Reddish-brown is a color that combines red and brown hues. It sits between the primary color red and the tertiary color brown on the color wheel. Reddish-brown can also be described as a dark shade of red or a light tint of brown. Other names used to describe this color include copper, rust, cinnamon, and auburn.
The exact hue of reddish-brown depends on the ratio of red to brown it contains. More red gives a brighter, richer red-brown, while more brown makes it duskier and more muted. There are many variations from dark liver red-browns to pale cinnamon pinkish-browns.
Technical Specifications
In color models like RGB and CMYK, reddish-brown is created by combining high amounts of red with medium amounts of green and blue (RGB) or amounts of cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMYK).
| Color Model | Red | Green | Blue |
| RGB Percent | 70-100% | 45-70% | 20-50% |
| RGB Decimal | 110-255 | 70-150 | 30-100 |
| HEX Code | #6A442D to #FF7F50 |
In the RGB color model, reddish-brown colors have high R values around 70-100%, medium G values around 45-70%, and low B values around 20-50%. This produces a color heavily weighted towards red, with some green and blue mixed in.
The exact ratios will create different shades and tints of reddish-brown. More red gives crimson red-browns, while more green and blue give murky orange-browns.
Natural Occurrences
Reddish-brown occurs naturally in many places:
– Rust – As iron oxidizes, it turns a reddish-brown color from the iron oxide. Rust gives a true red-brown color.
– Dirt and clay – Soil rich in iron oxide develops red-brown hues. The natural clay earth pigment Red Ochre is a reddish-brown hue.
– Rocks and minerals – Stones like jasper, agate, and granite can display red-brown bands and swirls from their mineral composition.
– Plants and trees – Bark, leaves, seeds, and flowers in shades of reddish-brown occur across many plant species. Examples include mahogany, cinnamon, chestnut, hazelnut, copper beech, and redwood.
– Animals with reddish-brown fur – Many mammals display a range of reddish-brown fur variations including red fox, coyote, brown bear, mountain lion, otter, mink, and red panda.
– Autumn leaves – Leaves turning color in fall develop warm reddish-brown hues from plant pigments like carotenoids.
Manmade Objects
Reddish-brown is a popular color for manmade items including:
| Material | Items |
| Paint | Walls, furniture, art |
| Plastic & Rubber | Toys, tool handles, rubber grips |
| Leather | Bags, shoes, furniture |
| Fabric & Yarn | Clothing, upholstery |
| Food & Drink | Cola, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon |
| Wood | Furniture, flooring |
| Paper & Card | Packaging, covers |
The rustic, natural feel of reddish-brown makes it popular for home furnishings, accessories, clothing, and packaging. It also resembles natural materials like wood, leather, and stone. Specific products include russet potatoes, copper cookware, cinnamon spices, cola sodas, and hazelnut coffee.
Symbolism and Meaning
Reddish-brown carries many symbolic connotations:
– Earthy – It represents the ground, soil, earth, nature’s colors
– Authentic – Genuine, unpretentious, honest, down-to-earth
– Outdoorsy – Rugged, rural, outdoors, adventurous
– Vintage – Classic, aged, timeworn, antique, rustic
– Masculine – Strong, deep, bold, robust
Culture and History
– Prehistoric cave paintings used reddish-brown ochre pigments.
– Ancient Egyptians wore reddish-brown copper jewelry representing the goddess Bastet.
– Reddish lacquerware was highly prized in ancient China.
– Renaissance painters like Rembrandt mixed red and brown oil paints for warmth.
– Victorian houses favored reddish-brown brick exteriors.
– Early 20th century Winchester rifles had a reddish-brown walnut stock.
– Mid-century modern designers like Charles and Ray Eames used organic reddish-brown materials.
– 1970s earth tone fashions and decor embraced reddish-browns.
So in summary, the color name for reddish-brown encompasses a wide family of red-brown hues seen across nature, culture, and design. It has an earthy, rustic feel. Specific names like rust, copper, cinnamon, and auburn describe variations from deep red hue to subtle brown tint.
Conclusion
Reddish-brown sits between red and brown on the color wheel. It combines the energy of red with the muted quality of brown. There are many shades from rich crimson red-browns to soft beige-browns. Names like rust, cinnamon, copper, and auburn differentiate the hue. Reddish-brown has an earthy, natural look reflecting soils, rocks, plants, animals, and autumn tones. Its rustic feel makes it popular in home decor and fashion. While the color has ancient roots, its outdoorsy simplicity appeals to modern sensibilities as well.
