Copper and Verdigris Color Psychology & Meaning
Copper and verdigris is metal meeting time — the warm red-orange of fresh copper oxidizing to the blue-green of aged patina. Nature's most beautiful accident.
#F5EEE0
#C87838
#3A8A68
#1A3A28
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Copper and Verdigris Color Palette
#F5EEE0 · #C87838 · #3A8A68 · #1A3A28
AAA
WCAG Grade
10.8:1
Contrast Ratio
2,000
Saves
5,400
AI Copies
Use #F5EEE0 as the background. Use #C87838 as the primary accent. Use #3A8A68 as secondary. Use #1A3A28 as body text. Palette: Copper and Verdigris.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Copper and Verdigris 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: 85.9% | 245, 238, 224 | 0%, 3%, 9%, 4% | 40°, 51%, 92% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 26.0% | 200, 120, 56 | 0%, 40%, 72%, 22% | 27°, 57%, 50% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 20.1% | 58, 138, 104 | 58%, 0%, 25%, 46% | 155°, 41%, 38% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 3.4% | 26, 58, 40 | 55%, 0%, 31%, 77% | 146°, 38%, 16% |
Copper and Verdigris 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 Copper and Verdigris palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#F5EEE0 gently saturated orange
#C87838 gently saturated orange
#3A8A68 gently saturated teal
#1A3A28 gently saturated green
Copper and Verdigris 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1A3A28 on #F5EEE0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.83:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F5EEE0 on #1A3A28 |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.83:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A3A28 on #C87838 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.69:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C87838 on #1A3A28 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.69:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #3A8A68 on #F5EEE0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.63:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F5EEE0 on #3A8A68 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.63:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1A3A28 on #3A8A68 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.99:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3A8A68 on #1A3A28 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.99:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C87838 on #F5EEE0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.93:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F5EEE0 on #C87838 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.93:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3A8A68 on #C87838 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.24:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C87838 on #3A8A68 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.24:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Copper and Verdigris 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.
Hue Wheel
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Verdigris (the green patina of copper) appears on bronze statues and copper roofs worldwide. The copper-to-verdigris color story has been used in art and design to signal both warmth and age.
Best Design Use Cases
Warm cream for surfaces. Copper-orange for warm primary elements. Verdigris-green for cool secondary elements. Dark green for text. Oxidized and distinguished.
Industries This Palette Suits
Interior design, art institutions, heritage brands, artisan goods, architecture.
Colors That Pair Well With Copper and Verdigris
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.
cyan-blue
directly opposite #C87838 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
yellow
30° beside #C87838 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Copper and Verdigris Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #C87838 for small UI elements on #F5EEE0 — at 2.9:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #1A3A28 — 10.8:1 against #F5EEE0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #3A8A68 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #C87838.
How to Implement the Copper and Verdigris Color Scheme
To use this Copper and Verdigris 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 #F5EEE0 for the main background and #C87838 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #1A3A28 and #F5EEE0 is 10.83:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Copper and Verdigris Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Copper and Verdigris color palette?
The Copper and Verdigris palette contains #F5EEE0, #C87838, #3A8A68, #1A3A28. 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 Copper and Verdigris color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #1A3A28 on #F5EEE0 reaches 10.8:1 (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 Copper and Verdigris palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #3787C8, #BBB544, #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 Copper and Verdigris palette create?
Copper and Verdigris reads as earthy, vintage, sophisticated. 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 Copper and Verdigris color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Copper and Verdigris 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 Copper and Verdigris 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 Copper and Verdigris's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.