#9E5542 Hex Color
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This mellow, unsaturated terracotta shade balances warmth with a grounded, earthy quality. As a hex code, #9e5542 feels approachable yet urgent, making it an excellent choice for accents in branding or food-related UI. While it functions well as a primary hue, it truly shines when paired with cool greys or crisp creams to prevent the color from appearing too muddy.
Questions about #9e5542
What is #9e5542 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #9e5542 is rgb(158, 85, 66), in HSL hsl(12, 41%, 44%) and in CMYK 0%, 46%, 58%, 38%.
What colors pair best with #9e5542 for a modern design palette?
Use #9e5542 with crisp cream or cool grey to keep the look clean and prevent the terracotta from feeling muddy. For a bolder contrast, navy blues create a sophisticated balance against the inherent warmth of this specific brick shade.
Is #9e5542 readable on white or black?
#9e5542 has a 5.48:1 contrast ratio on white and 3.83:1 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.