Formal Maroon vs Nicolson Red
Formal Maroon (Behr) and Nicolson Red (Benjamin Moore) come from different manufacturers. Formal Maroon reads as pink, while Nicolson Red reads as pink-red — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 9 vs 9 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Both share a red character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 6.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Formal Maroon vs Nicolson Red Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Formal Maroon on one side and Nicolson Red on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Formal Maroon comparisons
See how Formal Maroon stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 9, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Formal Maroon reads slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 9, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 9, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 9, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (9 vs 4) makes Formal Maroon the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 9), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 9, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 9, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 9, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 9, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 9, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 9, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 24 vs 9, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 9, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.