Aged Paper Color Palette
#E8DCC0 · #C8B490 · #A08A64 · #4E4432
Use #E8DCC0 as the background. Use #C8B490 as the primary accent. Use #A08A64 as secondary. Use #4E4432 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Aged Paper — vintage, warm, mono, earthy.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Aged Paper color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 72.1% | 232, 220, 192 | 0%, 5%, 17%, 9% | 42°, 47%, 83% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 46.9% | 200, 180, 144 | 0%, 10%, 28%, 22% | 39°, 34%, 67% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 26.6% | 160, 138, 100 | 0%, 14%, 38%, 37% | 38°, 24%, 51% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 6.0% | 78, 68, 50 | 0%, 13%, 36%, 69% | 39°, 22%, 25% |
Aged Paper Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Aged Paper palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Aged Paper Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4E4432 on #E8DCC0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.02:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #E8DCC0 on #4E4432 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.02:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #4E4432 on #C8B490 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.73:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #C8B490 on #4E4432 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.73:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #4E4432 on #A08A64 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A08A64 on #4E4432 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A08A64 on #E8DCC0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.44:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8DCC0 on #A08A64 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.44:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A08A64 on #C8B490 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.65:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8B490 on #A08A64 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.65:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8B490 on #E8DCC0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.49:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8DCC0 on #C8B490 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.49:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Aged Paper palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Aged Paper
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
directly opposite #C8B490 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #C8B490 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Aged Paper Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #C8B490 for small UI elements on #E8DCC0 — at 1.5:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #4E4432 — 7.0:1 against #E8DCC0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #A08A64 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #C8B490.
How to Implement the Aged Paper Color Scheme
To use this Aged Paper color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'} Web Design Tip
Use #E8DCC0 for the main background and #C8B490 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #4E4432 and #E8DCC0 is 7.02:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Aged Paper Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Aged Paper color palette?
The Aged Paper palette contains #E8DCC0, #C8B490, #A08A64, #4E4432. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Aged Paper color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #4E4432 on #E8DCC0 reaches 7.0:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Aged Paper palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #8EA2C7, #B9BF97, #171512 extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Aged Paper palette create?
Aged Paper reads as vintage, warm, mono. Gently saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated orange — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Aged Paper color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Aged Paper palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Aged Paper palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Aged Paper's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.