Dark Amber Color Palette
#8E5E22 · #5E3E18 · #C8A050 · #2E2010
Use #8E5E22 as the background. Use #5E3E18 as the primary accent. Use #C8A050 as secondary. Use #2E2010 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Dark Amber — moody, warm, vintage, royal.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Dark Amber 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: 13.9% | 142, 94, 34 | 0%, 34%, 76%, 44% | 33°, 61%, 35% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 5.9% | 94, 62, 24 | 0%, 34%, 74%, 63% | 33°, 59%, 23% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 38.0% | 200, 160, 80 | 0%, 20%, 60%, 22% | 40°, 52%, 55% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.7% | 46, 32, 16 | 0%, 30%, 65%, 82% | 32°, 48%, 12% |
Dark Amber 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 Dark Amber palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Dark Amber 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2E2010 on #C8A050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.46:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #C8A050 on #2E2010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.46:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #C8A050 on #5E3E18 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.95:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #5E3E18 on #C8A050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.95:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #2E2010 on #8E5E22 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.84:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8E5E22 on #2E2010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.84:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C8A050 on #8E5E22 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8E5E22 on #C8A050 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5E3E18 on #8E5E22 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.73:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8E5E22 on #5E3E18 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.73:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2E2010 on #5E3E18 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.64:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5E3E18 on #2E2010 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.64:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Dark Amber 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 Dark Amber
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 #5E3E18 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #5E3E18 — 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 Dark Amber Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #5E3E18 for small UI elements on #8E5E22 — at 1.7:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #2E2010 on #8E5E22 — 2.8:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #C8A050 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Dark Amber Color Scheme
To use this Dark Amber 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 #8E5E22 for the main background and #5E3E18 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #2E2010 and #8E5E22 is 2.84:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Dark Amber Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Dark Amber color palette?
The Dark Amber palette contains #8E5E22, #5E3E18, #C8A050, #2E2010. 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 Dark Amber color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #2E2010 on #C8A050 reaches 6.5:1 (AA). 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 Dark Amber palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #25548E, #55571E, #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 Dark Amber palette create?
Dark Amber reads as moody, warm, vintage. 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 Dark Amber color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Dark Amber 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 Dark Amber 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 Dark Amber's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.