Maroon and burgundy are rich, deep red shades that are quite similar but have some subtle differences. Understanding what colors combine to create these dark reddish hues can help you mix custom shades for projects. Here’s an overview of how to make maroon and burgundy colors.
What Two Colors Make Maroon?
Maroon is made by mixing red and brown paint colors together. Specifically, you can make maroon by combining:
- Red + Brown
- Red + Black
- Red + Purple
Adding brown, black, or purple to red darkens the red into a maroon shade. Brown takes red towards an earthy maroon, while black makes a true dark maroon, and purple brings in a touch of plum.
Red and Brown for Maroon
Mixing red paint with brown paint is the most straightforward way to make a classic reddish-brown maroon color. Brown is the color opposite red on the color wheel, so it naturally darkens and dulls red into a maroon when blended together.
Try combining:
- Burnt umber brown with cadmium red
- Raw umber brown with crimson red
- Burnt sienna brown with vermilion red
Test out ratios like 2 parts red to 1 part brown or 3:1 red to brown. Adjust the proportions until you get the maroon shade you want.
Red and Black for a Dark Maroon
Mixing pure red with black creates a darker, richer maroon that has subtle hints of brown. The black deepens the red into a true dark maroon. Black and red are opposite on the color wheel, so they naturally mute each other when combined.
Try blending together paints like:
- Alizarin crimson + ivory black
- Cadmium red deep + mars black
- Quinacridone red + carbon black
Use more red than black, at a ratio of around 4:1, so the maroon doesn’t end up too dark and sooty.
Red and Purple for a Red-Violet Maroon
For a maroon with more plum or wine undertones, mix red with a touch of purple. This adds a subtle violet tone to the red to create a colder, slightly more refined maroon.
Good red and purple paint combos include:
- Quinacridone magenta + phthalo blue red shade
- Alizarin crimson + ultramarine purple
- Cadmium red light + dioxazine purple
Use a blend ratio in the range of 4:1 to 8:1 of red to purple to achieve the right balance of red and subtle cool violet in the maroon.
What Two Colors Make Burgundy?
Like maroon, burgundy is made by darkening red with other colors. To make a burgundy color, combine:
- Red + Brown
- Red + Purple
Burgundy sits quite close to maroon on the color wheel. The key difference is that burgundy has more purple or plum undertones compared to the earthy, brownish maroon.
Red and Brown for a Subtle Burgundy
Mixing red with a small amount of brown can create a soft burgundy tone. Too much brown starts looking more purely maroon, so keep the brown ratio low.
Some red and brown pairings to try include:
- Burnt sienna + cadmium red deep
- Raw umber + crimson
- Burnt umber + vermilion
Use around 3 to 6 parts red to just 1 part brown. Test shades until you achieve a delicate balance between red and subtle earthy brown.
Red and Purple for a Rich Burgundy
The most vibrant, jewel-toned burgundy shades come from blending red and purple together. The purple undertone gives burgundy its characteristic cool, wine-like vibe.
Good red and purple combinations include:
- Alizarin + dioxazine purple
- Cadmium red + ultramarine purple
- Quinacridone magenta + phthalo blue red shade
Use around 4 to 6 parts red to 1 part purple. Play with the proportions until you reach your perfect blend of red and purple.
What 3 Colors Make Maroon or Burgundy?
You can also mix maroon or burgundy from 3 colors for more complexity. Try combinations like:
- Red + brown + black
- Red + purple + brown
- Red + purple + black
A 3-color blend allows you to fine-tune the undertones. For example, adding both brown and purple to red can create an earthy burgundy.
Making Maroon from 3 Colors
To mix a 3-color maroon, maintain a red base but deepen it with both brown and black:
- Alizarin crimson + burnt umber + carbon black
- Cadmium red deep + raw umber + mars black
Use a ratio of around 5:1:1 red to brown to black. The brown gives an earthy undertone while the black deepens the shade.
Making Burgundy from 3 Colors
For a 3-color burgundy, keep red as the dominant shade but modulate it with both purple and brown:
- Vermilion + burnt umber + ultramarine purple
- Crimson + raw umber + violet
Try a blend of approximately 6:1:1 red to brown to purple. The brown warms the base while the purple adds depth.
Which Primary Colors Make Maroon?
Maroon is considered a tertiary color, meaning it’s created by mixing the three primary colors of red, yellow, and blue.
So in theory, you can make maroon from the primary colors using a combination like:
- Red + Blue + Yellow
However, mixing primaries generally won’t produce the most vibrant, clean maroons. You’ll end up with muddier shades without clear brown or purple undertones.
It’s better to mix maroon using already blended secondary colors like browns and purples along with true reds. This allows you to actively control the undertones.
Which Primary Colors Make Burgundy?
Like maroon, burgundy contains all three primary colors – red, yellow and blue. So theoretically, you could mix:
- Red + Yellow + Blue
But realistically, blending the primaries often results in muddier shades compared to mixing red with brown and/or purple secondary colors.
Using some pre-mixed purple along with red allows you to intentionally control the purple undertones that give burgundy its characteristic color.
Tips for Mixing Maroon and Burgundy
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when mixing your own maroon or burgundy paints:
- Always use red as the dominant color
- Add brown for earthy maroon tones
- Add purple for jewel-toned burgundy hues
- Use more tinting color for darker shades
- Add colors gradually until you get the right shade
- Test on a palette and adjust as necessary
- Natural light is best for color matching
Both maroon and burgundy have so much richness and beauty. Learning how to mix these shades gives you creative freedom over projects where you want deep, reddish hues.
Summary Table: Mixing Maroon and Burgundy
| Color 1 | Color 2 | Color 3 (optional) | Mixture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Brown | Maroon | |
| Red | Black | Dark maroon | |
| Red | Purple | Red-violet maroon | |
| Red | Brown | Black | Rich 3-tone maroon |
| Red | Brown | Soft burgundy | |
| Red | Purple | Jewel burgundy | |
| Red | Brown | Purple | Complex burgundy |
Conclusion
Maroon and burgundy may look similar, but small variations in undertones make a difference. Mixing pure reds with browns, purples, and blacks allows you to intentionally craft the exact maroon or burgundy hue you want. Following basic color theory principles helps ensure you blend up balanced, beautiful reddish shades.
