Wood and White
From Scandinavian Minimalism · Colors chosen by Aesthetary, following the documented color rules
Pale, warm neutrals with oak-brown for action, and no cool gray anywhere.
#F5F1EA, canvas, 55%. #FBF8F3, surface, 15%. #ECE5D9, second surface, 8%. #2F2B27, text, 10%. #5E5750, muted text, 3%. #6B5237, primary action, 4%. #C9A27C, accent, 3%. #8E9A86, fill 1, 2%.
Suggested proportions
- 55% Canvas
- 15% Surface
- 10% Text
- 8% Second surface
- 4% Primary action
- 3% Muted text
- 3% Accent
- 2% Fill 1
In use
New
Tables made to order.
Oak and ash, finished with soap.
Request a quoteSee the workshop
#8E9A86, fill 1.
Quote request
Tell us the room and the size.
Table length (cm)
240
We make tables up to 220 cm.
Using it well
20 color pairs are approved for use. 8 pairs are not for text; the ones that matter most for this palette:
- Accent on Canvas Not for text. Oak is 2.09:1: underlines and decoration only, never text.
- Fill 1 on Canvas Not for text. Sage is 2.62:1: a rare decoration, never text.
Roles
14 colors, their HEX values, what each is for and where it comes from
| Role | Color | Use | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canvas | #F5F1EA | The page. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “ground” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Surface | #FBF8F3 | Panels and fields. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “card” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Second surface | #ECE5D9 | Quiet emphasis: the current tab, a highlighted panel. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “linen” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Text | #2F2B27 | All text. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “ink” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Muted text | #5E5750 | Secondary text. | Added by Aesthetary. The Scandinavian Minimalism page names no secondary text color; a warm gray, never a cool one. |
| Primary action | #6B5237 | Buttons and small warm text. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “oak-ink” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Text on primary | #FBF8F3 | Label on oak. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “card” color; Aesthetary gives it this role. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Secondary action | #2F2B27 | Secondary action: an ink outline. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “ink” color; Aesthetary gives it this role. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Border | #DCD3C5 | Hairlines. Decorative only. | Added by Aesthetary. The Scandinavian Minimalism page names no rule. |
| Input border | #887D70 | The edge of an input. | Added by Aesthetary. A field’s only edge needs 3:1 on the ground, card and linen. |
| Accent | #C9A27C | Underlines and decoration only; never text. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “oak” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Focus | #2F2B27 | Focus ring. | Added by Aesthetary. The Scandinavian Minimalism page defines no focus color; the ink makes the ring. |
| Fill 1 | #8E9A86 | A rare second decoration; never text. | From the Scandinavian Minimalism page’s “sage” color. Basis: Aesthetary’s interpretation. |
| Error | #A0301F | Errors, always with a word. | Added by Aesthetary. The Scandinavian Minimalism page defines no status color. |
Contrast, by use
20 approved pairs, all passing · 8 not for text
WCAG 2 ratios, computed from the colors. Text needs 4.5:1; large text (24px, or 18.66px bold) and non-text (a focus ring, a field’s only edge, an icon) need 3:1. Only the pairs listed as approved are recommended.
Approved pairs
| Pair | Contrast | Needs | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text on Canvas | 12.47:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Text on Surface | 13.25:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Text on Second surface | 11.22:1 | 4.5:1 | TextReading text | Passes |
| Muted text on Canvas | 6.31:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Muted text on Surface | 6.71:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary text, captions | Passes |
| Text on primary on Primary action | 6.87:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLabel on the primary action | Passes |
| Secondary action on Canvas | 12.47:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Secondary action on Surface | 13.25:1 | 4.5:1 | TextSecondary action: label and outline | Passes |
| Primary action on Canvas | 6.46:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Primary action on Surface | 6.87:1 | 4.5:1 | TextLinks and small text in the action color | Passes |
| Focus on Canvas | 12.47:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Focus on Surface | 13.25:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Focus ring | Passes |
| Input border on Canvas | 3.58:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Input border on Surface | 3.80:1 | 3:1 | Non-text (3:1)Input edge, the only boundary of a field | Passes |
| Error on Canvas | 6.35:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Error on Surface | 6.75:1 | 4.5:1 | TextStatus message, always with a word or icon | Passes |
| Accent on Canvas | 2.09:1 | — | DecorativeAccent as a fill; meaning carried by a word too | Passes |
| Accent on Surface | 2.22:1 | — | DecorativeAccent as a fill; meaning carried by a word too | Passes |
| Text on Accent | 5.98:1 | 4.5:1 | TextText set on the accent fill | Passes |
| Text on Fill 1 | 4.76:1 | 4.5:1 | TextText set on this fill | Passes |
Not for text
- Accent on Canvas 2.09:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Oak is 2.09:1: underlines and decoration only, never text.
- Fill 1 on Canvas 2.62:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Sage is 2.62:1: a rare decoration, never text.
- Accent on Surface 2.22:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Canvas 1.32:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Border on Surface 1.40:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
- Input border on Canvas 3.58:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
- Input border on Surface 3.80:1. Not for text. Non-text only. An edge or ring, not a text color.
- Fill 1 on Surface 2.79:1. Not for text. Fill or decoration only. Under 3:1: a fill or decoration only. Never text, an icon or a field’s only edge.
What makes it characteristic
Everything is pale and warm; the one darker note is an oak brown that does the work of a button. The sources note that “natural wood and white tones” belong to present-day promotion more than to the mid-century objects, so this is the contemporary register.
Limits of this palette
- The color evidence for this Aesthetic is our catalog and synthesis; the one documentary line describes promotion, not the objects. This palette is weaker in evidence than its neighbors, and says so.
- Sits beside the wellness stereotype (beige and sage). It is derived from its own documented rules and carries no industry tag.
What the sources say
1 color descriptions in their own words · 3 color rules, each marked documented or Aesthetary’s interpretation
Named in the sources
- “natural wood and white tones”
Color rules for this Aesthetic
- Pale neutral, warm. a documented rule
- No cool or neutral-gray palette. a documented rule
- Treat wood-and-white as the contemporary register, not as the mid-century objects' palette. Aesthetary’s interpretation
Related
AestheticScandinavian Minimalism
Related palettesUnbleached, Brown Key, Black Blade, Red Line, Blue Number, Stacked Film