Kraft Paper Color Psychology & Meaning
Kraft paper is packaging honesty — these warm browns are the color of unbleached, unprocessed paper that says 'we didn't add anything unnecessary to make this look good.'
#C8A868
#8B6828
#F5E0A8
#1A1008
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Kraft Paper Color Palette
#C8A868 · #8B6828 · #F5E0A8 · #1A1008
AAA
WCAG Grade
8.3:1
Contrast Ratio
2,200
Saves
5,900
AI Copies
Use #C8A868 as the background. Use #8B6828 as the primary accent. Use #F5E0A8 as secondary. Use #1A1008 as body text. Palette: Kraft Paper — raw, authentic, sustainable.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Kraft Paper 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: 41.3% | 200, 168, 104 | 0%, 16%, 48%, 22% | 40°, 47%, 60% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 15.5% | 139, 104, 40 | 0%, 25%, 71%, 45% | 39°, 55%, 35% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 75.6% | 245, 224, 168 | 0%, 9%, 31%, 4% | 44°, 79%, 81% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 0.6% | 26, 16, 8 | 0%, 38%, 69%, 90% | 27°, 53%, 7% |
Kraft Paper 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 Kraft Paper palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#C8A868 gently saturated orange
#8B6828 gently saturated orange
#F5E0A8 saturated orange
#1A1008 gently saturated orange
Kraft Paper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1A1008 on #F5E0A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 14.36:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F5E0A8 on #1A1008 |
Aa Sample Text
| 14.36:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A1008 on #C8A868 |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.25:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #C8A868 on #1A1008 |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.25:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F5E0A8 on #8B6828 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.92:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #8B6828 on #F5E0A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.92:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1A1008 on #8B6828 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.66:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #8B6828 on #1A1008 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.66:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #8B6828 on #C8A868 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.25:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8A868 on #8B6828 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.25:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F5E0A8 on #C8A868 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.74:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8A868 on #F5E0A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.74:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Kraft Paper 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.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Kraft paper packaging became a premium signal in the 2010s as natural, unprocessed materials became associated with authenticity and environmental consciousness.
Best Design Use Cases
Warm tan for surfaces. Dark brown for primary elements. Light warm tan for secondary. Very dark for text. Honest and unprocessed.
Industries This Palette Suits
Sustainable packaging, natural food brands, artisan products, environmental brands, D2C packaging.
Colors That Pair Well With Kraft Paper
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.
blue
directly opposite #8B6828 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
yellow
30° beside #8B6828 — 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 Kraft Paper Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #8B6828 for small UI elements on #C8A868 — at 2.3:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #1A1008 — 8.3:1 against #C8A868 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Don't use #F5E0A8 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Kraft Paper Color Scheme
To use this Kraft Paper 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 #C8A868 for the main background and #8B6828 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #1A1008 and #C8A868 is 8.25:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Kraft Paper Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Kraft Paper color palette?
The Kraft Paper palette contains #C8A868, #8B6828, #F5E0A8, #1A1008. 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 Kraft Paper color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #1A1008 on #F5E0A8 reaches 14.4:1 (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 Kraft Paper palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #284B8A, #758131, #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 Kraft Paper palette create?
Kraft Paper reads as raw, authentic, sustainable. Gently saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated orange — a combination that works best when the light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Kraft Paper color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Kraft Paper 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 Kraft Paper 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 Kraft Paper's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.