Positive Red vs Real Red

Positive RedSherwin-WilliamsvsReal RedSherwin-WilliamsΔE 8.8Noticeable difference

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both pink-reds, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within pink-red to land. With LRVs of 11 and 13, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. They share a warm quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 8.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Positive Red vs Real Red in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Positive Red and Real Red are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Positive RedSherwin Williams Positive Red house exterior paint

@23whiteterrace

Real RedSherwin Williams Real Red exterior paint

@imaginasun

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

Positive RedSherwin Williams Positive Red front door paint review

@campgilmore

Real RedSherwin Williams Real Red door paint

@iqpainters

Color Details

Positive Red
Sherwin-Williams · 6871
Hex#AD2C34
LRV10.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6871
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessDark
Real Red
Sherwin-Williams · 6868
Hex#BF2D32
LRV13.2
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6868
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessDark

Positive Red vs Real Red Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Positive Red on one side and Real Red on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Positive Red comparisons

See how Positive Red stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Positive Red
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Positive Red
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Positive Red
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Positive Red reads slightly lighter

Purbeck Stone
Positive Red
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Positive Red
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Positive Red
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Positive Red
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Positive Red
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Positive Red
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Positive Red
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Positive Red
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Positive Red
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Positive Red
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Positive Red reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Positive Red
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Positive Red
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Positive Red reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Positive Red
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Positive Red
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Positive Red
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Positive Red
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Positive Red
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Positive Red reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Positive Red
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Positive Red
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Positive Red
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Positive Red
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Positive Red reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Positive Red
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Positive Red
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Positive Red
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Positive Red
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Positive Red
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Positive Red
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter