Burgundy is a rich, deep red color that is quite popular for interior design, fashion, and art. When working with acrylic paints, there are a few different ways you can mix colors together to create the perfect burgundy hue.
Using Primary Colors
One of the simplest ways to make a burgundy acrylic paint color is by mixing red and blue paint. These are two of the primary colors, along with yellow. By blending red and blue acrylic paints together, you can create a nice burgundy shade.
Start with a crimson or cadmium red hue for the base. Then add a small amount of ultramarine or phthalo blue and mix thoroughly. Add more blue paint as needed to darken the shade. Too much blue will make the color look more purple. So mix slowly until you achieve the burgundy hue you want.
The exact ratio of red to blue acrylic paint can vary based on the specific shades you use. Some trial and error may be needed to find your perfect blend. But in general, plan to use significantly more red paint than blue.
Using Secondary Colors
Another option for mixing an acrylic burgundy color is to combine two secondary paint colors. The secondary colors are purple, green, and orange. So to make a burgundy paint, you would blend purple and red paints.
There are a few different purple acrylic paint shades to choose from. Mixing primary reds and blues can form nice rich purple hues. Or you can use convenient premixed purple paints like quinacridone violet, dioxazine purple, or phthalo purple.
Start with a premixed purple or mix your own. Then stir in crimson, cadmium, or vermilion red acrylic paints until you get the burgundy color you want. The red will tone down the purple to create a reddish-purple burgundy shade.
Using Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are made by combining a primary and secondary shade. For acrylic burgundy paint, the most useful tertiary mix involves red-violet and red-orange colors.
Start with a premixed red-violet like quinacridone magenta, or mix your own using phthalo blue and crimson red. Then add in a red-orange acrylic paint. This could be cadmium red medium hue or another warm red. Combining the cool red-violet with warm red-orange produces a rich balanced burgundy hue.
Deepening with Burnt Umber
Once you’ve mixed up a basic burgundy with acrylic paints, you can further modify the shade by adding in some burnt umber. This is a very deep brown color made from natural raw umber pigment.
Adding just a touch of burnt umber to your red-based burgundy mix will intensify and darken the color. The brown tones give it more depth. Burnt umber also eliminates any hints of pink from the shade, making it more purely burgundy.
Lightening with White
If your homemade acrylic burgundy color ends up too dark, you can lighten it by blending in some titanium or zinc white paint. Adding white makes colors tint lighter with a softer, more pastel effect.
Stir the white in very gradually until the burgundy lightens to your desired shade. Too much white will make it appear washed out and pink. So have a delicate touch and mix slowly for the best results.
Matching Burgundy Shades
When trying to mix an exact burgundy color, it helps to have a reference sample to match. You can use paint swatches, fabric samples, or anything with your target burgundy shade.
Place the sample next to your mixing area so you can compare as you blend. Adjust the acrylic paint ratios until your mix is as close to the reference as possible. Matching colors precisely takes practice, but having the sample right there makes it easier.
Acrylic Paints for Mixing Burgundy
Here is a quick overview of some specific acrylic paint colors that work well for blending burgundy:
| Paint Type | Good Color Choices |
|---|---|
| Red | Cadmium red medium, crimson red, naphthol red |
| Blue | Ultramarine, phthalo blue, primary cyan |
| Purple | Dioxazine purple, quinacridone magenta |
| Brown | Burnt umber, raw umber |
Having a selection of acrylic paints across these color families will give you all the options you need to mix your own custom burgundy tones.
Tips for Mixing Acrylic Burgundy
Follow these tips when blending acrylic paints to create burgundy:
- Use a palette for mixing – this lets you control the paint ratios better.
- Add colors slowly and mix thoroughly to avoid overdarkening.
- Test swatches first on a canvas or paper to perfect the hue.
- Start with small amounts of paint – you can always add more if needed.
- Mix enough to have extra paint for touch-ups or future use.
Matching Specific Burgundy Shades
There are endless variations on the burgundy color. Here are some mixing guides for matching some popular named burgundy shades:
Oxblood Burgundy
Oxblood burgundy leans slightly more brownish-red. Mix it by starting with alizarin crimson and adding raw umber until reaching the desired oxblood tone.
Cordovan Burgundy
For a muted orange-influenced burgundy like cordovan, use cadmium red light mixed with burnt umber and a touch of yellow ochre.
Bordeaux Burgundy
Bordeaux is darker and more blue-based. Use a phthalo blue and quinacridone magenta base, then add dioxazine purple and touch of black to reach the right deep bordeaux color.
Pinot Noir Burgundy
For a red-violet burgundy resembling the pinot noir wine color, mix together alizarin crimson, phthalo blue, and a small amount of quinacridone magenta.
Burgundy Color Schemes
The rich depth of burgundy makes it a great accent color. It pairs beautifully with both warm and cool neutrals. Here are some pleasing color schemes using burgundy:
- Burgundy, cream, tan, brown
- Burgundy, light or navy blue, white
- Burgundy, sage green, ivory
- Burgundy, charcoal, black
- Burgundy, gold, bronze
Use burgundy fabric, wall paint, or upholstery paired with neutral tones for an elegant, refined look. The burgundy pops while the softer neutrals balance it.
Using Burgundy Paint
What are some great ways to use custom mixed burgundy acrylic paint?
- Accent walls or feature walls in a bedroom, office, or dining room
- Painted backgrounds or underpainting for canvas art
- Furniture accents on cabinets, tables, benches
- Patterned throw pillows, curtains, or lampshades
- Wine glasses, mugs, vases, or other home decor
Burgundy instantly creates warmth and visual interest. Use it for DIY home decor projects, crafts, faux finishes, and more.
Conclusion
Mixing the perfect burgundy acrylic paint color is easy with the right combination of paints on hand. Bring depth and elegance to your art and decor projects with custom blended burgundy tones.