Cognac Color Palette
#B8782E · #D8A050 · #F0D8A0 · #3A1E06
Use #B8782E as the background. Use #D8A050 as the primary accent. Use #F0D8A0 as secondary. Use #3A1E06 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Cognac — rich, classic, luxurious.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Cognac 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: 23.8% | 184, 120, 46 | 0%, 35%, 75%, 28% | 32°, 60%, 45% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 40.3% | 216, 160, 80 | 0%, 26%, 63%, 15% | 35°, 64%, 58% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 70.2% | 240, 216, 160 | 0%, 10%, 33%, 6% | 42°, 73%, 78% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.8% | 58, 30, 6 | 0%, 48%, 90%, 77% | 28°, 81%, 13% |
Cognac 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 Cognac palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Cognac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3A1E06 on #F0D8A0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.99:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F0D8A0 on #3A1E06 |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.99:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #3A1E06 on #D8A050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.62:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #D8A050 on #3A1E06 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.62:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #3A1E06 on #B8782E |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.21:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #B8782E on #3A1E06 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.21:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F0D8A0 on #B8782E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.61:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B8782E on #F0D8A0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.61:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0D8A0 on #D8A050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.66:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D8A050 on #F0D8A0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.66:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D8A050 on #B8782E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B8782E on #D8A050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Cognac 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 Cognac
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 #D8A050 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #D8A050 — 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 Cognac Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #D8A050 for small UI elements on #B8782E — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #3A1E06 on #B8782E — 4.2:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #F0D8A0 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Cognac Color Scheme
To use this Cognac 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 #B8782E for the main background and #D8A050 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #3A1E06 and #B8782E is 4.21:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Cognac Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Cognac color palette?
The Cognac palette contains #B8782E, #D8A050, #F0D8A0, #3A1E06. 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 Cognac color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #3A1E06 on #F0D8A0 reaches 11.0:1 (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 Cognac palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #4F88D8, #C4CE5A, #F0EDEA 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 Cognac palette create?
Cognac reads as rich, classic, luxurious. Gently saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated orange — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Cognac color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Cognac 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 Cognac 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 Cognac's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.