Discover the Depth: A Complete Guide to Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red Paint Color

Choosing the perfect paint color can feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re aiming for a bold statement. Many desire a shade that’s rich and impactful without overwhelming a space. If you’ve been searching for that ideal balance, a color that offers warmth, sophistication, and undeniable character, then Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red 2089-10 might be precisely what you’re looking for.

This comprehensive guide will delve deep into everything you need to know about this captivating hue. We’ll explore its unique undertones, analyze its Light Reflectance Value (LRV), compare it to other popular dark shades, and uncover its best applications in both interior and exterior settings. You’ll also learn how this versatile red paint transforms under various lighting conditions and discover complementary colors to complete your design vision. By the end, you’ll have all the insights to decide if Iron Ore Red is the right fit to infuse your home with bold, inviting elegance.

Understanding Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red: A Closer Look

Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red stands out as a distinctive and powerful choice, providing a rich, grounded aesthetic that can dramatically transform any environment. It offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional neutrals, injecting warmth and depth wherever it’s applied.

Color Overview and Distinctive Undertones

Iron Ore Red (2089-10) is a profoundly rich, earthy red that immediately conveys warmth and stability. What truly sets this particular shade apart are its noticeable orange undertones. These subtle orange notes prevent it from appearing harsh or purely primary, instead infusing it with an inviting, almost terracotta-like quality that feels both ancient and modern.

Its Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is 16.24, which classifies it as a dark color. An LRV of 16.24 means it absorbs a significant amount of light rather than reflecting it. This low LRV is key to its ability to create dramatic contrast, establish a cozy, enveloping atmosphere, or serve as a grounding element in a larger space. Despite its darkness, the inherent warmth from its orange undertones ensures it never feels cold or sterile, making it a confident and character-filled choice for various design styles.

Available Finishes & Smart Sample Options

Benjamin Moore offers Iron Ore Red in a variety of finishes, making it adaptable for almost any surface or application. Understanding the finish options is crucial for achieving the desired look and ensuring durability:

Interior and Exterior Versatility: Iron Ore Red is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. This means you can create a cohesive look from your living room to your front door.
Finish Options for Every Need:
- Matte/Flat: Ideal for low-traffic areas like ceilings or master bedrooms, as it helps to hide wall imperfections and provides a velvety, sophisticated look.
- Eggshell: A popular choice for interior walls, offering a subtle sheen that is more durable and washable than matte, making it suitable for living rooms and dining areas.
- Satin: With a slightly higher sheen than eggshell, satin is excellent for trim, doors, and cabinets, providing a smooth, easy-to-clean surface that highlights architectural details.
- Semi-Gloss: Often used for high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and exterior trim due to its exceptional durability and washability, offering a noticeable luster.
- High-Gloss: For a truly dramatic and reflective finish, often chosen for furniture, accent pieces, or a bold front door to make a statement.
Effortless Sampling: Benjamin Moore makes it easy to test Iron Ore Red in your space before committing:
- Peel-and-Stick Samples: These convenient, repositionable swatches allow you to test the color on different walls, in various lighting conditions, without any mess.
- Liquid Brush-on Samples: For a more authentic representation of how the paint will adhere and look on your actual wall texture, brush-on samples are invaluable.
Pro Tip: Always observe your samples on different walls and at various times throughout the day to truly understand how natural and artificial light will influence the color’s appearance in your home.

Iron Ore Red vs. Other Popular Paint Colors

It’s common for Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red to be confused with other deep, dark shades, particularly Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore and Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron. While their names might suggest a connection, their distinct undertones and LRV measurements lead to vastly different visual effects in a room. Understanding these differences is crucial for selecting the right shade for your project.

Paint Color	Brand	Undertone	LRV	Visual Feel
Iron Ore Red 2089-10	Benjamin Moore	Warm red with orange	16.24	Bold, rich, earthy, and inviting red
Iron Ore SW 7069	Sherwin-Williams	Slight green-brown	6	Deep, neutral charcoal black with earthy depth
Wrought Iron 2124-10	Benjamin Moore	Cool blue-gray	8.17	Sophisticated, muted, cool charcoal gray

As you can see, while all three are dark, their underlying tones dictate the entire mood they create. Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore leans into a deep, almost black charcoal with subtle green-brown influences, providing a very grounded and slightly industrial feel. Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, on the other hand, is a cool gray-black with blue undertones, giving it a more muted, sophisticated, and contemporary edge. Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red stands alone with its undeniable red base, warmed by orange, delivering a truly unique and vibrant depth that the others cannot replicate.

Is There a True Equivalent to Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red?

In short, no. Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red truly holds a unique position in the color spectrum. While you might find other dark paints that appear somewhat similar at first glance, such as the charcoals mentioned above, none truly capture the specific blend of deep red with warm orange undertones that defines Iron Ore Red.

Its distinctive warmth and richness set it apart from cooler blacks, grays, and even other deep reds that might lean more purple or brown. This unique composition allows it to bring a vibrant yet grounded energy that is unmatched, making it a truly singular choice for those seeking a bold, inviting, and sophisticated red.

Where and How to Use Iron Ore Red for Maximum Impact

The versatility of Iron Ore Red makes it suitable for a wide array of applications, both inside and outside your home. Its depth and warmth can create a dramatic statement or a subtle accent, depending on how and where it’s used.

Dramatic Interior Walls

When applied to interior walls, Iron Ore Red has the power to create a truly enveloping and dramatic atmosphere. It’s an excellent choice for accent walls in living rooms, adding a focal point that feels both luxurious and welcoming. In dining rooms, it can foster an intimate and sophisticated ambiance, perfect for entertaining. For reading nooks or home offices, it provides a cozy, inspiring backdrop that encourages focus and relaxation.

To highlight the richness of this deep red, pair it with crisp white trim like Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or White Dove. This creates a clean, high-contrast look that allows the red to truly pop. In rooms with ample natural light, the color remains vibrant without feeling overwhelming, showcasing its dynamic range. It also harmonizes beautifully with neutral furnishings—think creamy sofas, natural linen textiles, and warm wood tones—adding a grounded yet inviting touch that is both classic and contemporary.

Stunning Kitchen Cabinets & Islands

For those looking to make a bold statement in the kitchen, Iron Ore Red is an exceptional choice for cabinets or a kitchen island. It’s particularly well-suited for farmhouse, modern rustic, or even industrial-inspired designs, where its depth can complement natural materials beautifully. Imagine it against butcher block countertops, open wood shelving, or polished concrete surfaces.

This shade pairs exquisitely with a soft sage green backsplash for an organic touch, or with classic subway tiles for a more traditional feel. Matte black hardware, brass fixtures, or brushed nickel accents will enhance its character, adding another layer of sophistication. Its deep hue also offers practicality for high-use areas, as it tends to be more forgiving with minor scuffs or splashes than lighter colors. Using Iron Ore Red in your kitchen injects a grounded yet colorful element, making it the undeniable heart of your home.

Elegant Exterior Applications

Iron Ore Red is just as impactful outdoors, offering a rich and sophisticated alternative to more common exterior neutrals. It can elevate your home’s curb appeal, making a grand statement on front doors, shutters, or even as a primary siding color for a truly unique look. Imagine a colonial-style home with classic white trim and a striking Iron Ore Red door, or a modern cottage with red shutters against a soft gray exterior.

For optimal performance and long-lasting beauty in outdoor environments, it’s crucial to use a high-quality, weather-resistant finish. Benjamin Moore’s Element Guard paint, for instance, provides superior protection against moisture, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring your chosen color remains vibrant and durable for years to come. This robust red looks particularly striking when paired with natural stone accents, creamy trim, or soft gray roofing, giving any home a grounded, inviting, and architecturally significant presence.

How Iron Ore Red Looks in Different Lighting Conditions

Understanding how a paint color reacts to varying light is paramount, as it can dramatically alter its appearance throughout the day. Iron Ore Red is no exception; its inherent warmth and depth cause it to transform beautifully under different lighting conditions. Always test your samples on multiple walls to experience these shifts firsthand.

The Muted Charm of Morning Light

In the gentle, often cooler, glow of morning light, especially in east-facing rooms, Iron Ore Red typically appears slightly more muted and subdued. The soft daylight brings out its earthy qualities, subtly emphasizing its orange undertones in a way that feels incredibly warm and cozy rather than overtly bold. This is a moment when the color feels most grounded and natural.

The contrast with white or cream accents will feel softer and more balanced during these early hours. If you’re seeking a color that offers a gentle wake-up effect with a touch of sophisticated color, observing Iron Ore Red in morning light will give you a true sense of its understated elegance and how it creates a serene start to the day.

The Vibrant Drama of Afternoon Light

As the day progresses and natural light reaches its peak, particularly in west-facing rooms, Iron Ore Red truly reveals its most vibrant and saturated self. The warm, direct sunlight intensifies its reddish base, making the shade feel incredibly rich, dynamic, and full of life. This is when the color is at its boldest and most dramatic, showcasing its full potential to make a powerful design statement.

If you envision a high-impact feature wall, a striking kitchen island, or a dramatic entryway, pay close attention to how Iron Ore Red performs in strong afternoon daylight. This light also beautifully highlights its interaction with warm wood tones, metallic accents, and natural textures, allowing you to fully appreciate its depth and character.

The Moody Ambiance of Evening/Artificial Light

As evening descends and artificial lighting takes over, Iron Ore Red deepens, transforming into a profoundly moody and sophisticated hue. Its appearance at night is heavily influenced by the temperature of your light bulbs. Warm-toned bulbs (lower Kelvin temperatures) will accentuate its rich orange undertones, making it feel even cozier and more inviting, almost like a flickering ember.

Conversely, cooler-toned bulbs (higher Kelvin temperatures) might subtly mute the orange, allowing the deeper red to take center stage, creating a duskier, more formal atmosphere. This is precisely why testing with your actual lamps and overhead lighting fixtures is crucial. In the evening, Iron Ore Red creates an intimate, grounded, and luxurious ambiance, making it an ideal choice for cozy bedrooms, elegant dining rooms, or serene reading corners where relaxation and comfort are paramount.

What Colors Complement Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red?

To truly harness the beauty of Iron Ore Red, pairing it with the right complementary colors is essential. Strategic color coordination can enhance its warmth, balance its boldness, and create a cohesive, inviting aesthetic throughout your space.

Coordinating Neutrals and Earthy Accents

Iron Ore Red pairs exquisitely with a range of soft neutrals and earthy accents, which serve to soften its boldness and create a harmonious balance. Consider introducing:

Creamy Whites: Shades like Benjamin Moore White Dove or Swiss Coffee provide a gentle contrast that feels less stark than a pure white, allowing the red to pop without overwhelming the palette. They bring an elegant, classic feel.
Warm Grays: Light to medium warm grays, such as Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter or Balboa Mist, can temper the intensity of the red, creating a sophisticated and grounded backdrop. These grays have subtle brown or beige undertones, ensuring they don’t clash with the red’s warmth.
Taupes and Beiges: Natural taupe and sandy beige tones offer a seamless transition, adding an organic, inviting feel. They complement the red’s earthy quality beautifully, especially in spaces inspired by natural materials.
Muted Greens: Soft sage green or olive green works wonderfully as an accent color, particularly in decor, textiles, or even a subtle feature on an adjacent wall. Green, being opposite red on the color wheel, creates a pleasing and balanced contrast that feels natural and serene.

These combinations ensure the space remains grounded and cohesive, allowing Iron Ore Red to shine as a feature while maintaining an inviting and polished look that adapts well to traditional, modern farmhouse, or rustic design styles.

