Color Palettes

Espresso Color Palette – HEX, RGB & Design Inspiration

Color Details

HEX: #4E312D

RGB: 78, 49, 45

HEX: #715A57

RGB: 113, 90, 87

HEX: #958381

RGB: 149, 131, 129

HEX: #B8ADAB

RGB: 184, 173, 171

HEX: #DCD6D5

RGB: 220, 214, 213

WCAG Accessibility Checker
Contrast ratios and WCAG compliance for text readability. AAA is enhanced conformance, AA is standard, and 4.5:1 minimum for normal text.

Text on White/Black Backgrounds

#4E312D
On White
11.66:1
AAA (Enhanced)
On Black
1.8:1
Fail
#715A57
On White
6.36:1
AA (Standard)
On Black
3.3:1
AA (Large Text)
#958381
On White
3.6:1
AA (Large Text)
On Black
5.84:1
AA (Standard)
#B8ADAB
On White
2.19:1
Fail
On Black
9.6:1
AAA (Enhanced)
#DCD6D5
On White
1.44:1
Fail
On Black
14.62:1
AAA (Enhanced)

Color Pair Combinations (10 total)

#4E312D / #DCD6D5
8.12:1
AAA (Enhanced)
#4E312D / #B8ADAB
5.33:1
AA (Standard)
#715A57 / #DCD6D5
4.43:1
AA (Large Text)
#4E312D / #958381
3.24:1
AA (Large Text)
#715A57 / #B8ADAB
2.91:1
Fail
#958381 / #DCD6D5
2.5:1
Fail
#4E312D / #715A57
1.83:1
Fail
#715A57 / #958381
1.77:1
Fail
#958381 / #B8ADAB
1.64:1
Fail
#B8ADAB / #DCD6D5
1.52:1
Fail

WCAG Contrast Standards:

  • AAA (7:1): Enhanced contrast for maximum readability
  • AA (4.5:1): Minimum for normal text (under 18pt)
  • AA Large (3:1): Acceptable for large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold)
  • Fail: Below WCAG standards, not recommended for text
Live UI Preview
See your palette applied to real components with optimized text colors for accessibility
WCAG Guidelines

Recommended Text Colors

Aa
Primary
11.66:1 (AAA)
Aa
Secondary
6.36:1 (AA)
Aa
Accent
5.84:1 (AA)
Aa
Background
9.6:1 (AAA)
Aa
Neutral
14.62:1 (AAA)

Buttons

Optimized for readability
Primary: 11.66:1 AAA
Secondary: 6.36:1 AA
Accent: 5.84:1 AA

Form Elements

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Badges & Tags

PrimarySecondaryAccentNeutralOutline

Alerts & Notifications

Information

This is an informational message using your primary color

Gradient Generator
Create beautiful gradients from your palette colors. Copy the CSS code and use directly in your projects.

Horizontal (Left to Right)

background: linear-gradient(to right, #4E312D 0%, #715A57 25%, #958381 50%, #B8ADAB 75%, #DCD6D5 100%);

Vertical (Top to Bottom)

background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #4E312D 0%, #715A57 25%, #958381 50%, #B8ADAB 75%, #DCD6D5 100%);

Diagonal (Top Left to Bottom Right)

background: linear-gradient(to bottom right, #4E312D 0%, #715A57 25%, #958381 50%, #B8ADAB 75%, #DCD6D5 100%);

Usage Tips:

  • Copy the CSS code and paste directly into your stylesheets
  • Linear gradients work great for backgrounds and hero sections
  • Radial gradients are perfect for spotlights and focus effects
  • Conic gradients create eye-catching loading spinners and progress indicators
  • Smooth transitions ensure seamless color blending
Color Blindness Simulator
See how your palette appears to people with different types of color vision deficiency (CVD). Approximately 8% of males and 0.5% of females have some form of color blindness.

Normal Vision

No color vision deficiency

Color Swatches

#4E312D

#715A57

#958381

#B8ADAB

#DCD6D5

Full Palette View

How people with Normal Vision see it:

Color Psychology & Brand Analysis
Understand the emotional impact, brand personality, and psychological effects of your color palette

Overall Mood & Feel

Energetic, warm, and inviting

Emotional Impact

Stimulating and energetic, evoking feelings of excitement, warmth, and action. The balanced lightness creates versatility across different contexts

Psychological Effect

This 5-color palette creates a energetic, warm, and inviting. It stimulates activity and engagement, increasing heart rate and mental alertness. The combination works together to create memorable visual experiences that influence consumer perception, decision-making, and brand recall. The rich variety provides versatility while maintaining cohesive emotional messaging across touchpoints.

