Charleston Green

HEX: #232B2B | Modern Palette

On White
14.46:1
PASS
On Black
1.45:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#232B2B
RGB
35, 43, 43
HSL
180°, 18% ,16%
CMYK
18.6, 0, 0, 83.14

About Charleston Green

Charleston Green (#232B2B) is a color with RGB(35, 43, 43) and HSL(180°, 18.6%, 16.86%). It is commonly associated with Luxury moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Print. Its complementary color is #2B2323, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #2B232B and #2B2B23. The name comes from Charleston Green (English).

  • HEX: #232B2B
  • RGB: 35, 43, 43
  • HSL: 180°, 18.6%, 16.86%
  • Mood: Luxury
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Background, Print
  • Complementary color: #2B2323
  • Triadic colors: #2B232B, #2B2B23
  • The name comes from Charleston Green (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
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

Complementary

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

Analogous

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

Triadic

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

Split-Complementary

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

Tetradic (Square)

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

Monochromatic

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

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #232B2B from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Luxury
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Background Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #29292B
Protanopia #2A2A2B
Tritanopia #232B2B
Achromatopsia #292929

Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston Green (#232B2B) is a color with RGB(35, 43, 43) and HSL(180°, 18.6%, 16.86%).

#232B2B pairs strongly with #2B2323 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#232B2B is suitable for Text, Background, Print and works well with Cool styles.

#232B2B is commonly associated with Luxury.

The name Charleston Green is linked to Charleston Green from English, meaning A very dark shade of green, almost black, historically used in Charleston, South Carolina..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Charleston Green
Meaning A very dark shade of green, almost black, historically used in Charleston, South Carolina.
Language English
First Recorded Use 19th Century

History

Charleston Green is a distinctive color deeply rooted in the history and architecture of Charleston, South Carolina. Legend has it that after the Civil War, when resources were scarce, residents were given black paint to repaint their homes. To make the color less somber, they mixed in a small amount of green paint, resulting in a shade that appears black in low light but reveals its green undertones in sunlight. This practical solution evolved into a beloved and iconic color for the city's historic homes and buildings. It became a symbol of resilience and a unique aesthetic identifier for Charleston.

First Recorded Use

While the exact first documented use of the *name* 'Charleston Green' is difficult to pinpoint precisely, the color itself, or very similar dark green-blacks, were prevalent on buildings in Charleston, SC, particularly after the Civil War and into the late 19th century. The practice of mixing black into green paint to achieve this specific shade is a long-standing tradition in the city.

Cultural Associations

Charleston Green is more than just a color; it's a cultural touchstone for Charleston, SC. It is widely used on shutters, doors, and architectural trim throughout the historic district. Its subtle green hue, only truly visible in bright light, is often seen as reflecting the city's understated elegance and its ability to blend tradition with a unique character. It is a protected and encouraged color in many of the city's historic preservation guidelines.

Similar Named Colors

Dark Jungle Green #1A2421 ΔE 3.52
Onyx #353839 ΔE 5.50
Jet #343434 ΔE 5.84
Eerie Black #1B1B1B ΔE 6.59

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #232B2B;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #232B2B;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #232B2B;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #232B2B,
        #332323
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #232B2B,
        #332323
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$charleston-green: #232B2B;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$charleston-green-r: 35;
$charleston-green-g: 43;
$charleston-green-b: 43;

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