The rust colour is a deep, reddish-brown shade, indicating the natural appearance of iron oxide. This colour often occurs in nature when metal oxidises through corrosion, forming a layer of rust on the surface of the material. Rust is a colour with warm and earthy tones that is often used in interior design and fashion as it reflects an affinity for natural materials.
Rust is also a colour symbolic of decay and the passing of time. It is often used in industrial design and art to create an old-fashioned, vintage effect. Rust offers a wide range of shades, from very dark browns to lighter orange tones. Because rust colours combine well with other warm colours such as gold, yellow or red, they are popular for creating harmonious and welcoming spaces.
RGB and HEX colour codes for rye
The RGB code for the rust colour is (183, 65, 14) and the HEX code is #B7410E.
| Colour scheme | Code/Weights |
|---|---|
| Hex |
#B7410E |
| RGB |
rgb(183, 65, 14) |
| HSL |
hsl(16, 85%, 39%) |
| HSV/HSB |
hsv(16, 92%, 72%) |
| CMYK |
cmyk(0, 65, 92, 28) |
| Contrasting colour |
#4EC7F1 |
| Complementary colour |
#0E44B7 |
Dark and light shades of rust
Click on the colour codes below to copy them to the clipboard.
Dark shades
Light shades
Rye's complementary colour palettes
The rust colour contains warm, earthy tones that complement a variety of colour palettes, including complementary, analogue, monochrome, triad, tetrad, split complementary and neutral.
Complementary palette
Analogue palette
Monochrome palette
Triad palette
Tetrade palette
Split complementary palette
Neutral palette
What is the colour of rust?
Rust is usually reddish brown in colour and is caused by the oxidation of iron, i.e. the formation of iron oxide during rusting. The intensity of the colour may depend on the degree of rusting and environmental factors.
What determines the colour of rust?
The colour of rust depends mainly on the circumstances of its formation and the compounds it contains. During the rusting process, the ferrous metal is oxidised and iron oxide compounds are formed. The most common rust colour is yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, due to the presence of ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃). However, if other compounds, such as copper or chromium, are present, the rust may change colour, for example to a greenish or blackish tint. In addition, environmental factors such as humidity, temperature and atmospheric contaminants can also affect the colour of the rust.
How is rust colour colour mixing possible?
To blend the rust colour, you can use several colours to achieve the deep, warm tone that rust is characterised by. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this colour:
1. **Choice of colours**: the rust colour is usually based on red, orange and brown.
2. **Blending the colour**: Start with a red colour, then gradually add orange to get a warmer shade.
3. **Add brown**: Add a small amount of brown to add depth and an earthy tint to the mixture.
4. **Finish**: Play with the ratio of the colours until you get the desired rust tone. If necessary, use a little yellow or dark brown to achieve the right shade.
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