Back to palettes

Palette

Old Map Sepia

Evokes the feeling of discovery with ancient maps and weathered parchment textures, timeless and earthy.

earthnatural5 colors
More earth palettes

Preview

See it in context.

Interface

New

Ready when you are.

A quick look at how Old Map Sepia reads on buttons, badges, and alerts before you commit.

This alert border and accent use the palette's detail color.

Marketing banner

Launch

Built with Old Map Sepia.

A bolder treatment that stretches the primary and secondary colors across a full gradient banner.

Data visualization

#8B4513#CD853F#F5DEB3#BDB76B#695A41

Palette guide

How to use Old Map Sepia

Overview

The "Old Map Sepia" palette masterfully evokes the feeling of discovery with its collection of ancient map and weathered parchment textures. Featuring the rich #8B4513, the warm #CD853F, the light #F5DEB3, a unique #BDB76B (muted gold/olive), and the grounding #695A41, this palette is timeless and earthy. It's an ideal choice for designs aiming for a vintage, historic, or natural aesthetic, offering a deep sense of authenticity and nostalgia. Designers can create immersive and sophisticated experiences, while developers will find these robust tones excellent for crafting user interfaces that feel both established and inviting, perfect for educational or heritage platforms.

Best used for

  • History-focused educational platforms and apps
  • Vintage travel blog or documentary branding
  • Antique shop or collectible e-commerce websites
  • Personal branding for historians, archaeologists, or writers
  • Theme park areas or museum exhibit design
  • Rustic event invitations or stationery

Suggested color roles

primary

Utilize #8B4513 as a deep, rich sepia brown for headers, important calls-to-action, or grounding backgrounds, like aged leather.

secondary

Apply #CD853F for supportive content blocks, navigation, or as a warm, inviting accent to add depth and texture.

accent

Employ #BDB76B as a muted, antique gold/olive for subtle highlights, decorative elements, or to signify important details.

background

Use #F5DEB3 as a light, warm parchment base for main content areas, providing a clean yet antique canvas.

text

For optimal readability on light backgrounds like #F5DEB3, use #8B4513 or a dark brown. On darker backgrounds, #F5DEB3 or a creamy off-white provides excellent contrast.

Accessibility notes

  • Ensure #8B4513 text on #F5DEB3 backgrounds meets WCAG AA contrast standards.
  • Be cautious when pairing #CD853F text on #F5DEB3 for body copy, as contrast may be insufficient.
  • Use #F5DEB3 for text on #8B4513 or #695A41 to ensure good readability for all users.
  • Test all interactive elements (buttons, links) to confirm their color changes meet contrast requirements.

Recommended combinations

Sepia Scroll

Ideal for a classic document look: dark sepia text on a light parchment background, with a mid-tone for headings or links.

#8B4513 · #F5DEB3 · #CD853F

Ancient Gold

Create a rich, tonal effect with these browns and the muted gold for layered content blocks or decorative borders.

#CD853F · #BDB76B · #695A41

Explorer's Map

Combine the deepest sepia with the antique gold accent and light parchment for a sophisticated, adventurous aesthetic.

#8B4513 · #BDB76B · #F5DEB3

CSS variables

:root {
  --old-map-sepia-1: #8B4513;
  --old-map-sepia-2: #CD853F;
  --old-map-sepia-3: #F5DEB3;
  --old-map-sepia-4: #BDB76B;
  --old-map-sepia-5: #695A41;
}

Tailwind config

theme: {
  extend: {
    colors: {
      "old-map-sepia": {
        1: "#8B4513",
        2: "#CD853F",
        3: "#F5DEB3",
        4: "#BDB76B",
        5: "#695A41",
      }
    }
  }
}

Related searches

sepia vintage color paletteold map earth tonesantique parchment designhistoric brown gold paletteweathered map ui colors

Palette colors

Hex values

Color 1#8B4513
·
Color 2#CD853F
·
Color 3#F5DEB3
·
Color 4#BDB76B
·
Color 5#695A41
·

Accessibility

Contrast checker

1
2
3
4
5
1
2.4:1Fail
5.4:1AA
3.4:1AA18
1.1:1Fail
2
2.4:1Fail
2.3:1Fail
1.4:1Fail
2.2:1Fail
3
5.4:1AA
2.3:1Fail
1.6:1Fail
5.1:1AA
4
3.4:1AA18
1.4:1Fail
1.6:1Fail
3.2:1AA18
5
1.1:1Fail
2.2:1Fail
5.1:1AA
3.2:1AA18

Similar palettes

More like Old Map Sepia

View all earth