Linen

HEX: #FAF0E6 | Modern Palette

On White
1.12:1
FAIL
On Black
18.67:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#FAF0E6
RGB
250, 240, 230
HSL
30°, 66% ,94%
CMYK
0, 4, 8, 2

About Linen

Linen (#FAF0E6) is a color with RGB(250, 240, 230) and HSL(30°, 66.7%, 94.1%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #E6F0FA, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #E6FAF0 and #F0E6FA. The name comes from lin (Old French).

  • HEX: #FAF0E6
  • RGB: 250, 240, 230
  • HSL: 30°, 66.7%, 94.1%
  • Mood: Playful
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Background
  • Complementary color: #E6F0FA
  • Triadic colors: #E6FAF0, #F0E6FA
  • The name comes from lin (Old French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Linen #FAF0E6 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
 
 
LINEN
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
LINEN
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Linen #FAF0E6 pairs with #E6F0FA as its complementary color, and #E6FAF0 and #F0E6FA in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

LINEN
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

LINEN
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

LINEN
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

LINEN
LAVENDER
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

LINEN
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

LINEN

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Linen #FAF0E6 moves from dark #150D04 tones through the base color to lighter #FBF2EA tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

LINEN

Color Characteristics

Mood
Playful
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Background

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #F3F3E6
Protanopia #F1F1E6
Tritanopia #FBEFEF
Achromatopsia #F1F1F1

Frequently Asked Questions

Linen (#FAF0E6) is a color with RGB(250, 240, 230) and HSL(30°, 66.7%, 94.1%).

#FAF0E6 pairs strongly with #E6F0FA as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#FAF0E6 is suitable for Text, Button, Background and works well with Warm styles.

#FAF0E6 is commonly associated with Playful.

The name Linen is linked to lin from Old French, meaning flax.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word lin
Meaning flax
Language Old French
First Recorded Use Late Old English / Middle English

History

The word 'linen' derives from 'lin', the Old French word for flax, which itself comes from the Latin 'linum'. Flax is the plant from which linen fabric is made. The use of linen fabric dates back thousands of years, with evidence found in ancient Egypt (around 4000 BC) where it was used for clothing, burial shrouds, and even currency. The word 'linen' in English has been used to refer to the fabric made from flax since at least the late Old English period, and later expanded to refer to household textiles like bedsheets and tablecloths, regardless of their material, due to linen's historical prominence in these uses. The color 'linen' (#faf0e6) is a very pale, off-white beige, reflecting the natural, undyed color of linen fabric, which often has a slightly yellowish or grayish tint.

First Recorded Use

c. 1000-1200 AD

Cultural Associations

Linen has significant cultural importance across various civilizations. In ancient Egypt, it symbolized purity and light, often used for priestly garments and mummification. In many European cultures, linen was a staple for clothing and household items for centuries before cotton became widely available. Its natural breathability and strength made it highly valued. The phrase 'linen closet' is a common term for a storage space for bedding and towels, even if those items are no longer exclusively made of linen. The color 'linen' evokes a sense of naturalness, simplicity, and classic elegance, often associated with rustic or minimalist aesthetics.

Similar Named Colors
Seashell #FFF5EE ΔE 1.82
Old Lace #FDF5E6 ΔE 2.90
Floral White #FFFAF0 ΔE 3.04
Isabelline #F4F0EC ΔE 3.27

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #FAF0E6;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #FAF0E6;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #FAF0E6;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #FAF0E6,
        #E6F0FA
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #FAF0E6,
        #E6F0FA
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$linen: #FAF0E6;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$linen-r: 250;
$linen-g: 240;
$linen-b: 230;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $linen;
    color: rgba($linen-r, $linen-g, $linen-b, 0.8);
}