Curry Yellow Color Psychology & Meaning
Curry yellow is turmeric, the color that stains hands and kitchens across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Japan. The palette of cream to deep orange reads as appetite and warmth.
#FFF0D0
#F0A830
#C87010
#4A2008
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Curry Yellow Color Palette
#FFF0D0 · #F0A830 · #C87010 · #4A2008
AAA
WCAG Grade
12.4:1
Contrast Ratio
1,400
Saves
3,600
AI Copies
Use #FFF0D0 as the background. Use #F0A830 as the primary accent. Use #C87010 as secondary. Use #4A2008 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Curry Yellow — warm, spicy, energetic.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Curry Yellow 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: 88.1% | 255, 240, 208 | 0%, 6%, 18%, 0% | 41°, 100%, 91% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 46.7% | 240, 168, 48 | 0%, 30%, 80%, 6% | 38°, 86%, 56% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 23.9% | 200, 112, 16 | 0%, 44%, 92%, 22% | 31°, 85%, 42% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.5% | 74, 32, 8 | 0%, 57%, 89%, 71% | 22°, 80%, 16% |
Curry Yellow 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 Curry Yellow palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#FFF0D0 saturated orange
#F0A830 saturated orange
#C87010 saturated orange
#4A2008 saturated orange
Curry Yellow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4A2008 on #FFF0D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 12.41:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #FFF0D0 on #4A2008 |
Aa Sample Text
| 12.41:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #4A2008 on #F0A830 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.89:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #F0A830 on #4A2008 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.89:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #4A2008 on #C87010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.85:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C87010 on #4A2008 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.85:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C87010 on #FFF0D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.22:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #FFF0D0 on #C87010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.22:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F0A830 on #FFF0D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.80:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #FFF0D0 on #F0A830 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.80:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C87010 on #F0A830 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.79:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0A830 on #C87010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.79:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Curry Yellow 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
Turmeric has been traded for over four thousand years and gives curry its yellow across Indian, Thai, and Japanese cuisines. The spice is also the source of golden milk and a dye used in ceremonies.
Best Design Use Cases
Use the cream for backgrounds, the curry yellow for primary accents and CTAs, and the deeper orange for interactive elements. The dark brown works for text.
Industries This Palette Suits
Restaurants, food brands, spices, South Asian and Thai cuisine, meal kits, hospitality.
Colors That Pair Well With Curry Yellow
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 #F0A830 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
yellow
30° beside #F0A830 — 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 Curry Yellow Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #F0A830 for small UI elements on #FFF0D0 — at 1.8:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #4A2008 — 12.4:1 against #FFF0D0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #C87010 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #F0A830.
How to Implement the Curry Yellow Color Scheme
To use this Curry Yellow 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 #FFF0D0 for the main background and #F0A830 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #4A2008 and #FFF0D0 is 12.41:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Curry Yellow Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Curry Yellow color palette?
The Curry Yellow palette contains #FFF0D0, #F0A830, #C87010, #4A2008. 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 Curry Yellow color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #4A2008 on #FFF0D0 reaches 12.4:1 (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 Curry Yellow palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #2E75EF, #CDE43A, #1A160F 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 Curry Yellow palette create?
Curry Yellow reads as warm, spicy, energetic. Saturated orange drives the personality, grounded by saturated orange — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Curry Yellow color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Curry Yellow 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 Curry Yellow 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 Curry Yellow's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.