The hex color #964b00 represents a deep, rich shade of brown—an earthy tone that instantly evokes feelings of nature, wood, and warmth. Whether you’re a designer, developer, or color enthusiast, understanding the behavior, harmonies, and applications of this color can enhance your creative projects significantly.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about #964b00 in a clear and simple way—from its color values and schemes to how to use it effectively in digital and physical designs.
1. What is the Color #964b00?
Hex code #964b00 is a dark brown color made by blending red and green with no blue. It belongs to the family of warm, earthy tones and is closely associated with natural materials like wood, leather, and soil.
This color stands out for its raw and grounded appearance, often used to create comfort, heritage, or rustic themes in design.
2. RGB Breakdown
RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, and it defines how colors appear on screens.
- Red: 150
- Green: 75
- Blue: 0
With over 66% red, 33% green, and 0% blue, #964b00 achieves its strong brown tone. The complete absence of blue keeps it warm and prevents any purplish or cool undertones.
RGB in Percentages:
- Red: 66.67%
- Green: 33.33%
- Blue: 0%
This dominance of red gives it a reddish-orange base, contributing to its richness.
3. HSL and HSV Values
Color wheels also use HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) and HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value):
- HSL:
- Hue: 0.08 (close to orange)
- Saturation: 1.00 (full intensity)
- Lightness: 0.29 (darker side)
- HSV:
- Hue: 30°
- Saturation: 100%
- Value: 59%
These values suggest that #964b00 is highly saturated with a strong, vivid appearance and relatively low brightness, ideal for dramatic yet natural visuals.
4. CMYK Values (Printing Colors)
For print materials, CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is the standard.
- Cyan: 0%
- Magenta: 50%
- Yellow: 100%
- Black: 41%
This means that printing this brown tone requires lots of yellow, some magenta, and black for depth.
5. Web Safe Color and Accessibility
The nearest web-safe color to #964b00 is #993300, another bold brown. Both provide high contrast against light backgrounds, making them excellent for text, buttons, and decorative borders in UI design.
6. Color Palettes and Combinations
a. Monochromatic Palette (same family)
- #4a2500 – Very dark brown
- #7d3e00 – Rust brown
- #b05800 – Golden brown
- #964b00 – Base color
- #e37100 – Amber brown
These work perfectly for creating visual depth while maintaining consistency.
b. Complementary Color
- Complement: #004b96 (Deep blue)
Pairing #964b00 with its complementary blue creates striking contrast, perfect for visual hierarchy in design.
c. Triadic Colors
- #964b00 (brown)
- #00964b (green teal)
- #4b0096 (deep purple)
These combinations provide a balanced, colorful look while maintaining harmony.
d. Analogous Colors
- #960000 – Deep red
- #969600 – Olive yellow
- #964b00 – Earth brown
Analogous schemes are ideal for calm, natural themes and work beautifully in illustrations or branding.
7. Tints and Shades of #964b00
Shades (darker):
- #874300
- #693400
- #4b2500
- #2d1600
- #0f0700
These create depth and can be used for shadows, backgrounds, or to suggest weight and grounding.
Tints (lighter):
- #a05d19
- #b5814c
- #caa57f
- #dfc9b2
- #f4ede5
Tints add softness and are perfect for backgrounds, highlights, or when a subtle brown is needed.
8. Using #964b00 in Web Design
Here’s how you can apply this color in CSS and HTML:
cssCopyEdit.mybgcolor {
background-color: #964b00;
}
.myforecolor {
color: #964b00;
}
.mybordercolor {
border: 3px solid #964b00;
}
Box Shadow Example:
cssCopyEdit.divShadow {
box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px 2px #964b00;
}
Text Shadow Example:
cssCopyEdit.textShadowHex {
text-shadow: 4px 4px 2px #964b00;
}
HTML Usage:
htmlCopyEdit<p style="color:#964b00;">Brown Text Example</p>
<div style="background-color:#964b00;">Brown Background</div>
These applications give a rich, warm look to web elements, ideal for rustic or heritage-themed layouts.
9. Symbolism and Mood
The color #964b00 often symbolizes:
- Earthiness – Resembles soil and natural wood
- Warmth – Gives a cozy, welcoming feel
- Strength – Has a grounded and stable appearance
- Tradition – Common in classical and vintage designs
It is especially popular in autumn themes, coffee branding, interior design, and natural product packaging.
10. Where You’ll See #964b00
- Website UI Elements – Especially in themes involving coffee, chocolate, wood, leather, or nature
- Interior Design – Furniture, flooring, wall trims
- Fashion – Leather jackets, boots, and bags
- Print Design – Brochures and logos for organic or vintage brands
- Art & Illustration – For shading, backgrounds, and realistic elements
Conclusion
The color #964b00 is a bold, beautiful, and versatile brown shade that brings warmth, richness, and earthiness to any design. With its powerful base in red and yellow, and a complete lack of blue, it creates a feeling of comfort, tradition, and groundedness.
Whether you’re building a brand, designing a webpage, or working on a creative art piece, this color can elevate your design by adding natural charm and depth.
