, a deep warm brown on shutters or trim adds period-appropriate contrast against clapboard siding in lighter tones. Confirm sheen selection before applying outdoors.
Use it on a single wall in a living room or bedroom to anchor a seating area or bed. Because it is so dark, keep furnishings in the same warm register so the wall does not look like a separate design decision.
What to Pair With Charlton Brown
No coordinating colors are listed in our current database for CW-265, so specific named pairings are not confirmed. Generally, a very deep warm brown at this value reads well alongside creamy off-whites, aged whites with yellow undertones, soft sage greens, and warm taupes. Brass and bronze hardware complement the reddish-brown character. Avoid cool stark whites, which will fight the warmth rather than support it.
Colors that clash with Charlton Brown
If adjacent rooms are painted in cool blue-grays or true grays, the warm reddish undertone in Charlton Brown will look unrelated and slightly orange by comparison.
Bright cool whites on trim will fight the warm undertone and make the brown read muddier than it actually is.
At this depth, a very dark color on all four walls of a small room with a low ceiling can feel compressive rather than cozy.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore color code is CW-265, the hex is #693D2D, and the LRV is 8.32. That LRV confirms it is a very dark color that absorbs significantly more light than it reflects.
Yes, CW-265 is available through both Benjamin Moore's retail and trade channels. Finish choice matters at this depth: a flat or matte finish will look more period-appropriate and will hide surface imperfections, while an eggshell adds a small amount of sheen that helps reflect some light back in dark rooms.
Plan for at least two full coats over a tinted primer. Deep, saturated colors at this LRV often show streaks or uneven coverage if you skip primer or try to cover in one coat. Tinting your primer to a mid-brown will reduce the number of finish coats needed.
Benjamin Moore's availability data confirms it can be used for exterior applications. Dark colors on exterior surfaces absorb more heat, which can affect wood substrates over time. Discuss finish and substrate preparation with your paint supplier before committing.