Cocoa Brown
General Information
The hexadecimal color #281C1E, often referred to as Cocoa Brown, is a dark, muted shade of brown. It is composed of 15.69% red, 11% green, and 11.76% blue. In the RGB color space, it embodies a subtle warmth, making it a popular choice for designs seeking to evoke feelings of comfort and earthiness. This color's low saturation and luminance contribute to its understated elegance, setting it apart from more vibrant browns. The Cocoa Brown color finds its niche in various applications, ranging from digital interfaces to traditional art forms, offering a grounding presence that can enhance a design's overall feel. Its subdued nature makes it versatile for both background and accent roles, allowing for seamless integration with a wide array of color palettes.
The hex color #281C1E, also known as Cocoa Brown, presents some accessibility challenges, particularly when used as text against a similarly dark background. According to WCAG guidelines, sufficient contrast is essential for readability. This color's low luminance value necessitates careful consideration of the foreground and background color combinations. To ensure accessibility, it's crucial to pair it with significantly lighter colors, such as pale yellows or off-whites, to achieve a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Tools like contrast checkers can help verify compliance. Using #281C1E for interactive elements requires extra attention to ensure that the color differences are distinct enough for users with visual impairments to perceive them.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
Applications
Web, Interior and Fashion Design
In web design, #281C1E can be used sparingly for accents, borders, or subtle background elements. It evokes a sense of warmth and earthiness, suitable for websites related to nature, food, or vintage themes. However, avoid using it for large blocks of text or critical interactive elements due to its low contrast. In interior design, this color can be applied to walls or furniture to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. It pairs well with lighter neutrals and natural materials like wood and linen. In fashion, #281C1E can be used for garments or accessories, especially in autumn and winter collections, to add a touch of sophistication and warmth.
Branding and Beauty Applications
In branding, #281C1E can represent stability, reliability, and a connection to the earth. It is suitable for brands that want to convey a sense of tradition and quality. This color can be used in logos, packaging, and marketing materials to create a consistent brand image. Furthermore, #281C1E can serve as a sophisticated neutral in makeup palettes, offering depth and definition in eyeshadows, eyeliners, or brow products. It can be combined with warmer or cooler tones to create various looks. It provides a grounding presence that can enhance a design's overall feel.
Digital Art and Graphic Design
Cocoa Brown is also useful in digital art and graphic design. For example, to color the fur of mammals, or to darken other colors to indicate shadow. It's important to note that the color has a slightly desaturated tone, which is useful in a variety of applications to provide a more natural tone. By varying the transparency, it's easy to blend the colors for further artistic effect. This is often used in drawing and painting to add depth to the shadows.