Nearest named color: Bistre
#522222
#522222
Nearest named
Bistre
Family
Brown
Lightness
32.1%
Chroma
0.072
Hue angle
22.0°
Temperature
Warm
Contrast on white
13.04:1 · AAA
Contrast on black
1.42:1 · Fail
Web-safe
#663333
CSS oklch()
32% 0.07 22

#522222 is a deep, warm red-orange. On the Color Lab it reads organic and grounded, with a faded, vintage edge. It reproduces cleanly in print.

Palettes built on #522222

Not just a swatch — here's how #522222 works with other colors. Named schemes with #522222 in its natural role, and a note on why the supporting colors balance it.

Warm Autumn Interior Dominant · 5 colors

This palette keeps Bistre as the dominant warm neutral, balanced by muted terracotta and olive earth tones and grounded by a deep espresso anchor.

Vintage Leather Lead · 5 colors

Bistre plays the worn-leather lead, deepened by saddle brown and an oxblood anchor, softened by aged cream and cooled by a muted forest green.

Desert Clay Center · 5 colors

Bistre holds the warm center of this desert palette with sand and clay beside it, a muted-sage accent and a dark-brown anchor.

Japanese Sand Base · 5 colors

Bistre sets a calm, sun-bleached base here, wrapped in bone and paper off-whites and a soft greige, with a single ink accent for wabi-sabi restraint.

Minimal Editorial Surface · 5 colors

Bistre is the single accent in this high-contrast editorial system — set on near-white paper against near-black ink, with a warm grey and a desaturated tint of Bistre carrying the quiet middle.

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Color Lab

How #522222 actually behaves in design work — read from its OKLCH lightness, chroma and hue, not just its raw numbers. Ten signals to help you decide where this color earns its place.

Warmth 69/100
Warm
Reads warm and advancing — inviting, energetic, draws the eye forward.
Softness 31/100
Low
Firm and assertive — carries weight and contrast.
Depth 66/100
High
Deep and grounding — anchors a layout, strong dark-mode base.
Naturalness 68/100
High
Organic, earthy character — at home in wellness, food and craft brands.
Vintage feel 58/100
Moderate
Faded, nostalgic quality — editorial, heritage and retro work.
Luxury 70/100
High
Restrained and premium — deep, quiet, high-end packaging and fashion.
Brand distinctiveness 28/100
Low
Quiet and neutral — a supporting tone, not a signature.
UI accent fit 39/100
Low
Workable accent with care around contrast.
Surface fit 42/100
Moderate
Usable as a tinted surface in measured doses.
Print safety 92/100
Very high
Reproduces faithfully in CMYK — safe for packaging and print.

Pairs with #522222

For UI
For branding
For interior
For fashion
People also use #522222 with

UI roles & guardrails

Primary action Safe as a filled button with white label. AAA
Body text Passes on white at 16px and above. Pass
Large display Fine for headings 24px+ on white. Pass
Background Pair with white text at 13.0:1. Use
Subtle surface Use #E3CCCC for cards and hover fills. Tint 80
Avoid beside #533323 — the hue gap is too small to read as intentional. Clash

In real applications

Not a swatch to memorise — a color to build with. Here is #522222 at work across the surfaces designers actually ship.

Website / UI
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Dashboard
Revenue
$48.2k ▲ 12%
Brand
AVELINE
Studio
Poster
Nov 14 · 8PM
NIGHT
MARKET
Packaging
BLOOM
Botanical Wash
250 ml
Interior

Scales

ShadesBase darkened in 10% steps
TintsBase lifted toward white
TonesSaturation removed, lightness held
Monochromatic scaleDesign-system ready, 50–900

Every model

Export

:root {
  --color-base: #522222;
  --color-base-rgb: 82 34 34;
  --color-base-oklch: oklch(32.1% 0.072 22.0);
  --color-50: #FBF4F4;
  --color-100: #F3E2E2;
  --color-200: #E7C6C6;
  --color-300: #D29D9D;
  --color-400: #BB7777;
  --color-500: #9E5656;
  --color-600: #7A4747;
  --color-700: #583737;
  --color-800: #3A2727;
  --color-900: #241919;
  --color-on-base: #FFFFFF;
}