Maroon is often thought of as a shade of red or a type of burgundy, but it is technically its own distinct color. While similar, there are some key differences between maroon, red, and burgundy that help define each one.
What is maroon?
Maroon is a dark reddish-brown color that takes its name from the French word marron, or chestnut. It sits between red and burgundy on the color wheel and is created by adding brown or black to red.
The first recorded use of “maroon” as a color name in English was in 1789. It was a popular color in the Victorian era and remains widely used today, especially for uniforms, academic hoods, and sports team colors.
There are many variations of maroon. Lighter versions have more red and are sometimes called red-browns. Darker maroons approach true brown. Other shades include crimson, oxblood, cordovan, and russet.
What is red?
Red is a primary color and sits at the end of the visible spectrum. It has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency of visible light.
Pure red is vivid and intense. It is associated with heat, fire, anger, passion, excitement, danger, and love. Red draws attention and stimulates us physically and mentally. It has symbolic meaning in many cultures and is the color of blood.
There are various shades of red, from lighter pinks to darker burgundies. While maroon has some red in it, it is much darker and less saturated than true red. Maroon also has hints of brown that red lacks.
What is burgundy?
Burgundy is a mix of red and brown, taking its name from the Burgundy region of France known for its wine. It is darker and more muted than basic red with a higher proportion of black or purple added in.
Burgundy sits between red and maroon on the color spectrum. It is associated with richness, elegance, and a touch of formality due to its historical ties to the wealthy and powerful.
There are light, medium, and dark variations of burgundy. Lighter burgundy contains more red while darker versions approach maroon. While they are closely related, maroon has a slightly higher percentage of brown than most burgundy shades.
Key differences
While maroon, red, and burgundy are similar reddish hues, looking closely helps identify their unique characteristics:
| Color | Hue | Shade | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maroon | Reddish-brown | Very dark | Muted |
| Red | Red | Medium to dark | Vivid |
| Burgundy | Reddish-purple | Dark | Muted to vivid |
Some key things that differentiate maroon are:
- It contains hints of brown and is darker than basic red.
- It is much more muted and less saturated than true red.
- It is slightly darker and browner than most shades of burgundy.
While their appearances have overlap, side-by-side maroon looks more brown, red looks more vivid, and burgundy is somewhere in between.
Uses of maroon, red, and burgundy
Maroon, red, and burgundy are used extensively across various industries. Here are some of their notable uses:
Maroon
- Academic gowns, hoods, and regalia
- University and school colors (Harvard, University of Chicago, etc.)
- Sports team colors (Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, etc.)
- Fall/winter fashion
- Interior design accents
Red
- Stop signs, fire trucks, exit signs
- Warning labels and signage
- Logos (Youtube, Netflix, etc.)
- Sports team colors (Chicago Bulls, Detroit Red Wings, etc.)
- Fashion accent color
Burgundy
- Formal clothing and eveningwear
- Luxury car interiors (Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, etc.)
- Wine, perfume, and cosmetics packaging
- Home decor
- Fall/winter fashion
Their darker, richer hues give maroon and burgundy sophisticated and formal associations that pure, bright red lacks in most contexts.
How light affects maroon, red, and burgundy
The appearance of maroon, red, and burgundy can change quite a bit based on lighting conditions. Here’s how they typically look in different light:
- In sunlight: Maroon appears more brownish. Red remains vivid. Burgundy appears purple-tinged.
- Under incandescent/yellow light: Maroon looks softened. Red takes on an orangey tone. Burgundy appears more reddish-brown.
- Under fluorescent lighting: Maroon looks muddy. Red loses vibrancy. Burgundy takes on a duller, muted tone.
- In shadow/dim lighting: Maroon appears almost black. Red is darkened but keeps saturation. Burgundy looks nearly black with hints of red.
While subtle, these shifts can make burgundy look very red in some conditions and maroon appear almost brown or black in low light. The lighting you view them in impacts how vivid or muted they seem.
How paint mixing produces maroon, red, and burgundy
Paint mixing provides a Window into how red transforms into maroon and burgundy. Here’s an overview of mixing paint to achieve these hues:
- Maroon: Mix red with brown or black
- Red: Use primary red or mix yellow and magenta
- Burgundy: Mix red with a touch of blue or purple
Maroon sits next to red on the color wheel but requires neutral browns and blacks to take it down to a darker, more muted tone. Burgundy adds cool undertones through blending in blue or purple shades.
The specific recipe depends on the starting red tone and proportions used. But the takeaway is maroon requires brown/black while burgundy utilizes blue/purple to transform red.
How maroon, red, and burgundy look digitally
In digital design, maroon, red, and burgundy are defined by their hex codes. Here are some of the most common:
- Maroon: #800000, #8B0000, #A52A2A
- Red: #FF0000, #F00, #C41E3A
- Burgundy: #900020, #800020, #6F1E51
These hex values help differentiate maroon from true red. Maroon shades have more blue/green mixed in, while red is pure FF0000 red. Burgundy has blue undertones not found in maroon or red.
On screen, maroon may look slightly more vibrant than printed maroon with its brown undertones. But the relative differences remain with red being pure and vivid, maroon muted, and burgundy between them.
Conclusion
While maroon, red, and burgundy have similarities, maroon is most distinctly set apart by its brownish tones. These give it a darker, softer, and more formal look than bright, pure red. Maroon is also slightly darker and more muted than most burgundies.
So in summary:
– Maroon leans brownish
– Red is vividly red
– Burgundy has subtle purple/blue tones
Their shared red undertones mean colors marketed as one may overlap with the others. But side-by-side, maroon has a browned dark red appearance, compared to rich burgundy and bright red. Understanding these subtleties helps you best distinguish between these popular reddish hues.
