Formal Maroon vs Naval
Formal Maroon is a Behr color while Naval comes from Sherwin-Williams. Formal Maroon reads as pink, while Naval reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 9 vs 4, Formal Maroon will read as the brighter of the two — a 5-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Formal Maroon's red character against Naval's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 27.0, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Formal Maroon vs Naval in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Formal Maroon and Naval in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The brightness difference is modest but present — Formal Maroon gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Formal Maroon vs Naval Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Formal Maroon on one side and Naval 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.
At LRV 69 vs 9, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Formal Maroon encloses it.
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.
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.
At LRV 51 vs 9, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 9 and 8, 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.
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.