Black Oak Color Palette
#2A241E · #463A2E · #16120F · #6E5A42
Use #2A241E as the background. Use #463A2E as the primary accent. Use #16120F as secondary. Use #6E5A42 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Black Oak — moody, forest, vintage, earthy.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Black Oak 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: 1.8% | 42, 36, 30 | 0%, 14%, 29%, 84% | 30°, 17%, 14% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 4.5% | 70, 58, 46 | 0%, 17%, 34%, 73% | 30°, 21%, 23% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 0.6% | 22, 18, 15 | 0%, 18%, 32%, 91% | 26°, 19%, 7% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 11.0% | 110, 90, 66 | 0%, 18%, 40%, 57% | 33°, 25%, 35% |
Black Oak 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 Black Oak palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Black Oak 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6E5A42 on #16120F |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.84:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #16120F on #6E5A42 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.84:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #6E5A42 on #2A241E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.34:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2A241E on #6E5A42 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.34:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #16120F on #463A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.69:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #463A2E on #16120F |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.69:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #6E5A42 on #463A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #463A2E on #6E5A42 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #463A2E on #2A241E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.39:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2A241E on #463A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.39:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #16120F on #2A241E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2A241E on #16120F |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Black Oak 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 Black Oak
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 #463A2E on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #463A2E — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Black Oak Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #463A2E for small UI elements on #2A241E — at 1.4:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #6E5A42 on #2A241E — 2.3:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Let #16120F carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a deep lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #463A2E.
How to Implement the Black Oak Color Scheme
To use this Black Oak 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 #2A241E for the main background and #463A2E for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #6E5A42 and #2A241E is 2.34:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Black Oak Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Black Oak color palette?
The Black Oak palette contains #2A241E, #463A2E, #16120F, #6E5A42. 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 Black Oak color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #6E5A42 on #16120F reaches 2.8:1 (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 Black Oak palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #47596C, #414134, #EEEDEC 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 Black Oak palette create?
Black Oak reads as moody, forest, vintage. Muted orange drives the personality, grounded by muted orange — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Black Oak color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Black Oak 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 Black Oak 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 Black Oak's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.