Inspiration in the color tan.
Learn the history and meaning of the color tan, the classic neutral with endless application and timeless appeal.
What is the meaning of the color tan?
Tan color is a soft and light shade of brown. A true neutral with an earthy base, the color tan pairs with absolutely any other color. Other brown-based neutrals favor the yellow or red sides of the brown spectrum. Tan color sits cleanly in between them, evoking an autumn vibe and a wonderful sense of peace.
The color tan evokes warmth and security. This pale brown is an earthy tone that provides the same comfort of other natural colors.
The history of tan color.
The color tan comes from the “tanning” process for animal hides.
Tan color was named after the process for turning animal hides into leather, “tanning.” The process was named after the Old German word for oak trees, tannin. Oak trees were used to make an acidic chemical compound essential for the tanning process. The color tan was first recorded in English in 1590. In the 1800s, tan color was briefly replaced by the color word “tawny,” but by the 19th century it merged back into “tan.”
Tan color in the early 20th century.
The color tan grew in popularity in the 1920s. It was useful to pair with the brilliant gem colors of the era. In the 1930s, tan color continued its upward trend, but this time as a conservative color while the Great Depression wore on. By World War II, tan took on a new meaning after its adoption in military uniforms and supplies.
Tan color was added to the crayon box in the 1950s.
The 1958 Crayola crayon box boasted 64 sundry colors. The company added 16 new colors that year, not to mention a crayon sharpener right in the box. Tan color was among the additions. Through the 1960s and 1970s, the color tan continued to spread across art, design, fashion, and interior design.
The color tan across different cultures.
Beach tanning is sort of the same, and sort of different.
From the process of “tanning” hides into leather, the act of “getting a tan” became a popular English idiom to refer to sunbathing. The act of sun tanning has a strikingly different cultural connotation than tan evokes when applied as a color, though. Sun tanning is considered an act of luxury. The color tan, on the other hand, evokes simplicity and grounding.
The color tan in North American military.
Tan color has been used interchangeably to describe the color khaki in military uniforms. Ever since the mid-1800s, however, khaki has been the official color used by most forces. Tan color had a short and limited run as an official color in the military. The color tan still holds its place in two armed forces today, though. In the United States, the Army Rangers beret is tan color. In Canada, the Canadian Special Operations Regiment and Joint Task Force 2 also use the color tan.
Tan color in the interior design world.
Interior design is both an art and a science. Combining visions for environments along with color psychology, the color tan holds a special place in the industry. Tan color is effective in creating a sense of calm. The color tan is considered an optimal selection for bedrooms, bathrooms, and commercial spas for that reason. Tan color is also extraordinarily versatile and can be paired with any other colors to balance the look and feel of a space.
How to use the color tan.
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Beware of tan color “blandness.”
The color tan doesn’t overextend itself or make bold statements. Tan color is the perfect complement and leaves room for the other colors around it. This does mean that excessive use of tan can leave a project looking uninspired. Tan color can be used more when it's applied across mixed textures.
Tap into the psychology of tan color.
The color tan evokes many of the same feelings as brown, including stability, comfort, and simplicity. Tan color is also an earthy hue, tying it to ideas of nature. Its use in interiors is thought to have a healing quality. In fashion, the color tan is associated with refined sophistication.
Colors similar to tan.
The color tan is sometimes compared to other colors. Beige is lighter and yellower than tan color. Khaki, too, is lighter and has tones of yellow and gray. The color nude is a complex color defined either as “nude brown” (the lightest possible shade of brown) or as a spectrum of nude colors that match the full range of skin tones. The whole nude gamut, however, has a little more red than the color tan.
Combine tan with other colors.
Tan color is considered one of the truest neutrals. The color tan can pair with every color. In most cases, tan is a complement to a color acting as the “mood setter” in a palette. Tan color can be particularly soothing when paired with light blues, which sit on the opposite side of the color wheel. To enhance the warmth of tan color, pair it with yellow, orange, or red. To tap the sophisticated side of the color tan, pair it with white, ivory, off-white, or black.
Information about tan color.
The tan HEX code picker is #D2B48C. This is the light brown balanced between warm yellow and red mixed with white.
The color tan can be achieved in a RGB space with 210 red, 180 green, and 140 blue. Tan color can be achieved in a CMYK color space with 0% cyan, 14% magenta, 33% yellow, and 18% black.