#816D50 Hex Color
Online color picker to view shades, tints, color codes, and complementary colors
A dim, dusty brown, #816d50 carries a matte finish that reads as serious and grounded. Its heavy saturation makes it tricky to use as a primary background, where it can easily look muddy. Instead, this hex code excels as a supporting accent in vintage branding or rustic palettes. Pair it with crisp cream or soft off-whites to maintain readability while keeping the mood steady and reliable.
Questions about #816d50
What is #816d50 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #816d50 is rgb(129, 109, 80), in HSL hsl(36, 23%, 41%) and in CMYK 0%, 16%, 38%, 49%. Browse more shades of brown with names and hex codes.
What colors pair well with #816d50?
#816d50 works beautifully when paired with crisp cream or soft off-whites to prevent it from looking too muddy. For a more sophisticated contrast, try layering this dusty brown alongside navy or muted olive tones to ground your design palette.
How should I use #816d50 in digital design?
Avoid using #816d50 as a primary background color because its heavy, muted saturation can easily create readability issues. Instead, use it as a secondary accent color to provide stability and a vintage, grounded feel to UI elements, buttons, or border lines.
Is #816d50 readable on white or black?
#816d50 has a 4.95:1 contrast ratio on white and 4.23:1 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 works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.