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Brown and Indigo

Contrasting color combination with 1.98:1 contrast ratio

#A52A2A
#380282

Color Values

Brown
HEX #A52A2A
RGB 165, 42, 42
HSL 0, 59%, 41%
Indigo
HEX #380282
RGB 56, 2, 130
HSL 265, 97%, 26%

Harmony: Contrasting

These colors sit far enough apart on the wheel to create clear contrast without falling into a named harmony. The pairing works through difference rather than relationship, which suits designs that want variety over cohesion.

The hue angle between Brown and Indigo is 95 degrees. You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

1.98:1
Brown background with Indigo text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

Brown surface

Sample text on a brown background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Indigo surface

Sample text on a indigo background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #A52A2A;
  --color-b: #380282;
  --color-a-rgb: 165, 42, 42;
  --color-b-rgb: 56, 2, 130;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Brown and Indigo",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Brown",
      "hex": "#A52A2A",
      "rgb": [
        165,
        42,
        42
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Indigo",
      "hex": "#380282",
      "rgb": [
        56,
        2,
        130
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Contrasting",
  "contrastRatio": 1.98
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do brown and indigo go together?

Yes. Brown and Indigo form a contrasting color combination. These colors sit far enough apart on the wheel to create clear contrast without falling into a named harmony. The pairing works through difference rather than relationship, which suits designs that want variety over cohesion. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 1.98:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between brown and indigo?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Brown (#A52A2A) and Indigo (#380282) is 1.98:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use brown and indigo in design?

A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for brown and indigo?

Brown has the hex code #A52A2A and RGB values rgb(165, 42, 42). Indigo has the hex code #380282 and RGB values rgb(56, 2, 130). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.