Get inspired with mahogany design templates.
The color mahogany was inspired by the majestic wood from Mesoamerica. Its red-brown with an orange glow evokes warmth, opulence, and strength.
Inspiration in the color mahogany.
Learn the history and meaning of the color mahogany, the rich red-brown inspired by the exotic wood.
Load more
How to use the color mahogany.
1
2
3
4
5
The color mahogany versus burgundy.
The color mahogany is closely related to burgundy. Sometimes, the two colors are confused. Burgundy is a red-brown with undertones of pink. The color mahogany is a brownish-red with a strong orange influence. Both tones are bright, but mahogany color is warmer.
Mahogany color in the home.
The color mahogany gleams in the fine furniture and construction details where mahogany wood is used. The color mahogany is also a popular hue in textiles and paint. To bring mahogany color into a space with new textures beyond wood, there are wallpaper options, laminates, and beautiful upholstery in the shade, too.
Tap into the psychology of the color mahogany.
Mahogany color shares many meanings with its majestic namesake. Both the wood and the color mahogany are strong and firm. Both are resilient. Because of the historic context around the wood and its longstanding ties to luxury furniture, mahogany color can also evoke opulence.
Combine mahogany with other colors.
The best colors to combine with the color mahogany are cool blues and the neutrals white, gray, and black. These each provide contrast to the layered warmth of mahogany color. As a general rule, the lighter the neutral (such as white or off-white), the more mahogany will be able to retain its sense of warmth.
Information about mahogany color.
The mahogany HEX code picker is #C04000. This is the warm red-brown-orange of mahogany wood.
The color mahogany can be achieved in a RGB space with 192 red, 64 green, and 0 blue. Mahogany color can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 67% magenta, 100% yellow, and 25% black.
What is the meaning of the color mahogany?
The color mahogany is a brownish red that manifests as deep orange. This medium-dark hue is reminiscent of the luxurious things made with its namesake, mahogany wood. From furniture to musical instruments, the wood is recognized by its characteristic mahogany color. Mahogany trees are native to Mesoamerica, and their majestic history shows just how appealing the color mahogany can be.
Mahogany wood varies in color. The mahogany color hex has been set as a common hue across the warm mahogany spectrum.
The history of mahogany color.
Colonial Spaniards were immediately enamored with mahogany.
The mahogany tree is native to Southern Mexico, Central America, and some parts of South America. During the colonial era in the Americas, the Spanish learned of its exquisite character and durability and started exportation to Europe. Mahogany color appeared in Spain as early as the mid-1500s in King Philip II’s El Escorial palace. An abundance of mahogany was used in its construction.
Mahogany makes its way to England.
Some decades later, mahogany exports made their way to England. Nottingham Castle, completed in the late 17th century, has embellishments of mahogany color where the wood was used. The wood and the color mahogany didn’t see their heyday in England, however, until the mid-18th century. Its polished surface and the mahogany color’s deep-orange by then became representations of refinement in furniture, architecture, and décor.
The color mahogany extended beyond the high-demand wood.
Around the same time that mahogany wood boomed in England, the color mahogany acquired a description of its own. The brown undertones gave the color a sense of grounding, while its red-orange influences brought it to life. “Mahogany” was soon applied to things other than the wood itself. The first record of mahogany color as a descriptive adjective was in 1730.
The color mahogany across different cultures.
The history of the word “mahogany.”
Of course, it wasn’t the Spaniards who discovered mahogany. Long before their arrival, the beautiful and resilient wood was used by civilizations in Mesoamerica. The original Spanish name for the tree was mahogani, thought to come from the native name for the tree in Maya.
Popular culture use of the color Mahogany.
The color mahogany was introduced to the Crayola crayon box in 1949. For a modern twist on the color, visit the village “Mahogany Town” in Pokémon. You can also watch the movie Mahogany (1975) with Diana Ross to follow the story of an aspiring designer from Chicago who finds success in Rome.
The European mahogany color standard.
In Europe, a color standard system called RAL is used in the varnish, powder, and plastic coating industries. The system manages colors for manufacturers so that they don’t have to send samples to customers to describe each tint. The color mahogany is one of the RAL hues and is identified with the number RAL 8016.