Rothko Maroon
History, Interior, Fashion + Brand Design, & Pantone®
Depth, intensity, and raw power—the enigmatic color we’re talking about today is Rothko Maroon. Maroon also happens to be one of my favorite colors, so this will be a fun one!
Before we get into the history and design applications, let’s see how we’re feeling about this week’s color first!
A Brief History
The name of this maroon is rooted in the work of abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko, also known as the Multiform Father.
As seen above, Rothko was known for his large, intense color-blocked paintings, called Multiforms, many of which were a deep maroon.
The Seagram Murals
In the late 1950s, Rothko was commissioned to create a series of paintings for the Four Seasons restaurant in New York’s Seagram Building.
Known as the Seagram Murals, these paintings showcase a palette of deep maroons, blacks, and reds—colors that would become synonymous with Rothko’s artistic identity.
However, Rothko ultimately withdrew from the project, disturbed by the thought of his art serving as a mere backdrop for luxury dining. The murals were then donated to museums.
Rothko’s moody Maroon remains a color of intensity and deep artistic expression. Now, let’s get into how maroon is used in design today!
Interior Design
If you’re looking to create a refined and bespoke atmosphere within your (or your client’s) space, maroon is a beautiful choice.
First off, it’s naturally very rich and sophisticated, which makes it perfect for an intimate space like the bedroom.
Maroon is also great in bathrooms and will undoubtedly give guests that luxury boutique hotel feel—especially when paired with warm, atmospheric lighting.
As you can see below, it’s a very versatile choice, working beautifully as a sink accent, on tiles, walls, and more.
Normally, I’d advise against overusing any color, but since maroon is one of my personal favorites, I’ll just say this:
As long as it’s balanced with other colors and layered with various textures, it’s likely going to look great.
Fashion Design
Maroon is one of those colors that never falls out of fashion. It’s timeless and classy, period.
Gucci Fall 2024
Gucci, for example, has long embraced maroon across both men’s and women’s collections. See some monochromatic looks from their fall 2024 ready-to-wear collection, followed by their pre-fall 2025 below:
Gucci Pre-Fall 2025
Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2024
Ferragamo also dropped a number of looks in maroon for fall 2024, reinstating the color’s continuing relevance.
& More Maroon High-Fashion
Went a bit too hard with the Pinterest search this time so here are some more fabulous maroon pieces I found:
Branding
A perfect choice for luxury design and branding, as its rich, moody undertones evoke exclusivity and timeless elegance.
Maroon is honestly great for high-end anything—cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, cars, you name it. See for yourself:
Pantone®
If you’re looking for a close match to Rothko Maroon in the Pantone Matching System, a close equivalent I found is Pantone 484C, Dark Ruby.
HEX: #70000E
CMYK: (0, 100, 92, 56)
RGB: (112, 0, 14)
Thanks for reading! Hopefully, you picked up something new about Rothko Maroon—or maybe you’re now inspired to experiment with its rich, atmospheric depth :)
Love this post, bringing context to art + color! 💕