Cherry Mash Color Palette
#C0203C · #F0A0B0 · #8A4A2E · #3A2028
Use #C0203C as the background. Use #F0A0B0 as the primary accent. Use #8A4A2E as secondary. Use #3A2028 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Cherry Mash — candy, warm, vintage, royal.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Cherry Mash 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: 12.6% | 192, 32, 60 | 0%, 83%, 69%, 25% | 350°, 71%, 44% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 46.8% | 240, 160, 176 | 0%, 33%, 27%, 6% | 348°, 73%, 78% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 10.5% | 138, 74, 46 | 0%, 46%, 67%, 46% | 18°, 50%, 36% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.1% | 58, 32, 40 | 0%, 45%, 31%, 77% | 342°, 29%, 18% |
Cherry Mash 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 Cherry Mash palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Cherry Mash 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3A2028 on #F0A0B0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.31:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F0A0B0 on #3A2028 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.31:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #8A4A2E on #F0A0B0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.34:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F0A0B0 on #8A4A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.34:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F0A0B0 on #C0203C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0203C on #F0A0B0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3A2028 on #C0203C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.48:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0203C on #3A2028 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.48:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3A2028 on #8A4A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.19:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8A4A2E on #3A2028 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.19:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8A4A2E on #C0203C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.13:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C0203C on #8A4A2E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.13:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Cherry Mash palette is built using a triadic relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Cherry Mash
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 #F0A0B0 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #F0A0B0 — 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 Cherry Mash Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #F0A0B0 for small UI elements on #C0203C — at 2.9:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #3A2028 on #C0203C — 2.5:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Let #8A4A2E carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #F0A0B0.
How to Implement the Cherry Mash Color Scheme
To use this Cherry Mash 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 #C0203C for the main background and #F0A0B0 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #3A2028 and #C0203C is 2.48:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Cherry Mash Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Cherry Mash color palette?
The Cherry Mash palette contains #C0203C, #F0A0B0, #8A4A2E, #3A2028. 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 Cherry Mash color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #3A2028 on #F0A0B0 reaches 7.3:1 (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 Cherry Mash palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #7BEAD4, #EAB9A4, #F0EAEB 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 Cherry Mash palette create?
Cherry Mash reads as candy, warm, vintage. Saturated rose-red drives the personality, grounded by saturated rose-red — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Cherry Mash color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Cherry Mash 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 Cherry Mash 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 Cherry Mash's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.