Antique Red vs Rookwood Red
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both pink-reds, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within pink-red to land. Antique Red (LRV 12) reflects noticeably more light than Rookwood Red (LRV 5), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 22.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Antique Red vs Rookwood Red in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Antique Red and Rookwood Red in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Antique Red reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Antique Red reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The brightness difference is modest but present — Antique Red gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Antique Red vs Rookwood Red Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Antique Red on one side and Rookwood 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.