Ash White Color Palette
#EFEFEC · #DCDCD6 · #C0C0BA · #98988F
Use #EFEFEC as the background. Use #DCDCD6 as the primary accent. Use #C0C0BA as secondary. Use #98988F as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Ash White — mono, cool, pastel, moody.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Ash White 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: 86.1% | 239, 239, 236 | 0%, 0%, 1%, 6% | 60°, 9%, 93% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 71.3% | 220, 220, 214 | 0%, 0%, 3%, 14% | 60°, 8%, 85% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 52.5% | 192, 192, 186 | 0%, 0%, 3%, 25% | 60°, 5%, 74% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 31.1% | 152, 152, 143 | 0%, 0%, 6%, 40% | 60°, 4%, 58% |
Ash White 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 Ash White palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Ash White 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #98988F on #EFEFEC |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.52:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #EFEFEC on #98988F |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.52:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #98988F on #DCDCD6 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.11:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #DCDCD6 on #98988F |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.11:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #98988F on #C0C0BA |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.59:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0C0BA on #98988F |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.59:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0C0BA on #EFEFEC |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.59:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #EFEFEC on #C0C0BA |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.59:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0C0BA on #DCDCD6 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.33:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #DCDCD6 on #C0C0BA |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.33:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #DCDCD6 on #EFEFEC |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.20:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #EFEFEC on #DCDCD6 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.20:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Ash White 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 Ash White
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 #DCDCD6 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #DCDCD6 — 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 Ash White Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #DCDCD6 for small UI elements on #EFEFEC — at 1.2:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #98988F on #EFEFEC — 2.5:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #C0C0BA behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Ash White Color Scheme
To use this Ash White 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 #EFEFEC for the main background and #DCDCD6 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #98988F and #EFEFEC is 2.52:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Ash White Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Ash White color palette?
The Ash White palette contains #EFEFEC, #DCDCD6, #C0C0BA, #98988F. 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 Ash White color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #98988F on #EFEFEC reaches 2.5:1 (Fail). 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 Ash White palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #ACACB9, #D9DDD5, #151514 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 Ash White palette create?
Ash White reads as mono, cool, pastel. Muted yellow drives the personality, grounded by muted yellow — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Ash White color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Ash White 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 Ash White 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 Ash White's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.