Chestnut
What Chestnut Actually Looks Like
Chestnut 2082-10 is a rich, dark red-brown that reads like the interior of a roasted chestnut. It sits firmly in deep territory, absorbing light rather than reflecting it. In a well-lit room it shows its warm reddish core. In low or north-facing light it can pull almost maroon, even close to a dark burgundy. Either way, it is a color that commands the room rather than receding into the background.
Chestnut Undertones
The RGB values confirm what the name suggests: red leads, with green and blue both considerably lower. That means the dominant undertone is a warm red, tempered by enough brown to keep it grounded and earthy rather than candy-bright. It is not a true neutral brown, and it is not a pure red. It sits at the intersection of the two.
Where Chestnut Works Best
Because the LRV is under 9, Chestnut drinks light. It works best where you want enclosure and warmth, not where you are trying to open a space up. Think dining rooms, libraries, home offices, powder rooms, or accent walls in a living room. Smaller rooms can actually benefit from a color this deep because it creates an intentional, cocooning effect rather than just feeling cramped. Avoid it on all four walls of a room that already struggles with natural light unless that cave-like quality is exactly what you are after.
Where to put Chestnut
A deep red-brown on dining room walls has a long track record, and Chestnut earns its place there. Candlelight and warm overhead fixtures bring out the red. Pair it with a natural wood table and cream or off-white trim to keep the room from feeling heavy.
This is the kind of color that makes bookshelves and dark wood furniture look intentional. It creates a focused, contained atmosphere that suits reading and working. Use a satin or eggshell finish so the walls have some life without becoming reflective.
Small square footage is no obstacle here. A powder room in Chestnut feels deliberate and bold. You only spend a few minutes at a time in the space, so the depth never becomes oppressive. A large mirror and good lighting keep it functional.
If committing to four walls feels like too much, a single accent wall in a living room or bedroom lets you introduce the color without the full enclosure effect. Back it with warm neutrals on the remaining walls so the contrast reads as intentional.
What to Pair With Chestnut
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color, so the pairings below are drawn from established color principles tied to Chestnut's red-brown character.
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Colors that clash with Chestnut
Chestnut's warm red base fights with cool gray or blue-gray tones in adjacent spaces. The contrast reads jarring rather than intentional.
A stark, cool bright white trim next to a color this deep can make the edges feel harsh and highlight any imperfect cut-in lines.
Gray tile or cool-toned hardwood underneath Chestnut pulls against its warm red undertone and can make the whole room feel disconnected.
Common questions
The precise LRV is 8.76, which puts it firmly in the dark range. Colors below 25 absorb significantly more light than they reflect, so expect Chestnut to make a room feel smaller and more enclosed. Plan your lighting accordingly.
Eggshell is the most forgiving on walls. It gives a slight sheen that lets the color show some depth without becoming reflective. Flat can feel chalky at this depth. Satin works well in dining rooms or anywhere you want a bit more richness, and it holds up to occasional cleaning.
Our records list this color as interior only. If you want a similar red-brown outside, ask your Benjamin Moore retailer about a comparable exterior formula.
Yes, noticeably. In warm incandescent or candlelight the red comes forward and the color feels vibrant. In north-facing rooms or under cool LED or fluorescent light it can shift toward a darker, more burgundy-brown tone. Sample it on the actual wall and observe it at different times of day before committing.