| English name | Oatmeal |
|---|---|
| Katakana | oatmeal |
| HEX | #EAE7DC |
| RGB | 234, 231, 220 |
| Design Theme | Neutral & Minimal Background Colors |
Why is it a trend? (Background and reasons)
In recent years, minimalism in web design has evolved from simply organizing information and eliminating ornamentation to a more human and warm expression. Oatmeal, as a color that softens the hardness and coldness of pure white and creates a comfortable and sophisticated space, symbolizes this new trend of minimalism.
From a user experience (UX) perspective, oatmeal is gaining popularity. We spend a lot of time looking at digital screens every day, and a pure white background can sometimes be dazzling and cause visual fatigue. Oatmeal provides a user-friendly interface that reduces eye strain while maintaining sufficient text readability, allowing users to concentrate on content for extended periods.
Furthermore, lifestyle trends such as sustainability and wellness are having a significant impact on the world of web design. Oatmeal evokes natural materials such as linen, organic cotton, and unbleached paper. Therefore, it has been adopted as an effective color language to intuitively convey brand values such as integrity and consideration for the environment to users.
The psychological effects of design and UX
Oatmeal evokes psychological effects such as calmness, reassurance, and relaxation in users. Its non-aggressive, neutral color palette soothes the viewer's mind and naturally encourages immersion in the content.
Because it is a color found in nature, it evokes keywords such as organic, natural, and handcrafted, contributing to the building of "integrity" and "trust" for the brand and its products.
It gives a refined and elegant impression while being understated. It's not flashy, but it's suitable for expressing high quality and authenticity, striking a perfect balance between creating a sense of luxury and maintaining approachability.
Using it as a background color beautifully enhances other elements, especially photographs, product images, and accent colors. It gives the entire site a sense of unity and a warm atmosphere while keeping the content as the main focus.
Visibility testing (UI component example)
Practical usage (best practices)
The most common use is as the background color for an entire website. It is particularly effective for e-commerce sites selling apparel, cosmetics, and lifestyle goods, as well as corporate websites that want to convey integrity, and personal blogs, easily creating a calm and sophisticated atmosphere.
By using oatmeal as a base color and adding small amounts of highly saturated or dark colors such as terracotta, dark green, or navy as accent colors, the overall design becomes more refined and modern. This is particularly effective when used for CTA buttons and link text.
It's also effective to place card UIs or sections with an oatmeal background color on a white background page. This visually groups the information, making it easier for users to intuitively understand the hierarchical structure of the content.
It also pairs exceptionally well with typography. Choosing charcoal gray or dark brown for the text color ensures sufficient contrast while creating a softer, more sophisticated impression than black. It allows for a balance between readability and design appeal.
Recommended color scheme suggestions
Charcoal (#36454F)
The softness of oatmeal and the sharp impression of charcoal create a sophisticated and beautiful contrast. Its high readability makes it an ideal combination for corporate websites and portfolios where you want to convey trustworthiness and expertise.
Terracotta (#E2725B)
The natural texture of oatmeal, combined with the warmth of terracotta reminiscent of earth and brick, creates a very organic and comforting atmosphere. It's perfect for lifestyle brands and websites featuring handcrafted products.
Rosy Brown (#BC8F8F)
Adding a subtle sweetness of rosy brown as an accent color enhances the elegance of oatmeal, giving it a feminine and gentle nuance. This color scheme is recommended for websites related to cosmetics, wellness, and bridal.
