Muted palette

Paper Mill

One warm gray across six steps, for building layout before color arrives.

Paper Mill swatches

6 colors · 10 of 30 pairs carry body text

Muted

#272522

dark gray

#504B44

dark muted orange

#797166

mid muted orange

#9E978D

mid muted orange

#C0BCB6

light gray

#E3E1DF

light gray

CSS

:root {
  --paper_mill-1: #272522;
  --paper_mill-2: #504b44;
  --paper_mill-3: #797166;
  --paper_mill-4: #9e978d;
  --paper_mill-5: #c0bcb6;
  --paper_mill-6: #e3e1df;
}

Drop these into :root and reference them anywhere. The names follow the palette so a second palette will not collide with this one.

Take it further

This palette is a starting point. Open it in the generator to change the harmony rule, lock the colors you like and shuffle the rest.

Open in the palette generator Check the first pair for contrast

Which color can sit on which

10 of 30 pairs reach 4.5:1

Contrast ratio of every color in this palette against every other.
On ↓ / text → #272522#504B44#797166#9E978D#C0BCB6#E3E1DF
#272522 Same 1.77 3.18 5.29 8.09 11.72
#504B44 1.77 Same 1.8 2.99 4.57 6.62
#797166 3.18 1.8 Same 1.66 2.54 3.69
#9E978D 5.29 2.99 1.66 Same 1.53 2.22
#C0BCB6 8.09 4.57 2.54 1.53 Same 1.45
#E3E1DF 11.72 6.62 3.69 2.22 1.45 Same

Read a row as the background and a column as the text on it. Anything at 4.5:1 or above carries body text; 3:1 covers large text and interface parts.