Light Goldenrod Yellow

HEX: #FAFAD2 | Modern Palette

On White
1.07:1
FAIL
On Black
19.67:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#FAFAD2
RGB
250, 250, 210
HSL
60°, 80% ,90%
CMYK
0, 0, 16, 2

About Light Goldenrod Yellow

Light Goldenrod Yellow (#FAFAD2) is a color with RGB(250, 250, 210) and HSL(60°, 80%, 90.2%). It is commonly associated with Playful moods. In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #D2D2FA, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #D2FAFA and #FAD2FA. The name comes from Light Goldenrod Yellow (English).

  • HEX: #FAFAD2
  • RGB: 250, 250, 210
  • HSL: 60°, 80%, 90.2%
  • Mood: Playful
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Background
  • Complementary color: #D2D2FA
  • Triadic colors: #D2FAFA, #FAD2FA
  • The name comes from Light Goldenrod Yellow (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #FAFAD2 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Playful
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Background

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #FAFAD2
Protanopia #FAFAD2
Tritanopia #FFF5F5
Achromatopsia #F7F7F7

Frequently Asked Questions

Light Goldenrod Yellow (#FAFAD2) is a color with RGB(250, 250, 210) and HSL(60°, 80%, 90.2%).

#FAFAD2 pairs strongly with #D2D2FA as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#FAFAD2 is suitable for Text, Button, Background and works well with Warm styles.

#FAFAD2 is commonly associated with Playful.

The name Light Goldenrod Yellow is linked to Light Goldenrod Yellow from English, meaning A light shade of yellow, reminiscent of the goldenrod plant..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Light Goldenrod Yellow
Meaning A light shade of yellow, reminiscent of the goldenrod plant.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th - Early 20th Century (as a general color description)

History

The color 'goldenrod' itself is named after the plant of the same name, known for its bright yellow flowers. The addition of 'light' modifies this to a paler version. This specific shade, #fafad2, is one of the X11 color names, which were developed for the X Window System in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These names and their corresponding RGB values were later adopted as standard web colors, making 'Light Goldenrod Yellow' a recognized color in digital design and web development.

First Recorded Use

The specific named color 'Light Goldenrod Yellow' with its #fafad2 hexadecimal value became standardized much later, particularly with the advent of web colors and digital color systems. The general description 'goldenrod yellow' for a color has been in use longer, referring to the color of the plant. 'Light Goldenrod Yellow' as a distinct named color was formalized in X11 color names and subsequently adopted by web standards.

Cultural Associations

In Western cultures, yellow is often associated with happiness, sunshine, and energy. Lighter shades of yellow, like Light Goldenrod Yellow, can evoke feelings of softness, warmth, and pleasantness. It's a less intense yellow, making it suitable for backgrounds or subtle accents where a vibrant yellow might be too overpowering. It's a common color in web design due to its inclusion in standard web color palettes.

Similar Named Colors
Cream #FFFDD0 ΔE 1.55
Lemon Chiffon #FFFACD ΔE 2.11
Light Yellow #FFFFE0 ΔE 2.82
Pale Spring Bud #ECEBBD ΔE 3.59

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #FAFAD2;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #FAFAD2;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #FAFAD2;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #FAFAD2,
        #D2D2FA
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #FAFAD2,
        #D2D2FA
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$light-goldenrod-yellow: #FAFAD2;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$light-goldenrod-yellow-r: 250;
$light-goldenrod-yellow-g: 250;
$light-goldenrod-yellow-b: 210;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $light-goldenrod-yellow;
    color: rgba($light-goldenrod-yellow-r, $light-goldenrod-yellow-g, $light-goldenrod-yellow-b, 0.8);
}