Chalky Merlot Shale

#281b1b

Notes

Chalky Merlot Shale (#281B1B) is a deep red with an earthy character. It leans grounded and natural, the kind of color that plays well with wood, clay, linen, and warm neutrals. Its HSL profile (0°, 19%, 13%) places it in the muted band at a dark lightness. It works well as a headline, icon, or deep background in an otherwise light layout, pairing cleanly with cream, bone, and warm neutrals. For a confident two-color system, pair it with its complementary cyan. For something softer, pull in its analogous neighbors on either side of the wheel.

HEX

#281b1b

RGB

rgb(40, 27, 27)

HSL

hsl(0, 19%, 13%)