Heart Throb works as a confident anchor color — best in rooms that can carry visual weight (dining rooms, libraries, accent walls) rather than as a whole-room palette. At LRV 16 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Because it's a fully saturated example, it lands strongest as a single accent wall or large architectural feature rather than the dominant whole-room color. Skip it where you want a calm, restful feel — red raises visual energy, so it fights bedrooms and small home offices.
Ref. #CB3D3C · DET412
Heart Throb
16%LRV Value
Heart Throb Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Heart Throb (DET412)? It's a deep warm red — hex #CB3D3C, LRV 16. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Heart Throb is PPG Red Geranium — a near-identical match on the wall, with Vista Paint Painter’s Red and Hirshfield's Mullen Pink also close. With an LRV of 16, Heart Throb creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Pair it with creamy off-whites like Alabaster for trim, walnut or cherry hardwoods, and brass hardware — the warmth keeps reds from feeling clinical. Deep forest green or navy work as bold accent walls. As a fully saturated example, it reads as a confident statement color — best deployed as a single accent wall or large architectural feature rather than a whole-room dominant. Reds intensify under 2700K-3000K warm bulbs, deepening into wine territory. Under 4000K+ cool LEDs they can read pinker or slightly washed — sample under your actual room lighting before committing. Saturated colors amplify lighting effects more than muted ones: warm bulbs deepen and enrich, cool daylight sharpens and slightly cools the same hex.
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Colors Similar to Heart Throb
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Heart Throb
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Heart Throb
#CB3D3C
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#BC9976
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Heart Throb
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Heart Throb Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
Other Dunn-Edwards colors close to Heart Throb.
More red colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the red family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Heart Throb — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Heart Throb from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Heart Throb are Red Geranium by PPG (a near-identical match), Painter’s Red by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Mullen Pink by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Heart Throb's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Heart Throb?
Heart Throb has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 16.4, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Heart Throb
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Heart Throb depends on the room. Here's how to choose.