Dark Walnut
What Dark Walnut Actually Looks Like
Dark Walnut 1358 is a deep, muted color that sits at the intersection of brown and mauve. It reads as a sophisticated, earthy rose-brown, darkened enough that it feels grounded and substantial on a wall rather than soft or romantic. In most interior settings it will register as a genuinely dark color, not a midtone.
Dark Walnut Undertones
The RGB values tell the story here: red and blue channels are close, with red slightly dominant, sitting over a notably lower green channel. That combination produces a dusty, brownish-pink quality. In warm incandescent or candlelight the brown side will come forward. In cool north-facing or daylight-balanced light, the mauve and pink quality becomes more apparent. It is not a clean brown and not a clean rose. It lives in between.
Where Dark Walnut Works Best
Because the LRV is very low, Dark Walnut absorbs a significant amount of light. Use it in rooms where you want enclosure and intimacy, not brightness. A dining room, a study, a powder room, or a bedroom accent wall are natural fits. Avoid using it in a space that already lacks natural light unless a moody, cocoon-like effect is your actual goal. In a high-gloss or satin finish it will intensify and reflect some light back. In a flat or matte finish it will feel even deeper and more absorptive.
Where to put Dark Walnut
A low-LRV, brownish-rose on all four dining room walls creates the kind of warmth and enclosure that makes meals feel more intimate. Pair it with candlelight and warm-toned art for the best effect.
Small square footage means you can commit fully to a dark, moody color without the space feeling like a mistake. Dark Walnut in a powder room with warm lighting and a simple mirror reads as intentional and confident.
The dusty rose-brown quality gives a study a library-like seriousness. It works especially well with wood bookshelves and leather or linen upholstery, where the brown undertone ties everything together.
On a single wall behind the bed, Dark Walnut anchors the room without requiring full commitment to a very dark space. Keep the remaining walls in a warm neutral to let the accent wall do the work.
What to Pair With Dark Walnut
No specific Benjamin Moore coordinating colors are assigned in our database for this color. As a general approach, pair Dark Walnut with warm off-whites or creamy whites on trim and ceilings to keep the depth from feeling oppressive. Natural wood tones, aged brass, and terracotta work well as material partners. Deep teal or forest green accents complement the mauve-brown quality without competing with it.
You Might Also Like
Colors that clash with Dark Walnut
Gray with strong blue or violet undertones will pull the mauve component of Dark Walnut in an unflattering direction, making the wall color read muddier than intended.
High-chroma reds, yellows, or blues in the same room will compete with Dark Walnut rather than complement it, and the depth of the wall color will make the brights feel garish.
A stark, blue-white trim will highlight the pink-mauve quality of Dark Walnut in a way that can feel unintended, especially in north light.
Common questions
The LRV is 9.56, which is very low. That means the color absorbs most of the light that hits it. In a room with generous natural light or well-placed artificial lighting it is absolutely workable, especially in a smaller space like a powder room or dining room. In a basement or a room with a single small window, it will feel very dark indeed.
Eggshell is the most practical choice for walls. It offers just enough sheen to make the color cleanable and adds a subtle depth without going high-gloss. If you want maximum moodiness, flat or matte will deepen the color further but is harder to clean. Reserve satin or semi-gloss for trim and doors.
Our database lists this color as interior only, so confirm with your Benjamin Moore retailer before using it on exterior surfaces.
The Benjamin Moore code is 1358. The hex value and RGB breakdown are shown in the color spec block on this page.