French Oak
Also known as: Cocoa Nib , Carton , Oxford Street , Woolly Mammoth
As a soft take on orange, French Oak carries warm and inviting energy that suits 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.
Reference
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)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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warm
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- 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, and empty-state illustrations, but 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
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of French Oak
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →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
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 2.53:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 8.29:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a French Oak background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring French Oak
French Oak with its complement
Soft neighbors of French Oak
French Oak triad
Explore
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 .
FAQ
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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