// color_lab

Color Palettes

Color combinations with background, text, primary, accent and surface roles.

Palette types & color hierarchy

Monochromatic

One hue, varied from pale tints to deep shades. The shared color keeps everything feeling connected.

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Use it for: Quiet interfaces, focused product pages and a cohesive brand mood.

Analogous

Neighbors on the color wheel, such as yellow, orange and red. Close relatives give variety without a sharp clash.

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Use it for: Warm editorial stories, lifestyle brands and gentle transitions.

Complementary

Two hues opposite each other on the wheel. Their contrast makes a small accent feel especially vivid.

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Use it for: A clear focal point, a standout action or a bold brand contrast.

Split-complementary

One main hue plus the two neighbors of its opposite. You get lively contrast with a little more flexibility.

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Use it for: Creative products and illustrations that need several distinct accents.

Triadic

Three hues spaced evenly around the wheel. Let one lead and use the other two in smaller doses.

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Use it for: Playful brands, education and expressive graphic design.

Tetradic / double-complementary

Two complementary pairs give you four hue families. A dominant color and plenty of neutral space keep the mix from competing.

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Use it for: Rich illustrations, multi-category systems and colorful editorial work.

Color hierarchy

A palette is a family. Hierarchy gives everyone a job.

Palette types describe how hues relate. Primary, secondary, accent and neutral describe how you use them. They are roles, not a requirement to use four different hues.

Primary
Your lead brand color. Reserve it for the most important actions and recognizable moments.
Secondary
A supporting color for quieter actions or distinct sections, without competing with the primary.
Accent
A small highlight for a badge, detail or moment of emphasis. A little goes a long way.
Neutral
The background, surfaces and everyday text. Neutrals give the other colors room to work.

Start with mostly neutral surfaces, one dominant color and a smaller accent. Check every text/background combination for readability; a harmonious palette is not automatically an accessible one.

Sources & credit

Descriptions are written in our own words. Learn more at:

Palette collection

42 palettes, each previewed as a small page. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.

Miami Sunset

Styles: Vaporwave, Synthwave / Retrowave

Previewed in Monoton + Rubik

Newsprint Ink

Styles: Newspaper / Print, Editorial / Magazine

Previewed in Old Standard TT + Libre Baskerville

Terracotta Studio

Styles: Organic / Natural, Warm Neutral / Earthy

Previewed in Young Serif + Work Sans

Swiss Signal

Styles: Swiss / International, Bauhaus

Previewed in Archivo Black + Archivo

Acid Brutal

Styles: Brutalism, Anti-design

Previewed in Space Mono + IBM Plex Mono

Candy Pop Brutal

Styles: Neo-Brutalism, Playful / Whimsical

Previewed in Bricolage Grotesque + Figtree

Midnight Linear

Styles: Dark Mode / Dark UI, Corporate Clean / SaaS

Previewed in IBM Plex Serif + IBM Plex Sans

Cyber Hazard

Styles: Cyberpunk

Previewed in Orbitron + Rajdhani

Gilded Noir

Styles: Art Deco, Luxury / Premium

Previewed in Poiret One + Josefin Sans

Nordic Morning

Styles: Scandinavian / Nordic, Minimalism

Previewed in Cormorant Garamond + Karla

Game Boy

Styles: Pixel Art / 8-bit

Previewed in Press Start 2P + VT323

Memphis Party

Styles: Memphis, Retro / 80s

Previewed in Fredoka + Nunito

Botanical Plate

Styles: Botanical / Vintage Illustration, Art Nouveau

Previewed in EB Garamond + Hanken Grotesk

Holo Foil

Styles: Holographic / Iridescent, Y2K

Previewed in Unbounded + Manrope

Sage Clinic

Styles: Minimalism, Scandinavian / Nordic

Previewed in Newsreader + Atkinson Hyperlegible

Harbor Navy

Styles: Corporate Clean / SaaS, Editorial / Magazine

Previewed in EB Garamond + Hanken Grotesk

Espresso Bar

Styles: Organic / Natural, Warm Neutral / Earthy

Previewed in Gloock + Source Sans 3

Matcha Paper

Styles: Japanese Minimalism, Organic / Natural

Previewed in Instrument Serif + Libre Franklin

Ink & Vermilion

Styles: Japanese Minimalism, Minimalism

Previewed in Italiana + Jost

Lavender Fields

Styles: Minimalism, Playful / Whimsical

Previewed in Italiana + Jost

Citrus Market

Styles: Playful / Whimsical, Flat Design

Previewed in Shrikhand + DM Sans

Arctic Data

Styles: Dark Mode / Dark UI, Bento Grid

Previewed in JetBrains Mono + Source Serif 4

Forest Cabin

Styles: Organic / Natural, Dark Mode / Dark UI

Previewed in Zilla Slab + Libre Franklin

Blush Studio

Styles: Minimalism, Editorial / Magazine

Previewed in DM Serif Display + DM Sans

Riso Print

Styles: Collage / Cut-out, Duotone

Previewed in Bricolage Grotesque + Figtree

Bauhaus Primary

Styles: Bauhaus, Swiss / International

Previewed in Archivo Black + Archivo

Deep Ocean

Styles: Dark Mode / Dark UI, Vibrant Gradients

Previewed in Unbounded + Manrope

Desert Clay

Styles: Warm Neutral / Earthy, Organic / Natural

Previewed in Young Serif + Work Sans

Olive Library

Styles: Editorial / Magazine, Botanical / Vintage Illustration

Previewed in Playfair Display + Source Serif 4

Plum Velvet

Styles: Luxury / Premium, Art Deco

Previewed in Playfair Display + Source Serif 4

Mint Fintech

Styles: Corporate Clean / SaaS, Flat Design

Previewed in IBM Plex Serif + IBM Plex Sans

Charcoal Copper

Styles: Dark Mode / Dark UI, Luxury / Premium

Previewed in Syne + Manrope

Sunday Paper

Styles: Newspaper / Print, Editorial / Magazine

Previewed in Antonio + Public Sans

Bubblegum Arcade

Styles: Playful / Whimsical, Y2K

Previewed in Fredoka + Nunito

Concrete Gallery

Styles: Brutalism, Typographic / Type-driven

Previewed in Bebas Neue + Barlow

Midnight Garden

Styles: Botanical / Vintage Illustration, Dark Mode / Dark UI

Previewed in Newsreader + Atkinson Hyperlegible

Butter & Blue

Styles: Playful / Whimsical, Flat Design

Previewed in DM Serif Display + DM Sans

Tokyo Neon

Styles: Cyberpunk, Synthwave / Retrowave

Previewed in Orbitron + Rajdhani

Seaside Linen

Styles: Scandinavian / Nordic, Minimalism

Previewed in Instrument Serif + Libre Franklin

Monochrome Gallery

Styles: Monochrome, Typographic / Type-driven

Previewed in Archivo Black + Archivo

Rust Belt

Styles: Grunge, Editorial / Magazine

Previewed in Zilla Slab + Libre Franklin

Aurora Night

Styles: Aurora / Mesh Gradient, Dark Mode / Dark UI

Previewed in Unbounded + Manrope

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