Cool Slate
A bleached and desaturated ashy tone
Cool Slate is a bleached, ashy tone that sits between light grey and faded yellow. Because it is highly desaturated, it works well as a neutral background for minimalist UI designs. The hex code for this color is #d0ccc5. Black text provides excellent contrast against it, making it a functional choice for readability. Pair it with deep charcoal or forest green to prevent the palette from feeling washed out.
About Cool Slate
Fog on a limestone windowsill, drying fast
What does cool slate mean?
Ashy greiges often read as weathered stone and driftwood, so people commonly associate them with age, calm, and unpolished surfaces. Its high lightness and very low saturation keep it hushed and airy, with a faint yellow warmth that stops it feeling cold.
Where you see cool slate
- concrete
- unbleached linen
- fieldstone
- dried oat grass
- plaster walls
- river pebbles
What it works for
Use it as a wall or background color where bolder accents need a soft, neutral base that never competes.
What colors go with cool slate?
Charcoal #36454fNear-black type or trim against this pale grey gives crisp contrast without harshness.Dusty Rose #b56f76The grey's yellow undertone warms up muted pink instead of cooling it down.Deep Teal #00555aA saturated cool blue-green reads richer when anchored by a light neutral.Terracotta #e2725bBaked orange clay pops against ashy stone tones in classic Mediterranean pairings.Sage Green #9caf88Two desaturated neighbors share a quiet softness while their warm and cool undertones balance.
Questions about Cool Slate
What is the hex code for Cool Slate?
Cool Slate is #d0ccc5. In RGB that is rgb(208, 204, 197), in HSL hsl(38, 10%, 79%) and in CMYK 0%, 2%, 5%, 18%.
How should I use Cool Slate #d0ccc5 in web design?
Use #d0ccc5 as a sophisticated, high-readability background for minimalist layouts. Because it is highly desaturated, it pairs exceptionally well with charcoal text or deep, dark UI elements to create a clean, modern aesthetic that feels balanced rather than washed out.
Does #d0ccc5 lean warm or cool?
While often perceived as a grey, #d0ccc5 contains subtle yellow undertones that prevent it from feeling sterile or icy. This hybrid quality allows it to bridge the gap between warm beige and industrial grey, making it a versatile neutral for diverse design palettes.
Is Cool Slate readable on white or black?
Cool Slate has a 1.59:1 contrast ratio on white and 13.12:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.