Maple Leaf Red
What Maple Leaf Red Actually Looks Like
Maple Leaf Red is a dark, rich red that sits closer to the burgundy end of the spectrum than a fire-engine primary. It carries real depth without veering into purple or brown territory, landing in that specific zone where red feels both bold and grounded. Because its LRV is very low, it reads as a genuinely dark color in most rooms, not a mid-tone accent.
Maple Leaf Red Undertones
The color is built around a balanced red with subtle warm, earthy qualities. It does not lean strongly pink or strongly orange. In warm incandescent light it can intensify and look more purely red. In cooler north-facing light or on overcast days it may shift slightly toward a more muted, almost brick-like tone. The depth of the color means undertones are more felt than obvious.
Where Maple Leaf Red Works Best
Because of its very low light reflectance, Maple Leaf Red works hardest as an accent or feature-wall color rather than an all-over treatment in small, windowless rooms. It earns its keep in dining rooms, libraries, powder rooms, and entryways where a sense of enclosure and drama is actually the point. It can also anchor a fireplace surround or work as a front door color where it reads as classic and confident against exterior trim.
Where to put Maple Leaf Red
Deep reds have a long history in dining rooms for good reason. The low LRV creates an intimate atmosphere under candlelight or warm pendant fixtures. Keep the ceiling white or very light so the room does not feel like a cave, and use natural wood tones in the furniture to warm the whole space up.
A powder room is one of the best places to commit fully to a color this saturated. Small square footage means the cost of paint is low, impact is immediate, and guests only spend a few minutes inside. Pair with brass or antique bronze fixtures for a rich, cohesive result.
Maple Leaf Red makes a confident first impression on an entry wall. It holds up well against natural light flooding in from a front door, and it pairs cleanly with white millwork and dark hardwood floors that most entry halls already have.
In a room lined with bookshelves, dark wood furniture, and layered lighting, this color adds the kind of weight that makes a space feel considered and purposeful. It works especially well when you keep the trim crisp and white to give the eye a clean edge to rest on.
As an exterior front door color, Maple Leaf Red reads as classic and welcoming without being flashy. It pairs well with white, cream, black, or dark gray exterior siding and holds its depth under direct sunlight while still reading as distinctly red.
What to Pair With Maple Leaf Red
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color, so pair suggestions below draw on color principles and established knowledge of how deep reds behave.
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Colors that clash with Maple Leaf Red
If adjacent rooms are painted in cool blue-gray tones, the warmth of Maple Leaf Red can feel jarring at the transition, especially in open-plan spaces.
Pairing a color this deep with near-black trim removes the visual contrast the room needs to keep from feeling heavy and undifferentiated.
Fluorescent or cool LED bulbs can flatten and deaden deep reds, pushing Maple Leaf Red toward a dull, muddy appearance.
Common questions
The LRV is 10.79, which is quite low. In practical terms, this is a genuinely dark color that will absorb a significant amount of light in a room. Plan your lighting accordingly, and expect the color to look deeper and more enveloping than it appears on a small paint chip.
Yes. Benjamin Moore offers Maple Leaf Red in both interior and exterior formulas. For interior walls, an eggshell or satin finish is a practical choice because it allows the color to breathe while still being wipeable. A flat finish deepens the color further but is harder to clean. For a front door or exterior trim, a semi-gloss finish is the standard recommendation.
Deep, saturated reds are notoriously demanding to apply evenly. Budget for at least two full coats and ask your Benjamin Moore retailer about tinting your primer close to the finish color. That step alone can save you from needing a third coat and helps the final color read true.
It can, but go in with realistic expectations. A ceiling in this color will make the room feel dramatically lower and more enclosed. That can work beautifully in a small dining room or a library where the effect is intentional. In any room where you want to preserve a sense of height or airiness, keep the ceiling light.