Brand Personality Traits

Action-oriented
Energetic
Powerful
Attention-grabbing
Urgent

Perfect For These Industries

Fashion
Technology
Food & Restaurants
Entertainment

Target Audience

Active, outgoing individuals who respond to energy and enthusiasm

Individual Color Psychology

#4E312D

Powerful and sophisticated

Emotions Evoked

Authority
Sophistication
Drama
Intensity

Personality Traits

Bold
Confident
Dynamic
Passionate
Strong

Brand Traits

Action-oriented
Energetic
Powerful
Attention-grabbing
Urgent

Ideal Industries

Food & Restaurants
Entertainment
Sports
Fashion
Emergency Services

Marketing Use

Creates urgency, stimulates appetite, increases heart rate, and grabs attention. Perfect for clearance sales, food brands, and call-to-action buttons.

Cultural Meanings

Western: Love, passion, danger, excitement
Eastern: Luck, prosperity, celebration, happiness
Global: Energy, strength, determination

Color Harmony Analysis

Palette Mood

BalancedLight & Airy

Temperature

Warm

This palette combines balanced and light & airy moods with warm tones, making it versatile for various design applications.

Professional Implementation Guide

This monochromatic espresso palette features 5 carefully selected warm tones that create a balanced and versatile aesthetic. With high contrast levels and muted saturation, this palette is optimized for web interfaces and mobile apps.

Web Design & Development

For web development, implement this palette with CSS variables for easy theme switching. The high contrast makes it ideal for accessible interfaces meeting WCAG AA standards.

  • Apply the 60-30-10 rule for visual hierarchy
  • Use accent colors for CTAs and hover states
  • Maintain consistent color usage across all pages
  • Test responsive behavior on multiple devices

Mobile App Interfaces

In mobile applications, these warm tones provide excellent battery efficiency on OLED screens. Use the strong color contrast to define clear touch targets.

  • Design both light and dark mode variants
  • Consider thumb-reach zones for color placement
  • Test under direct sunlight and low light
  • Use color to indicate interactive elements

Brand Identity Systems

Build a cohesive brand identity by designating specific colors for specific purposes. Establish your primary brand color from the most distinctive shade and create comprehensive brand guidelines specifying exact usage scenarios.

  • Define primary, secondary, and accent colors
  • Create usage rules for marketing materials
  • Specify minimum sizes and clear space
  • Document do's and don'ts for consistency

Frontend Development

Developers can integrate this palette efficiently using modern CSS techniques. Export as CSS variables for maximum flexibility, allowing theme switching and dynamic color updates without rewriting stylesheets.

  • Use CSS custom properties for theming
  • Implement semantic color naming conventions
  • Create utility classes for rapid prototyping
  • Consider CSS-in-JS for component-scoped colors

Print Design

For print materials, convert to CMYK using #4E312D as the dominant color for headers and #DCD6D5 for accents. These colors translate well to print with minimal adjustment.

  • Add to your design software color library
  • Create swatches for quick color access
  • Use CMYK values for print production
  • Request color proofs before final print

Marketing Campaigns

Marketing materials benefit from consistent color usage that reinforces brand recognition. Apply this palette across email campaigns, landing pages, advertisements, and social media for maximum impact and memorability.

  • Maintain color consistency across channels
  • A/B test color variations for conversion
  • Consider cultural color associations
  • Align colors with campaign messaging

Strategic Color Distribution

Professional designers follow the 60-30-10 rule for balanced color distribution. Here's how to apply this principle with the Espresso:

60%

Dominant Color

#4E312D

Use #4E312D as your primary color for backgrounds, main content areas. This red tone should occupy about 60% of your design space.

30%

Secondary Color

#958381

Apply #958381 as your secondary color for supporting elements and section dividers. Allocate approximately 30% of your layout to this color.

10%

Accent Color

#DCD6D5

Reserve #DCD6D5 for accent elements like buttons, links, and important highlights. This white accent should be used sparingly (10% of design) to draw attention to key actions.

Professional Best Practices

Smart Usage Tips

  • Balance warm tones with neutral whites or grays to create visual breathing room
  • Test your palette across different devices and lighting conditions before finalizing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't use all colors equally—establish clear visual hierarchy through color weight
  • Avoid low-contrast text combinations that strain readability
  • Don't rely solely on color to convey meaning (use icons, text, and patterns too)
  • Avoid inconsistent color usage across different pages or screens
  • Don't assume screen colors match print output—always request physical proofs

Palette Overview & Statistics

5

Total Colors

2

Associated Tags

6

Categories

1348

Community Likes

Color Analysis & Technical Guide

Detailed breakdown of each color's role, characteristics, and optimal applications. This monochromatic palette creates a balanced and versatile aesthetic perfect for web interfaces and mobile apps.

Individual Color Breakdown

Each color in this warm palette has been analyzed for its properties and ideal usage scenarios. The high contrast and muted saturation ensure excellent readability and accessibility.

  • #4E312D

    RED

    #4E312D serves as the primary/dominant color in this palette. This dark red (muted) brings power and sophistication Use it for headers, navigation bars, and brand elements.

    Dark toneH: 7°S: 27%L: 24%
  • #715A57

    RED

    #715A57 serves as the secondary/supporting color in this palette. This medium red (muted) brings power and sophistication Use it for cards, borders, section dividers, and supporting UI components.

