Dove Grey Color Palette
#E0DDDA · #BCB8B4 · #8E8A86 · #54504C
Use #E0DDDA as the background. Use #BCB8B4 as the primary accent. Use #8E8A86 as secondary. Use #54504C as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Dove Grey — mono, warm, vintage, pastel.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Dove Grey 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: 72.6% | 224, 221, 218 | 0%, 1%, 3%, 12% | 30°, 9%, 87% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 48.3% | 188, 184, 180 | 0%, 2%, 4%, 26% | 30°, 6%, 72% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 25.6% | 142, 138, 134 | 0%, 3%, 6%, 44% | 30°, 3%, 54% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 8.1% | 84, 80, 76 | 0%, 5%, 10%, 67% | 30°, 5%, 31% |
Dove Grey 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 Dove Grey palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Dove Grey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #54504C on #E0DDDA |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.91:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #E0DDDA on #54504C |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.91:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #54504C on #BCB8B4 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.05:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #BCB8B4 on #54504C |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.05:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #8E8A86 on #E0DDDA |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.53:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E0DDDA on #8E8A86 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.53:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #54504C on #8E8A86 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.33:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8E8A86 on #54504C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.33:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8E8A86 on #BCB8B4 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.74:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #BCB8B4 on #8E8A86 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.74:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #BCB8B4 on #E0DDDA |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.46:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E0DDDA on #BCB8B4 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.46:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Dove Grey 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 Dove Grey
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 #BCB8B4 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #BCB8B4 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Dove Grey Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #BCB8B4 for small UI elements on #E0DDDA — at 1.5:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #54504C — 5.9:1 against #E0DDDA passes WCAG AA (AA) for long-form reading.
- Let #8E8A86 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #BCB8B4.
How to Implement the Dove Grey Color Scheme
To use this Dove Grey 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 #E0DDDA for the main background and #BCB8B4 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #54504C and #E0DDDA is 5.91:1 (AA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Dove Grey Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Dove Grey color palette?
The Dove Grey palette contains #E0DDDA, #BCB8B4, #8E8A86, #54504C. 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 Dove Grey color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #54504C on #E0DDDA reaches 5.9:1 (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 Dove Grey palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #AEB3B7, #BFBFB0, #151414 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 Dove Grey palette create?
Dove Grey reads as mono, warm, vintage. Neutral gray drives the personality, grounded by muted orange — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Dove Grey color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Dove Grey 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 Dove Grey 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 Dove Grey's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.