Storm Grey Color Palette
#D0D0CE · #989894 · #5A5A58 · #222222
Use #D0D0CE as the background. Use #989894 as the primary accent. Use #5A5A58 as secondary. Use #222222 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Storm Grey — mono, moody, night, ocean.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Storm 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: 63.0% | 208, 208, 206 | 0%, 0%, 1%, 18% | 60°, 2%, 81% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 31.3% | 152, 152, 148 | 0%, 0%, 3%, 40% | 60°, 2%, 59% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 10.2% | 90, 90, 88 | 0%, 0%, 2%, 65% | 60°, 1%, 35% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.6% | 34, 34, 34 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 87% | 0°, 0%, 13% |
Storm 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 Storm Grey palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Storm 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #222222 on #D0D0CE |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.30:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #D0D0CE on #222222 |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.30:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #222222 on #989894 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.50:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #989894 on #222222 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.50:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #5A5A58 on #D0D0CE |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.48:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #D0D0CE on #5A5A58 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.48:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #5A5A58 on #989894 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.39:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #989894 on #5A5A58 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.39:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #222222 on #5A5A58 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.30:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5A5A58 on #222222 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.30:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #989894 on #D0D0CE |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D0D0CE on #989894 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.87:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Custom Scheme
The Storm Grey palette is built using a custom relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A custom palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Storm 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 #989894 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #989894 — 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 Storm Grey Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #989894 for small UI elements on #D0D0CE — at 1.9:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #222222 — 10.3:1 against #D0D0CE passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #5A5A58 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #989894.
How to Implement the Storm Grey Color Scheme
To use this Storm 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 #D0D0CE for the main background and #989894 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #222222 and #D0D0CE is 10.30:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Storm Grey Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Storm Grey color palette?
The Storm Grey palette contains #D0D0CE, #989894, #5A5A58, #222222. 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 Storm Grey color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #222222 on #D0D0CE reaches 10.3:1 (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 Storm Grey palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #949499, #96A18C, #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 Storm Grey palette create?
Storm Grey reads as mono, moody, night. Neutral gray drives the personality, grounded by neutral gray — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Storm Grey color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Storm 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 Storm 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 Storm Grey's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.