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Brown vs Walnut: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Brown and Walnut is hue — Brown is a warm red, while Walnut is a warm orange. Brown and Walnut are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Brown (#A52A2A) and Walnut (#773F1A) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Brown#A52A2A
Walnut#773F1A
#A52A2ABlended: #8E3522#773F1A
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Brown vs Walnut: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Brown Walnut
BrightnessMedium (L=41%) — balanced, versatileDark (L=28%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationModerately saturated (S=59%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=64%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#A52A2A#773F1A
RGB165, 42, 42119, 63, 26

Can you use Brown and Walnut together?

Walnut text on Brown
Brown text on Walnut
Contrast Ratio:1.18:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Brown and Walnut Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Brown is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 24° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Brown or Walnut: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickWalnut

Walnut is more saturated (64% HSL vs 59%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Brown can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickWalnut

Walnut hits a 8.37:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Brown only reaches 7.08:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickBrown

Brown is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Walnut leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickBrown

Brown is the more muted of the two (59% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Walnut's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Brown vs Walnut in Design

Use Brown for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Walnut for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges

Brown and Walnut Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Brown#A52A2A

Brown (#A52A2A) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Tints
Walnut#773F1A

Walnut (#773F1A) is a dark, moderately saturated orange with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Brown and Walnut WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Brown text on white
7.08:1AAA
Sample text preview
Brown text on black
2.96:1Fail
Sample text preview
Walnut text on white
8.37:1AAA
Sample text preview
Walnut text on black
2.51:1Fail
Sample text preview
Brown text on Walnut
1.18:1Fail
Sample text preview
Walnut text on Brown
1.18:1Fail

Explore Brown and Walnut individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Brown color page#A52A2A · shades, tints, pairings

More Brown and Walnut Comparisons

BrownvsWineBrownvsRubyMochavsWalnutBrownvsGreyCoffeevsWalnutTaupevsBrownWalnutvsMahoganyCamelvsBrownMahoganyvsWalnutUmbervsBrownEspressovsWalnutBrownvsMocha

Brown vs Walnut FAQ

What is the difference between brown and walnut?+
The main difference between Brown and Walnut is hue — Brown is a warm red, while Walnut is a warm orange. Brown and Walnut are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Brown (#A52A2A) and Walnut (#773F1A) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is brown darker than walnut?+
No. Walnut is the darker of the two at 28% lightness, while Brown sits higher at 41%.
Are brown and walnut the same color?+
No. Brown is #A52A2A and Walnut is #773F1A. They differ by 24° in hue, 13% in lightness, and 5% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, brown or walnut?+
Walnut is more saturated. In HSL, Brown has 59% saturation and Walnut has 64% — Walnut is the more vivid of the two, while Brown reads as more muted.
Is brown warm or cool?+
Brown (#A52A2A) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is walnut warm or cool?+
Walnut (#773F1A) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 24° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use brown and walnut together?+
Yes. Brown (red) and Walnut (orange) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does brown belong to?+
Brown belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 59%, 41% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for brown?+
The hex code for Brown is #A52A2A. In RGB, that's rgb(165, 42, 42), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 59%, 41%).
What is the hex code for walnut?+
The hex code for Walnut is #773F1A. In RGB, that's rgb(119, 63, 26), and in HSL it's hsl(24, 64%, 28%).