Daredevil
What Daredevil Actually Looks Like
Daredevil is a bold, saturated red-orange that hits you right between the eyes. Think ripe tomato meets campfire ember. It is unmistakably warm and confident, the kind of color that announces itself the second you walk into a room. At an LRV of 19.1 it absorbs a good deal of light, so it reads rich and deep without tipping into darkness. In bright daylight it leans more orange and almost glows. Under incandescent or warm LED light it pulls redder and feels even more intense. Cool north-facing light tames it slightly and can bring out its earthy side.
Daredevil Undertones
The dominant undertone is red, pure and simple. But there is an earthy warmth running beneath it that keeps Daredevil from feeling like a fire truck. Some designers read it as having a slight brown base that grounds the color, while others see it as nearly pure red-orange with minimal browniness. Both camps agree on one thing: there is zero blue or violet lurking here. What you get is heat. In rooms with a lot of natural wood or warm materials, that earthy quality becomes more obvious. Against cool whites or blues, the red undertone steps forward.
Where Daredevil Works Best
Daredevil works best as an accent or feature color rather than an all-over wall treatment. A single accent wall in a living room or dining room is the classic move. It is also a strong contender for a front door, where it signals energy and welcome without overwhelming the whole exterior. On the outside of a home it pairs well with warm stone, natural cedar, or dark siding. Use it on a fireplace surround, a built-in bookcase back, or a powder room if you want drama in a small dose. Just remember that at 19.1 LRV it will make a space feel smaller and cozier, so balance it with lighter surfaces around it.
Where to put Daredevil
This is where Daredevil shines brightest. Paint one wall and leave the rest in a warm off-white or light neutral. The contrast gives the red-orange room to breathe and creates a natural focal point behind a sofa, headboard, or dining table. Keep furniture and textiles in warm neutrals, blacks, or cognac leather to stay in the same tonal family.
Red-orange tones have a long history in dining rooms for good reason. They feel inviting under warm evening light. Daredevil on all four walls will make a dining room feel intimate and almost candlelit. Pair it with a warm white ceiling and dark wood furniture. Brass or matte gold hardware and light fixtures amplify the warmth without competing.
In a living room, use Daredevil on a fireplace wall or a media wall to anchor the space. The 19.1 LRV means it will absorb light, so make sure you have enough lamps and lighter surfaces to keep the room functional. A large neutral rug and lighter seating help offset the depth of the wall color.
Daredevil on a front door is an instant upgrade. On exterior siding it is a bold choice but works on smaller structures, garden sheds, or accent sections. Pair it with cream or warm gray trim. Keep shutters and gutters in a dark neutral so the red-orange does not have to fight for attention.
What to Pair With Daredevil
Because Daredevil runs so hot, it needs trim and accent partners that either cool it down or let it breathe. Cocoon (SW 6173), a soft, warm neutral, is one of Sherwin-Williams' own coordinating picks, and it works beautifully as a trim or adjacent wall color. Think of it as a calming frame around all that fire. For additional pairings, consider crisp warm whites on trim, deep charcoal or navy on cabinetry, and muted greens or sage tones for contrast walls.
Daredevil vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Daredevil at LRV 19.1.
Colors that clash with Daredevil
Pairing Daredevil with icy pastels creates a jarring temperature clash. The warm red-orange and the cool pastel fight for dominance, and neither wins.
Green is the complement of red, but a saturated Kelly green next to Daredevil reads like holiday decor rather than intentional design.
A blue-based bright white next to Daredevil amplifies both the warmth and the contrast to an uncomfortable degree. The wall can look almost neon.
Common questions
It depends on the room size and how much natural light you get. At LRV 19.1, Daredevil absorbs a lot of light and will make walls feel closer. In a small powder room, that cozy effect is welcome. In a large living room, it could feel heavy on all four walls. Most homeowners find it works best as an accent wall or in a dining room where evening-light ambiance matters more than daytime brightness.
Stick with warm whites that have a yellow or cream undertone. Cool, blue-based whites will clash with the red-orange warmth. Something creamy and soft lets Daredevil pop without creating a harsh line at the trim.
Yes, but use it strategically. A front door painted in Daredevil is a classic bold statement. For full siding, it is a big commitment and works best on smaller structures or accent sections rather than an entire house. Pair it with warm neutral or dark trim for balance.
The LRV is 19.1, which places it in the medium-dark range. It reflects about 19% of the light that hits it, so it will darken a room noticeably compared to mid-tone colors.
It sits right at the intersection. In cool or dim light it reads redder. In bright, warm light it pushes more orange. Most people see it as red-orange with an earthy warmth underneath. The balance shifts depending on your lighting and what colors surround it.