Light Reflectance Value

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What is LRV?

LRV is the acronym for Light Reflectance Value. Value is often confused with the term intensity. Intensity is about vividness or dullness – is the colour clear or muted? Value, however refers strictly to the lightness or darkness of a colour.

LRV runs on a scale from 0% to 100%. As you can see from the above scale 0% is an absolute black and 100% is a perfectly reflective white.
Dark colours below the mid-point of 50% will absorb more light from a room, where colours with a higher LRV will reflect more light back into a room.

Designing for Dementia and Visually Impaired

Having the correct knowledge of LRVs is vital for the design of care homes, especially for patients who have dementia or for those who are visually impaired. Colour plays an important role when designing for care homes. Colour affects a patient’s mood and ability to navigate.

Contrast sensitivity is a common visual issue and making clear, high level contrast is one of the most important factors when designing for these patients. The level of contrast between surfaces such as walls and ceilings, doors and seating etc. is invaluable in giving clues to the visually impaired as to the shape and potential navigation of a room.

Light Reflectance Values are the best way to measure contrast. All fabrics, paints and materials have an LRV marked out of 100 points. To meet requirements, there should be at least a 30 point variance in LRVs between adjacent surfaces such as floors and walls. This is a legal requirement since the Equality Act 2010.

Colour LRV%
Almond 74.16
Applemint 40.75
Aquamarine 9.30
Battleship 32.80
Blackberry 3.80
Bubble Gum 32.80
Blood Orange 19.27
Blue Steel 45.73
Candy 27.03
Cherry Blossom 54.93
Citrus Green 22.94
Cobalt 2.30
Cocoa 4.10
Cool Blue 42.20
Coral 24.77
Damson 2.75
Deep Rose 22.71
Dijon 19
Dolphin 39.98
Dune 67.99
Eden 14.67
Elephant 25.76
Fuchsia 10.66
Fudge 18.24
Gingersnap 28.65
Golden Honey 32.80
Grape 9.56
Greyfriar 12.50
Gunmetal Grey 7.54
Jasmine White 86.58
Jazzberry 5.46
Koala 39.34
Lemon 75.51
Colour LRV%
Likoni 34.74
Lilac 34.74
Lupin 11.86
Magnum 34.05
Marigold 64.07
Mikado 17.47
Moss 8.50
Mulled Wine 4.10
Ocean Blue 8.50
Pear 53.21
Pecan 10.09
Pillar Box 12.50
Primrose 73.63
Professor Plum 5.84
Purple Rain 37.53
Putty 66.01
Rainforest 2.52
Raspberry Crush 10.09
Rosso 10.71
Rouge 17.59
Rusty 16.02
Sapphire Blue 1.56
Scrubs 23.79
Sea Green 23.08
Sunblush 41.69
Tangerine 41.69
Teal 9.68
Ultraviolet 6.93
Walnut 5.09
Wasabi 32.80
Chieftain LRV%
Apple 19.18
Azure 48.28
Carbon 1.73
Electric Blue 39.94
Fire Red 8.5
Gentle Yellow 56.68
Mango 25.94
Oatmeal 70.01
Olive 21.02
Powder Blue 39.34
Seashell 49.51
Signal Red 12.50
Smokey Grey 25.96
Subtle Green 10.09
Twilight 1.56
White Orchid 83
Wild Cherry 13.84
Chieftain Multistretch LRV%
Blueberry 2.3
Capri Blue 11.77
Caviar 1.56
Chocolate 5.83
Ebony 1.00
Ember 11.25
Juniper 19.49
Merlot 5.84
Midnight 1.73
Mint 31.59
Rosemary 39.98
Snowdrop 83.00
Vanilla 66.1
Very Berry 5.46
Colour LRV%
Airforce Blue 29.25
Aubergine 3.52
Bark 5.46
Beaver 21.05
Bitter Chocolate 4.10
Black Velvet 1.00
Blood Orange 19.27
Boysenberry 18.93
Bronze 18.94
Camel 18.42
Colonel Mustard 66.01
Dark Oak 2.75
Deep Sea 1.56
Dusk Grey 24.92
Ecrue 53.21
Flint 5.09
Glacier 55.36
Gold Medal 21.05
Gothic 1.00
Heather 17.59
Colour LRV%
Hulk Green 36.63
Liquer 21.05
Moonstone 28.13
Old Gold 23.91
Peachy 48.28
Pearl 83
Pewter 7.45
Pink Lady 22.93
Red October 9.54
Ruby Red 10.71
Sable 10.09
Sand Dune 66.01
Slate 18.64
Stonewash 54.93
Taupe 36.63
Titanium 41.91
Toffee 13.84
Tulip 3.52
Umber 9.01
Winter Green 9.01
Colour LRV%
Classic Black 1.00
Classic Brown 2.30
Classic Burgundy 8.50
Classic Dove 13.84
Classic Ink 1.41
Classic Snow White 86.58
Legend Briar
Legend Buffalo 1.00
Legend Burgundy
Legend Antelope 1.00
Legend Bluebell 3.25
Legend Charcoal 1.00
Colour LRV%
Legend Cinnamon 5.84
Legend Dahlia 1.00
Legend Daisy 100
Legend Fern 18.42
Legend Garnet 6.65
Legend Grey 42.19
Legend Indigo
Legend Iris 3.52
Legend Navy 1.56
Legend Oporto
Legend Poppy 12.50
Legend Truffle 62.16
Colour LRV%
Amalfi 17.59
Amore 14.45
Bianco 83
Bruna 19.27
Caffe 9.45
Crema 62.16
Erica 12.50
Espresso 9.54
Latte 34.05
Lusso 31.59
Mela 36.63
Colour LRV%
Nero 1.00
Oro 45.16
Rosa 13.84
Scuro 7.45
Sorbetto 21.05
Stella 2.99
Topo 54.93
Vino 10.71
Viola 4.75
Vita 49.89
Zucchini 21.05
Colour LRV%
Blush 31.29
Carob 15.00
Cashmere 100
Cayenne 16.02
Chablis 16.51
Evergreen 13.73
Mauve 19.28
Mulberry 4.42
Night Sky 9.84
Shimmer 27.89
Bunting 26.24
Posy 62.03
Saffron 21.06
Spice 3.52

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