    Dark toneH: 7°S: 13%L: 39%
  • #958381

    GRAY

    #958381 serves as the secondary/supporting color in this palette. This medium gray (muted) brings neutrality and balance Use it for cards, borders, section dividers, and supporting UI components.

    Light toneH: 6°S: 9%L: 55%
  • #B8ADAB

    GRAY

    #B8ADAB serves as the secondary/supporting color in this palette. This medium gray (muted) brings neutrality and balance Use it for cards, borders, section dividers, and supporting UI components.

    Light toneH: 9°S: 8%L: 70%
  • #DCD6D5

    WHITE

    #DCD6D5 serves as the accent/highlight color in this palette. This light white (muted) brings cleanliness and simplicity Use it for call-to-action buttons, links, important notifications, and interactive elements.

    Light toneH: 9°S: 9%L: 85%

Palette Characteristics

This palette exhibits distinct characteristics that make it particularly suitable for specific design applications and industries.

Color Temperaturewarm

Warm colors create energy, excitement, and approachability. Perfect for brands targeting emotional connection.

Contrast Levelhigh

High contrast ensures excellent readability and meets WCAG accessibility standards for most text combinations.

Saturationmuted

Muted saturation offers sophistication and reduces visual fatigue, ideal for content-heavy applications.

Brightness Rangebalanced

Balanced brightness provides flexibility for both light and dark design elements.

💡 Pro Tips for This Palette

  • Perfect for: web interfaces, mobile apps. The monochromatic color relationship creates natural visual flow.
  • Mood & Psychology: This palette evokes a balanced and versatile feeling, making it ideal for brands seeking to convey those qualities.
  • Accessibility: Excellent contrast makes this palette naturally accessible. Most color combinations will meet WCAG AA standards.
  • Extensions: Create tints (add white) and shades (add black) to expand this 5-color palette into a comprehensive design system.
  • Cultural Context: Warm colors may have different meanings across cultures—verify associations with your target market.

Export Formats

JSON
CSS Variables
Tailwind Config
SCSS Variables
Android XML

Explore Espresso Palette

The Espresso color palette is a masterful blend of warm, muted tones that evoke a sense of comfort and sophistication, perfect for designers seeking to create a calming yet bold visual experience. At its core, this monochromatic palette is built around a series of nuanced shades that graduate from deep, rich browns to soft, creamy beiges, with the darkest tone, 4E312D, providing a dramatic and intense foundation. As the palette progresses, 715A57 introduces a slightly lighter, yet still deeply earthy note, while 958381 adds a touch of subtle warmth and depth, creating a sense of layering and dimensionality.

The Espresso palette's middle tones, including 958381 and B8ADAB, bring a sense of balance and harmony to the overall aesthetic, with the former's muted, earthy quality giving way to the latter's softer, more muted beige. Finally, the lightest tone, DCD6D5, provides a clean and airy contrast to the deeper shades, creating a sense of breathing room and visual relief. While the palette's overall effect is decidedly warm and inviting, it's worth noting that the inclusion of pink and coral undertones, particularly in the lighter shades, adds a touch of subtle femininity and playfulness to the overall design. The 715A57 shade, for example, has a hint of coral that adds depth and visual interest to the palette.

In practical terms, the Espresso palette is incredibly versatile, lending itself to a wide range of design applications, from websites and apps to branding and marketing materials. For example, a website's background could feature the deep, rich tone of 4E312D, while the navigation and accents might incorporate the lighter, airier quality of DCD6D5. Similarly, a brand's packaging and marketing materials could leverage the palette's bold, muted tones to create a sense of sophistication and elegance. The palette's calming, professional quality also makes it an excellent choice for financial, healthcare, or educational institutions seeking to convey trust and stability.

The psychological impact of the Espresso palette is also worth considering, as the warm, muted tones have a profound influence on viewer perception and behavior. The deep, earthy shades, such as 4E312D and 715A57, can create a sense of comfort and security, while the lighter tones, like B8ADAB and DCD6D5, can promote feelings of calmness and serenity. Moreover, the palette's subtle, coral-tinged undertones can add a touch of warmth and approachability, making it an excellent choice for designs that aim to engage and connect with users on an emotional level. By leveraging the Espresso palette's unique combination of warm, muted tones, designers can create visual experiences that are both soothing and stimulating, inviting users to linger and explore.

For designers seeking to get the most out of the Espresso palette, it's worth exploring complementary color pairings and design best practices. For example, pairing the deep, rich tone of 4E312D with a bright, poppy coral can create a striking visual contrast that adds energy and visual interest to the design. Alternatively, incorporating natural textures and earthy patterns can help to enhance the palette's organic, muted quality, creating a sense of depth and dimensionality. By combining the Espresso palette's warm, muted tones with thoughtful design principles and complementary color pairings, designers can create visual experiences that are both beautiful and effective, engaging users and conveying a sense of sophistication and elegance.

Palette Image

Below is the generated palette image showing all colors in a vertical layout. Perfect for sharing on social media or using as a reference.

Espresso image

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about using and implementing the espresso palette effectively in your projects.