Gatsby Gold Color Psychology & Meaning
Art deco gold is the color of the jazz age skyscraper, geometric sunbursts, and the Great Gatsby party. The palette of champagne to deep gold against black reads as opulence with discipline.
#F0E8D0
#D8B060
#B88828
#1A1A2A
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Gatsby Gold Color Palette
#F0E8D0 · #D8B060 · #B88828 · #1A1A2A
AAA
WCAG Grade
14.0:1
Contrast Ratio
1,500
Saves
3,900
AI Copies
Use #F0E8D0 as the background. Use #D8B060 as the primary accent. Use #B88828 as secondary. Use #1A1A2A as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Gatsby Gold — opulent, glamorous, art deco.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Gatsby Gold 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: 80.8% | 240, 232, 208 | 0%, 3%, 13%, 6% | 45°, 52%, 88% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 46.5% | 216, 176, 96 | 0%, 19%, 56%, 15% | 40°, 61%, 61% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 28.0% | 184, 136, 40 | 0%, 26%, 78%, 28% | 40°, 64%, 44% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.1% | 26, 26, 42 | 38%, 38%, 0%, 84% | 240°, 24%, 13% |
Gatsby Gold 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 Gatsby Gold palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#F0E8D0 gently saturated orange
#D8B060 gently saturated orange
#B88828 gently saturated orange
#1A1A2A muted blue
Gatsby Gold 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1A1A2A on #F0E8D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 14.01:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F0E8D0 on #1A1A2A |
Aa Sample Text
| 14.01:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A1A2A on #D8B060 |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.41:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #D8B060 on #1A1A2A |
Aa Sample Text
| 8.41:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A1A2A on #B88828 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.38:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #B88828 on #1A1A2A |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.38:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #B88828 on #F0E8D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.60:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0E8D0 on #B88828 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.60:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D8B060 on #F0E8D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0E8D0 on #D8B060 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B88828 on #D8B060 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.56:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D8B060 on #B88828 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.56:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Split-Complementary Scheme
The Gatsby Gold palette is built using a split-complementary relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A split-complementary palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Art deco reached its peak in the 1920s and 1930s, from the Chrysler Building to the ocean liners, defined by geometric ornament and gilded detail. The style was the first global design language of the modern era.
Best Design Use Cases
Use the champagne for backgrounds, the gold for premium accents and CTAs, and the black for dramatic sections. The deep bronze works for text and details.
Industries This Palette Suits
Luxury, weddings and events, jewelry, cocktails and nightlife, hotels, fashion.
Colors That Pair Well With Gatsby Gold
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 #D8B060 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
yellow
30° beside #D8B060 — 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 Gatsby Gold Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #D8B060 for small UI elements on #F0E8D0 — at 1.7:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #1A1A2A — 14.0:1 against #F0E8D0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #B88828 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #D8B060.
How to Implement the Gatsby Gold Color Scheme
To use this Gatsby Gold 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 #F0E8D0 for the main background and #D8B060 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #1A1A2A and #F0E8D0 is 14.01:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Gatsby Gold Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Gatsby Gold color palette?
The Gatsby Gold palette contains #F0E8D0, #D8B060, #B88828, #1A1A2A. 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 Gatsby Gold color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #1A1A2A on #F0E8D0 reaches 14.0:1 (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 Gatsby Gold palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #5F87D8, #BDCE69, #171612 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 Gatsby Gold palette create?
Gatsby Gold reads as opulent, glamorous, art deco. 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 Gatsby Gold color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Gatsby Gold 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 Gatsby Gold 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 Gatsby Gold's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.