What color is Ecru?
Ecru is a pale, warm off-white with a soft yellow-tan tone, hex #E0CD95, close to the color of unbleached linen. It has a slightly dusty quality that keeps it from reading as pure white or bright cream.
What is the meaning of the color Ecru?
French gave English this word in the 1860s, borrowed from écru, meaning raw or unbleached, referring to the natural state of silk or linen before processing. The color became tied to high-end textile trade, where unbleached fabric was associated with quality natural fibers rather than cheaper dyed goods. By the late 19th century, écru appeared in fashion reporting across Paris and London as a recognized neutral shade. The American retailer J. Crew adopted ecru as a staple color in its catalog clothing lines, anchoring the shade in everyday American fashion vocabulary.
What colors go with Ecru?
Colors that pair well with Ecru include:
Navy Blue: sharp, grounding contrast
Terracotta: warm earthy depth
Sage Green: soft, natural balance
Chocolate Brown: rich tonal warmth
Dusty Rose: gentle, muted softness
Similar Colors
Conversions & Codes
| Format | Value | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #E0CD95 |
color: #E0CD95;
|
| RGB | 224, 205, 149 |
color: rgb(224, 205, 149);
|
| RGB Percentage | 88%, 80%, 58% |
color: rgb(88%, 80%, 58%);
|
| CMYK | 0%, 8%, 33%, 12% | Not supported in CSS |
| HSL | 45°, 55%, 73% |
color: hsl(45, 55%, 73%);
|
| HSV | 45°, 33%, 88% | Not supported in CSS |
| CIE-LAB | 58, 4, 19 |
color: lab(58% 4 19);
|
| Decimal | 14732693 | Not supported in CSS |
Color Variations
Shades
Tints
Tones
Hues
Color Harmonies
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square
CSS & Dev Snippets
.ecru {
color: #E0CD95;
}
$ecru: #E0CD95;
rgb(224, 205, 149)