Trim & Ceiling Color Suggestions

For trim and ceilings, the goal is typically to frame Iron Ore Red beautifully without competing for attention. Soft whites and very light beige tones are usually the best choices, providing a crisp, clean contrast that defines the architectural elements of the room.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65: A favorite for its crisp, clean purity, Chantilly Lace offers a bright contrast that makes Iron Ore Red feel even richer and more sophisticated. It’s a true, unblemished white that never looks yellow or blue.
Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17: A slightly softer, creamier white than Chantilly Lace, White Dove provides a more gentle contrast. It’s a versatile off-white that feels warm and inviting, complementing the orange undertones of Iron Ore Red beautifully.
Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117: Another excellent choice, Simply White has a subtle yellow undertone that makes it feel bright and fresh without being stark. It works well to keep spaces feeling open and airy.
Pale Beige or Warm Off-White: For a less defined contrast and a more blended, enveloping feel, consider a pale beige or warm off-white for trim. This creates a softer transition, especially in cozier spaces, allowing the red to flow more seamlessly into the surrounding elements.

These lighter shades help the space feel open, refined, and polished, giving the deep red wall color room to breathe and allowing its inherent depth to be fully appreciated.

Buying & Sampling Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red

Once you’ve fallen for the allure of Iron Ore Red, the next step is to properly sample it in your own home. This crucial stage ensures that the color truly aligns with your lighting, existing decor, and personal preferences before you commit to a full paint job.

Where to Get Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red

Acquiring Iron Ore Red is straightforward through several convenient channels:

Local Benjamin Moore Retailers: Visiting a local Benjamin Moore store is often the best option. Their expert staff can provide personalized advice, assist with color pairing, and offer insights into different finishes. You can also see large color swatches in person.
Official Benjamin Moore Website: The official Benjamin Moore website allows you to browse colors, order various finishes, and purchase liquid paint samples directly online, with delivery to your doorstep. Use their online store locator to find the nearest physical location quickly and easily.
Specialized Sampling Services (e.g., Samplize): For ultimate convenience, services like Samplize offer large, peel-and-stick swatches of Benjamin Moore colors. These swatches are made with real paint, ship quickly, and are incredibly easy to apply, reposition, and remove without damaging your walls. This is an excellent, mess-free way to test colors.

How to Test Paint Samples the Right Way

Properly testing Iron Ore Red in your space is non-negotiable for a successful outcome. Here’s how to do it effectively:

Utilize Both Brush-on and Peel-and-Stick Samples:
- Benjamin Moore Brush-on Samples: These small pots of actual paint allow you to see how the color interacts with your wall’s texture and primer. Paint a generous 2×2 foot square (or larger) on several walls. While they take more time to apply and dry, they offer the most authentic representation of the final look.
- Samplize Peel-and-Stick Swatches: These are a quicker, cleaner alternative. The advantage here is the ability to easily move the sample around to different walls, corners, and even into adjacent rooms. They provide a broad, consistent color field without the commitment of painting.
Strategic Testing Spots: Don’t just paint one spot. Apply samples in multiple locations within the room you intend to paint:
- Near baseboards and trim to see how the color contrasts.
- Adjacent to windows and doors to observe natural light effects.
- Behind or next to major furniture pieces and existing decor to ensure harmony with your furnishings.
- In corners and shadowed areas to understand its depth.
Observe Throughout the Day: Light changes dramatically. Observe your samples in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and under both natural and artificial lighting. This will reveal how Iron Ore Red shifts from a vibrant, bold statement to a moody, sophisticated backdrop, helping you confirm it’s the right choice for all hours.

Conclusion: Embrace the Boldness of Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red

After exploring the unique characteristics of Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red, you now possess a comprehensive understanding of this captivating paint color. We’ve journeyed through its distinctive warm red with orange undertones, examined its LRV, and seen how it compares to other popular dark shades, cementing its singular appeal.

You’ve discovered its transformative power in various lighting conditions and gained insights into its ideal applications, from creating dramatic interior walls and striking kitchen cabinets to adding elegant curb appeal to exteriors. Furthermore, we’ve provided expert guidance on coordinating neutrals and accents, ensuring you can craft a cohesive and inviting color palette.

If you’re still contemplating, remember that the most crucial step is to test Iron Ore Red in your actual space using samples. Witnessing its beauty unfold under your unique lighting and alongside your decor will provide the ultimate confidence in your decision. When you’re ready to infuse your home with warmth, depth, and undeniable character, Benjamin Moore Iron Ore Red awaits to transform your vision into a stunning reality.