Kelp
Kelp (#4D503C) is a dark, neutral gray with a warm-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 69° and a lightness of 42%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.
About this color
What Kelp looks like, feels like and where it works.
Description
Kelp (#4D503C) is a dark, neutral gray with a warm-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 69° and a lightness of 42%. As a neutral it supports other colors rather than competing with them.
Psychology
Gray is neutral and composed. It recedes, which is why it is the workhorse of interfaces: borders, secondary text and surfaces that let accents stand out. As a mid-toned shade, Kelp sits comfortably in the middle: present but not heavy.
Meaning
Gray suggests balance, restraint and professionalism, and sometimes dullness if nothing else adds life.
Why use this color
Kelp is a flexible base. It carries white text well, so it works as a button, header or badge background. Pair it with its tints and shades for a complete scale.
Applications
- UI borders, text and surfaces
- Technology and architecture
- Minimal, balanced layouts
- Backdrops for accent colors
History
Gray is one of the oldest color words in English. Payne's gray is named after the eighteenth century watercolorist William Payne.
Accessibility
White text on Kelp has a contrast ratio of 8.30:1 (AAA); black text has 2.52:1 (fails). WCAG AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface parts. Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning: pair it with text, an icon or a pattern.
Variations of Kelp
Tailwind-style scale
Color harmonies of Kelp
Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.
Color blindness simulator
These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.