Paprika Red Color Psychology & Meaning
Paprika red is the color of Hungarian stews and Spanish chorizo — a warm, food-forward red that reads as slow-cooked and smoky. It is appetizing without the alarm of a pure primary red.
#C2272D
#E4572E
#F4C7A8
#6E1416
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Paprika Red Color Palette
#C2272D · #E4572E · #F4C7A8 · #6E1416
Fail
WCAG Grade
2.0:1
Contrast Ratio
160
Saves
480
AI Copies
Use #C2272D as the background. Use #E4572E as the primary accent. Use #F4C7A8 as secondary. Use #6E1416 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Paprika Red — warm, appetizing, bold.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Paprika Red 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: 13.1% | 194, 39, 45 | 0%, 80%, 77%, 24% | 358°, 67%, 46% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 23.5% | 228, 87, 46 | 0%, 62%, 80%, 11% | 14°, 77%, 54% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 62.9% | 244, 199, 168 | 0%, 18%, 31%, 4% | 24°, 78%, 81% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 3.9% | 110, 20, 22 | 0%, 82%, 80%, 57% | 359°, 69%, 25% |
Paprika Red 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 Paprika Red palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#C2272D saturated rose-red
#E4572E saturated red
#F4C7A8 saturated orange
#6E1416 saturated rose-red
Paprika Red 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6E1416 on #F4C7A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.65:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F4C7A8 on #6E1416 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.65:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F4C7A8 on #C2272D |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.75:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C2272D on #F4C7A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.75:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #6E1416 on #E4572E |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.21:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E4572E on #6E1416 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.21:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F4C7A8 on #E4572E |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.38:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E4572E on #F4C7A8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.38:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #6E1416 on #C2272D |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.04:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C2272D on #6E1416 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.04:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E4572E on #C2272D |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #C2272D on #E4572E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Paprika Red palette is built using a triadic relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Paprika, made from ground peppers, became the national spice of Hungary in the 19th century and defines goulash. Its brick-red hue is shorthand for hearty, rustic cooking across Central Europe.
Best Design Use Cases
Brick paprika red for hero surfaces and packaging. Lighter orange-red for accents. Pale pepper cream for text and cards. Deep maroon for headings. Suits restaurants, delis, and spice brands.
Industries This Palette Suits
Restaurants, delis, spices, Central European cuisine, food packaging, deli counters.
Colors That Pair Well With Paprika Red
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.
cyan-blue
directly opposite #E4572E on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #E4572E — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Paprika Red Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #E4572E for small UI elements on #C2272D — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #6E1416 on #C2272D — 2.0:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #F4C7A8 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Paprika Red Color Scheme
To use this Paprika Red 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 #C2272D for the main background and #E4572E for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #6E1416 and #C2272D is 2.04:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Paprika Red Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Paprika Red color palette?
The Paprika Red palette contains #C2272D, #E4572E, #F4C7A8, #6E1416. 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 Paprika Red color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #6E1416 on #F4C7A8 reaches 7.7:1 (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 Paprika Red palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #2FBAE4, #D8AE3B, #F0EAEA 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 Paprika Red palette create?
Paprika Red reads as warm, appetizing, bold. Saturated red drives the personality, grounded by saturated rose-red — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Paprika Red color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Paprika Red 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 Paprika Red 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 Paprika Red's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.