Falu Red
A serious, muted crimson with historical depth
Falu Red is a dark, muted crimson with a heavy, serious presence. This shade commands attention without needing high saturation, making it excellent for traditional branding or moody, academic interfaces. Because it is quite dark, use it as a base or background color rather than a small accent. White text is highly readable against it, ensuring great accessibility. The hex code for Falu Red is #801818.
About Falu Red
Brick dust on an old barn door
What does falu red mean?
Dark reds often suggest tradition, appetite, and warmth, and this shade leans rustic and weathered rather than bold. Its low lightness and muted saturation make it feel grounded and mellow, closer to fireplace embers than a warning sign.
Where you see falu red
- brick
- red wine
- leather armchairs
- cherry wood
- rusted iron
- dried cranberries
What it works for
It works for front doors, accent walls, leather goods, and autumn packaging where warmth needs some weight.
What colors go with falu red?
Cream #fffdd0Cream lifts its darkness and keeps the red from feeling heavy.Sage #9caf88Sage's muted green answers the red's warmth with something cool and earthy.Mustard #ffdb58Mustard shares its warmth and adds brightness without shouting.Charcoal #36454fCharcoal deepens the mood and lets the red read as rich.Oatmeal #c9c1b1Oatmeal softens the red into something rustic and lived-in.Dusty Rose #b56f76Dusty rose stays in the same muted family and eases the depth.
Questions about Falu Red
What is the hex code for Falu Red?
Falu Red is #801818. In RGB that is rgb(128, 24, 24), in HSL hsl(0, 68%, 30%) and in CMYK 0%, 81%, 81%, 50%.
Is #801818 a good choice for UI backgrounds?
Using #801818 as a background requires caution, as it is very dark and can overwhelm smaller interface elements. It functions best as a base for moody, brand-focused sections rather than dense content areas, provided you maintain high-contrast text for accessibility.
Is Falu Red readable on white or black?
Falu Red has a 10.18:1 contrast ratio on white and 2.06:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.