Brown vs Dark Red

How close are they?

ΔE 11.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Dark Red is noticeably darker, more muted than Brown.

Can I use Dark Red instead of Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Dark Red is noticeably darker, more muted than Brown.

Can I use Brown instead of Dark Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Brown is noticeably lighter, more saturated.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.