Nacre
A delicate, airy off-white neutral
Nacre is a delicate, bleached off-white with subtle grey and yellow undertones. Because it has such high lightness, it functions best as a clean, airy background that keeps layouts feeling open. Pair #e8e2d4 with deep charcoals or blacks to ensure maximum readability, as this hex code supports standard body text without issue. It is a smart choice for minimalist interfaces requiring a soft, neutral base.
About Nacre
Candle wax pooled on a windowsill
What does nacre mean?
Nacre often suggests pearl interiors, old linen, and things softened by time and salt water. Its high lightness and low saturation keep it hushed, closer to a murmur than a statement.
Where you see nacre
- mother of pearl buttons
- unbleached linen
- candle wax
- eggshells
- old book pages
- seashells
What it works for
It works as a warm neutral backdrop in interiors, stationery, and palettes that need softness without beige heaviness.
What colors go with nacre?
Deep Teal #00555aThe cool dark green blue makes this pale warm shell tone glow by comparison.Oxblood #800020A deep wine red gives the fragile off white a grounded, almost antique weight.Slate Blue #6a5acdMuted grey blue reads like sea glass against the soft yellowed shell surface.Olive Drab #6f7632Dry green brown adds an earthy edge the delicate neutral would otherwise lack.Charcoal #36454fNear black text and lines sharpen the pale surface into something crisp and clean.Dusty Rose #b56f76A faded pink leans into the same softness without turning the palette sugary.
Questions about Nacre
What is the hex code for Nacre?
Nacre is #e8e2d4. In RGB that is rgb(232, 226, 212), in HSL hsl(42, 30%, 87%) and in CMYK 0%, 3%, 9%, 9%.
Does #e8e2d4 (Nacre) feel warm or cool?
Nacre reads as a slightly warm, organic off-white because of its subtle yellow undertones, though it remains neutral enough to balance busy designs. It lacks the harsh, sterile feeling of pure white, making it perfect for softer interfaces.
Is Nacre readable on white or black?
Nacre has a 1.29:1 contrast ratio on white and 16.26:1 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.