Mortar Grey Color Palette
#D0CEC6 · #A09E96 · #6E6C64 · #3A3832
Use #D0CEC6 as the background. Use #A09E96 as the primary accent. Use #6E6C64 as secondary. Use #3A3832 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Mortar Grey — mono, warm, vintage, earthy.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Mortar 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: 61.6% | 208, 206, 198 | 0%, 1%, 5%, 18% | 48°, 10%, 80% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 34.1% | 160, 158, 150 | 0%, 1%, 6%, 37% | 48°, 5%, 61% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 15.0% | 110, 108, 100 | 0%, 2%, 9%, 57% | 48°, 5%, 41% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 4.0% | 58, 56, 50 | 0%, 3%, 14%, 77% | 45°, 7%, 21% |
Mortar 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 Mortar Grey palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Mortar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3A3832 on #D0CEC6 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.44:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #D0CEC6 on #3A3832 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.44:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #3A3832 on #A09E96 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.37:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #A09E96 on #3A3832 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.37:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #6E6C64 on #D0CEC6 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.34:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #D0CEC6 on #6E6C64 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.34:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #3A3832 on #6E6C64 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.23:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #6E6C64 on #3A3832 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.23:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #6E6C64 on #A09E96 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.96:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A09E96 on #6E6C64 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.96:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A09E96 on #D0CEC6 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.70:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D0CEC6 on #A09E96 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.70:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Mortar 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 Mortar 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 #A09E96 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #A09E96 — 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 Mortar Grey Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #A09E96 for small UI elements on #D0CEC6 — at 1.7:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #3A3832 — 7.4:1 against #D0CEC6 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #6E6C64 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #A09E96.
How to Implement the Mortar Grey Color Scheme
To use this Mortar 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 #D0CEC6 for the main background and #A09E96 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #3A3832 and #D0CEC6 is 7.44:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Mortar Grey Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Mortar Grey color palette?
The Mortar Grey palette contains #D0CEC6, #A09E96, #6E6C64, #3A3832. 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 Mortar Grey color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #3A3832 on #D0CEC6 reaches 7.4:1 (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 Mortar Grey palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #9799A1, #A0A592, #151514 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 Mortar Grey palette create?
Mortar Grey reads as mono, warm, vintage. Neutral gray drives the personality, grounded by muted yellow — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Mortar Grey color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Mortar 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 Mortar 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 Mortar Grey's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.