What color is Sage?
Sage is a muted gray-green with soft yellow undertones, hex #BBB791, close to the color of dried sage leaves. The gray in the tone keeps it from reading as a true green, giving it a dusty, weathered quality.
What is the meaning of the color Sage?
Named after the culinary herb, sage as a color name was first recorded in English in the late 19th century, tied to the plant’s distinctive silvery-green foliage. It gained broader cultural traction in the early 20th century as muted, natural tones became popular in Arts and Crafts interior design, which favored earth-connected palettes over the bright synthetic dyes of the Victorian era. The color spread further through mid-century home furnishings, where it appeared on upholstery, ceramics, and painted cabinetry. Farrow and Ball, the British paint company, helped anchor sage as a deliberate design choice with their paint range, which includes tones in this family used across heritage restoration projects.
What colors go with Sage?
Colors that pair well with Sage include:
Cream: soft, warm harmony
Terracotta: earthy, grounding contrast
Navy: crisp, cool depth
Dusty Rose: gentle, muted pairing
Charcoal: strong, anchoring balance
Similar Colors
Conversions & Codes
| Format | Value | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #BBB791 |
color: #BBB791;
|
| RGB | 187, 183, 145 |
color: rgb(187, 183, 145);
|
| RGB Percentage | 73%, 72%, 57% |
color: rgb(73%, 72%, 57%);
|
| CMYK | 0%, 2%, 22%, 27% | Not supported in CSS |
| HSL | 54°, 24%, 65% |
color: hsl(54, 24%, 65%);
|
| HSV | 54°, 22%, 73% | Not supported in CSS |
| CIE-LAB | 52, 1, 13 |
color: lab(52% 1 13);
|
| Decimal | 12302225 | Not supported in CSS |
Color Variations
Shades
Tints
Tones
Hues
Color Harmonies
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square
CSS & Dev Snippets
.sage {
color: #BBB791;
}
$sage: #BBB791;
rgb(187, 183, 145)