Color plays a big role in how we design, decorate, and express ourselves online or in the real world. One color that stands out for its natural, earthy vibe is #515923. This hex code might look technical at first, but it actually represents a deep olive-green color that’s perfect for giving your designs a grounded, organic feel.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the #515923 color—what it looks like, how it works in web design, color codes, shades, tints, and how it compares with other colors.
What is the #515923 Color?
The hex code #515923 is a dark green color with a touch of yellow and brown. It reminds you of dense forests, olive leaves, or the shade of mossy stones. This kind of color gives off a calm, earthy, and natural feeling.
It’s not too bright, not too dull—just the right kind of greenish shade when you want a bold and grounded color in your design.
RGB Breakdown
Colors on screens are usually created using RGB values, which stands for Red, Green, and Blue. For #515923, the RGB values are:
- Red: 81
- Green: 89
- Blue: 35
This means it has more green than red and a smaller amount of blue. That’s why it looks olive or mossy.
In terms of percentage, the RGB values are:
- Red: 39.51%
- Green: 43.41%
- Blue: 17.07%
HSL & HSV – More Ways to Describe #515923
Besides RGB, colors are also described using HSL and HSV formats:
- HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness):
- Hue: 0.19
- Saturation: 0.44
- Lightness: 0.24
- HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value):
- Hue: 69°
- Saturation: 61%
- Value: 35%
These tell us that #515923 is low in brightness and medium in color intensity (saturation), which matches its dark and earthy look.
CMYK Values for Printing
When printing, designers use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) colors. The CMYK values for #515923 are:
- Cyan: 9%
- Magenta: 0%
- Yellow: 61%
- Black: 65%
This shows that it leans more toward yellow and black, which is why it has that strong olive tone.
Web-Safe Color and CSS Use
The web-safe color closest to #515923 is #666633. Web-safe colors are shades that appear the same on all devices. Though not exact, this can be a helpful fallback.
Here’s how you can use #515923 in your CSS:
cssCopyEdit/* Background Color */
.mybgcolor {
background-color: #515923;
}
/* Font Color */
.myforecolor {
color: #515923;
}
/* Border Color */
.mybordercolor {
border: 3px solid #515923;
}
How It Looks on Different Backgrounds
On a white background, #515923 pops nicely without being too bright. It stands out but stays soft on the eyes.
On a black background, the color looks more muted and gives off a more serious, bold vibe.
So, whether you’re designing websites or creating digital art, this color works great with both light and dark themes.
Shades and Tints of #515923
Shades are made by adding black, and tints are made by adding white.
Shades (Darker Versions):
- #48501f
- #40471c
- #383e18
- #303515
- #282c11
These give you deeper, more muted greens if you want a more rustic feel.
Tints (Lighter Versions):
- #626938
- #737a4e
- #858a65
- #969b7b
- #a8ac91
These tints feel softer and are great for backgrounds or soft accents in a design.
Color Combinations
Triadic Colors (three evenly spaced on the color wheel):
- #515923
- #235159 (deep teal)
- #592351 (dark magenta)
This combo is bold and offers a good mix of contrast and balance.
Analogous Colors (next to each other on the wheel):
- #365923 (forest green)
- #594623 (olive brown)
These colors blend well for a natural and harmonious look.
Complementary Color:
- #2b2359 (dark blue-purple)
This creates strong contrast, great if you want your design elements to stand out.
CSS Shadow Effects with #515923
Want to use this color for text or box shadows? Here’s how:
Text Shadow Example (RGB):
htmlCopyEdit<p style="text-shadow: 4px 4px 2px rgba(81,89,35, 0.8);">
Text with shadow
</p>
Text Shadow Example (Hex):
htmlCopyEdit<p style="text-shadow: 4px 4px 2px #515923;">
Text with shadow
</p>
Box Shadow Example:
htmlCopyEdit<div style="box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px 2px #515923;">
Box with shadow
</div>
Binary, Octal, and Decimal Details
If you’re into code or color math, here’s how #515923 breaks down:
| Color | Binary | Octal | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 01010001 | 121 | 81 |
| Green | 01011001 | 131 | 89 |
| Blue | 00100011 | 043 | 35 |
This part is more useful for developers who work with digital systems and color data conversions.
Related Colors to Try
If you like #515923, here are a few similar shades you might also enjoy:
- #496421 – deep moss green
- #426020 – earthy army green
- #5b5918 – golden olive
- #586410 – rich grassy tone
- #3e6a0f – bright olive green
These colors stay in the same green/brown family and can work well in combination or alone.
Final Thoughts
The color #515923 might seem technical at first glance, but it’s simply a beautiful, deep green that brings the feeling of nature and earthiness to your designs. It works wonderfully in both digital and print, looks great against different backgrounds, and has versatile combinations with other colors.
Whether you’re a web designer, graphic artist, or someone just curious about colors, #515923 is worth exploring. It’s grounded, stylish, and timeless.
Let this color bring balance, nature, and a bit of wild charm to your next creative project.
