Gooseberry PPG 1048-7

PPG Gooseberry (PPG1048-7) LRV and undertone

PPG Gooseberry (PPG1048-7) is a dark color in the brown family, with an LRV of 9 and a calculated warm pink undertone. Light Reflectance Value measures how much visible light a color reflects on a scale from 0 for absolute black to 100 for pure white. At 9, Gooseberry reflects little light, so large painted surfaces can make a room appear darker. Its brown family classification describes its broad color grouping, while the calculated pink undertone indicates a warm influence within that color reading.

Dark colors can appear different as daylight changes throughout the day. North-facing rooms generally receive cooler light, while south-facing rooms tend to receive warmer light. Consequently, evaluate the pink undertone beside fixed finishes rather than judging the paint in isolation. Sample boards can help you compare the color against flooring, furniture, and trim. A lighter adjacent surface may also make the boundary between the colors more noticeable.

PPG Gooseberry in other brands

The nearest listed alternative is Sherwin-Williams Black Fox (SW 7020), with an LRV of 7.0 and a ΔE of 13.6. ΔE measures numerical color difference: below 1 means near-identical, 1 to 2 means very close, 2 to 4 means close but visibly different side by side, and above 4 means only similar. Black Fox is therefore similar, not a close color match.

Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain (2134-30) has an LRV of 10.96 and a ΔE of 15.2. Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (2124-10) has an LRV of 8.17 and a ΔE of 15.5. Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze (SW 7048), at an LRV of 8.0 and ΔE of 15.6, is another listed option. All three are only similar according to their ΔE values. Their light-reflectance levels alone cannot establish that they will look alike on a wall.

Lighter and darker PPG alternatives

PPG Sarsaparilla (PPG1018-7), with an LRV of 8, is slightly darker than Gooseberry. Its ΔE of 11.0 indicates a noticeable color difference. PPG Black Magic (PPG1001-7), with an LRV of 4, is substantially darker and reflects less light. It may suit an application where a deeper finish is desired and reduced reflected light is acceptable.

For a lighter alternative, PPG Knight’s Armor (PPG1001-6) has an LRV of 11. Its ΔE of 17.0 means the color difference is considerable, even though it reflects more light. PPG Brick Dust (PPG1056-7), with an LRV of 8, is slightly darker rather than lighter. Choose between these options by comparing both depth and hue. Test samples in the intended lighting before painting a full wall.

Before you buy, compare a physical sample with the swatch on PPG’s page for Gooseberry.