French Oak
Also known as: Cocoa Nib, Carton, Oxford Street, Woolly Mammoth
Part of the orange family, French Oak pairs a soft base with a warm and inviting presence — ideal for children's products and fitness brands. A blue counterpart from the complementary harmony gives it the most tension. For accessible text, use it on black or near-black backgrounds (8.29:1, passes WCAG AA) rather than white.
French Oak color codes
- HEX
- #BB9E7C
- RGB
- rgb(187, 158, 124)
- RGBA
- rgba(187, 158, 124, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(32, 32%, 61%)
- HSV
- hsv(32, 34%, 73%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 16%, 34%, 27%)
- LAB
- lab(67.1 7.4 22.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(71.7% 0.058 71.1)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: tan#D2B48C · ΔE 6.4
- RAL 1001 — Beige#D0B084 · ΔE 5.8 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck — Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where French Oak works
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, empty-state illustrations — not text.
- Interiors: Soft and low-saturation — a candidate for full walls, where vivid colors overwhelm.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece — a top, scarf, or shoes — against neutral basics.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of French Oak
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from French Oak by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 2.53:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 8.29:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a French Oak background: #000000
Palettes featuring French Oak
French Oak with its complement
Soft neighbors of French Oak
French Oak triad
Similar colors
- Taupe#B9A281 · ΔE 2.4
- Latte#C5A582 · ΔE 2.4
- Oakwood#BDA58B · ΔE 3.3
- Incense#AF9A7E · ΔE 3.4
- Sesame#BAA38B · ΔE 3.6
- Curry Sauce#BE9E6F · ΔE 3.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of French Oak is closest to High Tide.
French Oak FAQs
What color is French Oak?
French Oak is a medium orange with the hex code #BB9E7C. In HSL terms it has a hue of 32°, 32% saturation, and 61% lightness.
What is the hex code for French Oak?
The hex code for French Oak is #BB9E7C. In RGB it's rgb(187, 158, 124), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 16%, 34%, 27%).
What colors go well with French Oak?
French Oak pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony, and with cyan accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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