Everything about
the color Maroon

What color is maroon?

Maroon is a very dark shade of red. The maroon color hex code is #800000.

What does the color maroon look like?

Because of its dark red hue, maroon can still sometimes look similar to brown.

The hex color chart used by web designers and developers actually considers maroon a shade of brown. However, it’s very close in appearance to two shades of red on the hex chart—dark red, which has the hex code #8B0000 and firebrick, which has the hex code #B22222.

Other colors that look like maroon include oxblood, scarlet and crimson.

Burgundy versus maroon

Burgundy and maroon are sometimes mistaken for the same color but there’s a key difference between them. Maroon is a mix of red and brown, while burgundy is a mix of red and purple. This makes burgundy slightly brighter in appearance than maroon and gives it more of a purplish tinge.

The burgundy hex code is #800020.

What colors make up maroon?

Red and brown together generally make up maroon.

To make maroon paint using only primary colors, you should first mix blue into a red base using a 5:1 ratio. Once you’ve darkened the red paint with the blue, add a very small amount of yellow paint to achieve maroon’s brownish tinge. If it doesn’t look right, just tweak the ratios until you reach your desired shade.

The history of maroon

The name “maroon” was first used in the English language in 1789. It’s derived from marron, the French word for chestnut, a nut that is a deep reddish brown in appearance.

Maroon is a popular color choice in uniforms for both schools and sporting teams, where it’s often paired with white, grey or gold. It’s also the color of the robes worn by Vajrayana Buddhist monks, such as the Dalai Lama.

The meaning of the color maroon

Maroon is a shade of red, a color that is associated with intensity. Passion, love, anger, energy and danger can all be linked with red, however maroon’s more muted tone means it is less likely to make that impression.

Because of its association with Buddhism, maroon can even conjure feelings of spirituality, wisdom or calm. According to color psychology, maroon is associated with control, responsibility and thoughtfulness.

Maroon can even be associated with the season of fall, as leaves sometimes appear maroon when they change color.

How to use maroon

Like all reds, maroon is thought to increase appetite, boost adrenaline and raise blood pressure. As such, it’s a common choice on restaurants logos, interiors and menus.

But maroon is a versatile color and can be utilised in a variety of settings. You’ll see it a lot in school emblems or uniforms and it’s also popular in clothing, where the shade can project sensuality or passion. In interior design, maroon can add warmth to space and work well as an accent color.

As it is considered a sensibile color maroon is also commonly found on official documents such as passports.

What colors go with maroon?

Dusty pinks, cool grays, soft browns and nudes can all look lovely with maroon. It can also pair nicely with cool neutrals like white.

As for what color compliments maroon? Teal is considered maroon’s complementary shade on the color wheel.

The colors that pair well with maroon include:

• Teal
• Dusty rose
• Gray
• Brown
• Nude
• White
• Gold

Similar colors to maroon

Looking for a different hue? The following colors are related to maroon.

• Burgundy
• Scarlet
• Crimson
• Dark red
• Firebrick
• Claret
• Oxblood
• Carmine