Polished Mahogany vs Red Barn
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the pink-red family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Red Barn (LRV 9) reflects noticeably more light than Polished Mahogany (LRV 3), a difference of 6 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 20.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Polished Mahogany vs Red Barn Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Polished Mahogany on one side and Red Barn 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 Polished Mahogany comparisons
See how Polished Mahogany stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 3, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 6 and 3, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 3, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 3, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 3, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 3, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 4 vs 3), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 3), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 3, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 3, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 3), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 3, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 3, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 3, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 3), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 3), opening up a space where Polished Mahogany encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 3, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (7 vs 3) makes Pine Needle the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 24 vs 3, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 3, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.