Crimson
What Crimson Actually Looks Like
Crimson 1299 is a rich, medium-deep red that reads more earthy than pure fire-engine red. It sits in brick and terracotta territory, warm and grounded rather than bright or cool. At its LRV of under 20, it absorbs a fair amount of light, so rooms feel more enveloping than they do airy when this color is on the walls. In strong daylight it shows its red clearly. In lower or dimmer light it deepens toward a burnished, almost russet tone.
Crimson Undertones
The RGB values tell the story here: red is dominant, with noticeably less green and blue pulled in. That ratio gives Crimson 1299 a warm, slightly orange-leaning undertone that ties it to terra cotta and aged brick rather than to a true blue-based crimson. Do not expect the cool, jewel-toned red that the name might suggest. On a white wall it reads warm. Next to cool gray or blue it can feel noticeably ruddy.
Where Crimson Works Best
Because this color absorbs light and reads warm, it works best in spaces where intimacy and energy are the goal. Dining rooms, home bars, powder rooms, and accent walls in living rooms are natural fits. It can also work on a front door where a bold, warm red makes a confident statement. Avoid it in already-dark rooms with little natural light unless you want a very cave-like effect. North-facing rooms will push it toward a murkier rust tone, so ideally use it where you get some south or west light.
Where to put Crimson
A classic use for a deep warm red. The color makes a small or windowless dining room feel deliberately dramatic. Keep trim in a warm off-white or cream rather than a stark bright white, which can feel jarring against the earthy red.
Small square footage means bold color commitment is low-risk here. Crimson 1299 on all four walls of a powder room, paired with brass or bronze fixtures and a dark wood vanity, creates a cozy, high-impact space.
A single wall in a living room or bedroom lets you bring in the warmth of this red without fully committing. Works especially well behind a sofa or a bed when the other three walls are a warm neutral.
On an exterior door, Crimson 1299 reads as a warm, earthy red that is more approachable than a fire-engine shade. It suits brick houses particularly well since it harmonizes with masonry rather than competing with it.
What to Pair With Crimson
No coordinating colors are listed in the database for Crimson 1299, so pairings here are based on how the color actually sits in the warm-red family. It partners well with deep navy, warm cream, natural wood tones, and matte black hardware or trim.
You Might Also Like
Colors that clash with Crimson
If adjacent rooms are painted in cool or blue-gray tones, the warm ruddy undertone of Crimson 1299 can look muddy or unintentionally orange at the transition.
A stark, blue-white trim color amplifies the warm, earthy quality of Crimson 1299 in a way that can feel harsh rather than crisp.
Gray tile or cool ash wood floors fight the warm red rather than anchoring it, and the room can feel visually unsettled.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore color code is 1299, the hex is #B66156, and the LRV is 19.58. That LRV puts it in the darker range, meaning it absorbs more light than it reflects.
It reads more like brick red or terracotta red in practice. It is warm and earthy rather than the cool, deep jewel-tone that the word crimson often brings to mind. If you want a truer cool crimson, you would need a color with more blue in the mix.
Eggshell is the standard choice for most wall applications. It gives just enough sheen to make the color look rich without highlighting surface imperfections. In a powder room or dining room where you want more drama and easy cleaning, a satin finish works well. Flat or matte is an option if your walls are not in great shape, but deep reds in flat finishes can be harder to touch up evenly.
Deep, saturated reds are notoriously tricky to cover in one coat. Plan on two coats over a quality primer, or three coats if you are going over a light wall color. Tinting your primer to a mid-tone red beforehand cuts down on the number of finish coats needed.