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Claim offerInspiration in the color off-white.
Learn the history and meaning of the color off-white, the umbrella term for almost-white shades like ivory, white smoke, and snow.
Get inspired with off-white design templates.
The color off-white is the umbrella term for almost-white hues, offering a whole library of neutral colors to play with.
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How to use the color off-white.
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Enhance shades of off-white.
Any shade of the color off-white can be enhanced with tiny amounts of other colors, too. Most off-white color pigments are made with the lightest tint of yellow mixed in. Combine a slight tinge of orange instead, and it becomes an off-white orange cream. Mix a little black in for a dusky off-white to pair beautifully with shades of gold. Brands like Chanel and Dior have done this successfully in their logos for a look of timeless luxury.
Tone things down with off-white.
Pure white is frigid. When added to projects, it isolates elements like so many cubes in a cold glass of water. In contrast, the color off-white tones down intensity, but without the coolness of pure white. Play with off-white color to soften neighboring colors and bring a soothing feel to your projects.
Tap into the psychology of the color off-white.
The color white has been historically associated with purity, but shades of off-white are more closely tied to feelings of peace and delicacy. The color off-white can also lend an antique look to projects it’s used in.
Combine off-white with other colors.
Shades of the color off-white are all neutrals, meaning they combine easily with any color. Play with the color ivory next to a navy blue for a timeless palette. The color white smoke next to burnt orange brings the brightness of orange to life. Pair the color snow with burgundy or rich reds to soften the red’s intensity.
Information about off-white color.
The most common off-white HEX code pickers are for ivory (#FFFFF0), whitesmoke (#F5F5F5), and snow (#FFFAFA).
The color off-white can be achieved in a RGB space with 245 red, 245 green, and 245 blue. Off-white color can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow, and 4% black.
What is the meaning of the color off-white?
Off-white color is the umbrella term for variations of white like ivory, white smoke, and snow. These almost-white hues are softer alternatives to crisp, pure white. Each shade of off-white has its advantages and history, providing a library of clean neutrals to play with in design, décor, fashion, and art.
Most shades of off-white combine white with a soft tint of yellow. This small dose of warmth provides a versatile base for any project.
The history of off-white color.
The color off-white is arguably one of the oldest colors.
The color off-white is as old as the color white. The colors white and black are considered the oldest pigments, however it was hard to create pure white paints and dyes. Off-white color was made before it ever had a name. Shades of the color off-white each acquired their own names and associations once lasting pigments were created.
The color off-white’s role in décor and fashion in the 20th century.
In the 1930s, shades of off-white were paired with beiges in fashion and décor. Then, the muted military colors of the 1940s and the pastels of the 1950s pushed off-white color aside. The 1960s and 1970s invited the color off-white back into fashion and décor as a complement to the saturated color palettes of the times.
The color off-white in crayons and paint.
Off-white color paints have become increasingly popular in the last 70 years. Today, the popular paint line Benjamin Moore has 152 shades of off-white color available. The first Crayola crayon made in an off-white color (Cultured Pearl) was introduced in 1997.
The color off-white across different cultures.
The brand Off-White by Virgil Abloh.
The color off-white is the namesake for a popular fashion label by the designer Virgil Abloh. The Italian luxury fashion brand was first named Pyrex Vision, and then was renamed Off-White in 2012. The rationale for the change, Abloh says, is that the Off-White brand represents “the gray area between black and white” in the fashion world.
Off-white color represents new starts.
From Christianity to high society, the color off-white has come to represent new beginnings. Young debutantes used to wear white to their first ball. Off-white also represents cleanliness, which is why it’s a popular color in bathroom finishes and kitchens where pure white would look clean but appear cold.
Paint suppliers’ famous catalogs of off-white color paint.
The American paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore has 152 shades of off-white in its catalog. The brand PPG impressively has 300 hues of off-white. Both companies believe that it’s a challenge to select one shade of off-white, not just because of the number of options but because of the almost imperceivable differences between them. Still, one shade of off-white color will “feel right” within each color palette, so there is a “best” option when selecting off-white paint.