Cornwallis Red
What Cornwallis Red Actually Looks Like
Cornwallis Red is a deep, earthy brick red with a distinctly colonial character. It reads as a warm, darkened red, closer to aged terra cotta or dried clay than a pure fire-engine red. The depth keeps it from feeling aggressive, and the muted quality gives it a settled, period-appropriate presence on the wall.
Cornwallis Red Undertones
The color carries orange and brown undertones that come from its brick-red base. Those warm undertones mean it will read slightly more orange in warm incandescent or candlelight, and more purely red in cooler daylight. In low or north-facing light it can pull noticeably dark, almost a deep rust brown.
Where Cornwallis Red Works Best
This color belongs to Benjamin Moore's Williamsburg collection, a line developed in partnership with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to reflect authentic 18th-century American interiors. That heritage makes it a natural fit for spaces where you want historic character, and it works equally well in contemporary rooms that need a strong, grounded accent.
Where to put Cornwallis Red
A dining room is one of the best uses for a color this deep. Low LRV colors feel intimate and enveloping in a room where you want atmosphere over brightness. Candlelight and warm pendant lighting will bring out the orange warmth in the brick base.
On all four walls of a study or library, Cornwallis Red creates a focused, serious environment. Pair it with warm wood shelving and brass or aged bronze accents to lean into the historic quality of the color.
A foyer does not need to live in the color all day, so the darkness is not a practical concern. The bold, grounded red makes a confident first impression without reading as loud or trendy.
The Williamsburg collection is designed with exterior use in mind. On shutters or a front door against a white or cream body, Cornwallis Red reads as a classic, historically grounded accent rather than a modern statement color.
What to Pair With Cornwallis Red
No coordinating colors are specified in the collection data for this color. As a deep brick red, it pairs well with off-whites, creamy whites, and warm tans on trim and ceilings. Navy or forest green in an adjacent room creates a classic colonial combination. Brass and aged bronze hardware suit it well.
Colors that clash with Cornwallis Red
Cornwallis Red's warm orange-brown undertones will fight with cool gray or blue-gray in an adjacent space, making both colors look off.
A stark, blue-white trim color will pull out the orange in the brick red and make the combination feel unfinished or mismatched.
At LRV 15.44, this color absorbs a lot of light. In a north-facing room with small windows and no warm artificial lighting it can read as nearly black-brown and feel oppressive.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore color code is CW-315. The precise LRV is 15.44, which places it in the darker range of wall colors. Hex and RGB values are shown in the color spec block above.
Yes. It is available in both interior and exterior finishes, which suits its Williamsburg collection roots and makes it a practical choice for shutters, doors, and other exterior trim as well as interior walls.
It depends on what you want the room to do. A deep color like this will make a small room feel smaller and more enclosed, which can be a feature in a dining room or study. If you need the space to feel open and airy, this is not the right color for that goal.
For walls, an eggshell or matte finish suits the historic, settled character of the color best. A flat finish works well for period-authentic interiors. On a front door or shutters, use a satin or semi-gloss for durability and a clean look.