Kelp Teal Color Palette
#C8E0D0 · #2E7E6E · #14503E · #0A2820
Use #C8E0D0 as the background. Use #2E7E6E as the primary accent. Use #14503E as secondary. Use #0A2820 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Kelp Teal — ocean, forest, cool, earthy.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Kelp Teal 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: 70.1% | 200, 224, 208 | 11%, 0%, 7%, 12% | 140°, 28%, 83% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 16.6% | 46, 126, 110 | 63%, 0%, 13%, 51% | 168°, 47%, 34% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 6.2% | 20, 80, 62 | 75%, 0%, 22%, 69% | 162°, 60%, 20% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.7% | 10, 40, 32 | 75%, 0%, 20%, 84% | 164°, 60%, 10% |
Kelp Teal 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 Kelp Teal palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Kelp Teal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #0A2820 on #C8E0D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.24:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #C8E0D0 on #0A2820 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.24:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #14503E on #C8E0D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.69:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #C8E0D0 on #14503E |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.69:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #2E7E6E on #C8E0D0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.47:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C8E0D0 on #2E7E6E |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.47:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #0A2820 on #2E7E6E |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.23:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #2E7E6E on #0A2820 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.23:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #14503E on #2E7E6E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.93:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #2E7E6E on #14503E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.93:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0A2820 on #14503E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #14503E on #0A2820 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Kelp Teal 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 Kelp Teal
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 #2E7E6E on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #2E7E6E — 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 Kelp Teal Without Breaking Accessibility
- Use #2E7E6E for buttons and links — it scores 3.5:1 against the #C8E0D0 background (above the 3:1 UI-components threshold).
- Set body text in #0A2820 — 11.2:1 against #C8E0D0 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #14503E carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a deep lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #2E7E6E.
How to Implement the Kelp Teal Color Scheme
To use this Kelp Teal 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 #C8E0D0 for the main background and #2E7E6E for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #0A2820 and #C8E0D0 is 11.24:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Kelp Teal Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Kelp Teal color palette?
The Kelp Teal palette contains #C8E0D0, #2E7E6E, #14503E, #0A2820. 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 Kelp Teal color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #0A2820 on #C8E0D0 reaches 11.2:1 (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 Kelp Teal palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #832F40, #376477, #131614 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 Kelp Teal palette create?
Kelp Teal reads as ocean, forest, cool. Gently saturated teal drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated green — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Kelp Teal color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Kelp Teal 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 Kelp Teal 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 Kelp Teal's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.