Burgundy is a rich, deep red color that has become quite popular in fashion, interior design, and branding. When thinking of deeper, darker shades than burgundy, there are several options to consider across the color wheel. In this article, we will explore some of the darkest shades of red, purple, brown, and maroon that are darker than burgundy.
Understanding Burgundy
Before looking at darker shades, it’s helpful to understand what defines the burgundy color. Burgundy is a dark red color that has a purplish tint to it. It’s often associated with wine, royalty, and autumn.
Some key facts about burgundy:
| Hex Code | #800020 |
| RGB | 128, 0, 32 |
| CMYK | 0, 100, 75, 50 |
| Hue | 335 degrees |
| Saturation | 100% |
| Brightness | 25% |
As you can see, burgundy is a very deep, saturated shade of red that absorbs most light. This makes it darker than most variations of red. When looking for darker shades, we want colors with even less brightness and saturation in similar hues.
Dark Red Shades
Let’s start by looking at some dark red shades that are deeper than burgundy:
Oxblood – Hex #4A0001 – Oxblood is often used to describe a very dark red color with brown undertones. It has a CMYK of 0, 95, 76, 80 making it darker and less vibrant than burgundy.
Maroon – Hex #500000 – Maroon is a richer, darker red with more brown tones. It’s often associated with maroon 5.
Cordovan – Hex #893F45 – Named after leather, cordovan is a very dark reddish shade closer to brown than red. It has a muted, earthy quality.
Crimson – Hex #DC143C – Crimson is a cooler, bluer red that is quite dark while still having vibrancy. It’s the color of blood and Harvard’s school color.
Garnet – Hex #771415 – Garnet sits between red and maroon. It’s a rich, muted dark red named after the gemstone garnet.
Dark Purple Shades
Moving across the color wheel, here are some deep eggplant and purple shades darker than burgundy:
Eggplant – Hex #614051 – Eggplant is a very dark purple with red undertones, like the skin of an eggplant. It’s slightly lighter than burgundy.
Tyrian Purple – Hex #66023C – Tyrian purple is a rich, royal purple named after the dye used for ancient Roman emperors.
Magenta – Hex #8B008B – On screens, magenta is a dark pinkish purple. In print, it’s closer to burgundy but slightly darker.
Amethyst – Hex #9966CC – Amethyst is a jewel-toned purple, darker and cooler than burgundy. It’s the color of the gemstone amethyst.
Byzantium – Hex #702963 – A dark reddish purple, byzantium is an ancient color named after the Byzantine Empire.
Dark Brown Shades
Some deep shades of brown can also be darker than burgundy:
Chocolate – Hex #D2691E – A rich dark brown that resembles the color of chocolate.
Coffee – Hex #6F4E37 – The deep brown color of black coffee.
Sepia – Hex #704214 – A warm, muted brown with a mix of grey, named after the pigment sepia.
Ebony – Hex #555D50 – A very dark brown that’s almost black, named after the dense ebony wood.
Timberwolf – Hex #D6CABD – A smoother grey-brown that resembles tree bark. Darker than tan.
Dark Maroon Shades
Finally, these deep maroon shades sit between burgundy and brown:
Cordovan – Hex #893F45 – A very dark red shade bordering on brown, with a leathery feel.
Taupe – Hex #483C32 – A dark dusty purple-grey combination, the color of tarnished pewter.
Brunswick – Hex #4C2A28 – An earthy, muted maroon shade, like the Brunswick stew.
Cioccolato – Hex #6D3F30 – A rich chocolate brown with maroon undertones.
Mahogany – Hex #C04000 – Reddish like mahogany wood, but darker.
Conclusion
Burgundy sits in the middle of the darkness scale for rich red, purple, brown, and maroon shades. While there are many colors darker than burgundy, shades like oxblood, cordovan, ebony, and taupe stand out as distinctly deeper and darker options. When choosing a shade, consider the tone and context you want to convey. But for a truly deep, darker red, opt for an oxblood or cordovan shade.
