BEIGE COLOUR: Types, Psychology and Meaning

Meaning of the Color Beige

Beige comes from a combination of a light/pale gray, brown and yellow. However, it is more commonly considered as a pale yellow color. Beige is not an exact color, like Taupe, it has different shades and degrees of color. Beige is used as an abbreviation for a variety of colors, from pale yellowish brown to light brownish gray. Officially, it is a cream shade with a warm yellow tint. In France, the word originally referred to natural wool that had not been bleached or dyed.

The French began using beige as a color word sometime in the 1850s. The new meaning was solidified by author Edmond de Goncourt in his 1877 novel, La Fille Elisa. Beige was later absorbed into the English language; the first documented English usage occurred in 1887. Historically there has been some confusion about the color beige. In the early 19th century, ecru, the color name derived from the French word for raw or unbleached, referred to the exact same shade of beige. Around 1950, interior designers changed ecru to avoid confusion. Other colors often used interchangeably with beige include khaki, buff, ivory, off-white and desert sand. Because early computers were beige, beige has come to represent the working world.

Psychology of Beige

As a softer, warmer form of white, beige represents simplicity and serenity. It is often used to denote simplicity. Beige is basic, unpretentious, and does not draw attention to itself. People who like beige tend to work behind the scenes rather than being the star of the show. They lead clean, quiet lives. They are contented and reliable people. Beige lovers have the ability to get along with everyone. However, they can be criticized for being boring and afraid to take risks.

Beige is reliable, conservative and flexible. Beige is neutral, calm and soothing. The attributes and meanings associated with beige change depending on the accompanying colors. Beige offers some of the warmth of brown and some of the crispness and freshness of white. While a soothing color, beige is often seen as a dull and boring color. A similar color to beige is ivory, a neutral, soothing and calming color, it has some of the same purity and softness of white, but with a warmer tone. Ivory represents tranquility and gentleness. Ivory sets a relaxed tone of understated elegance.

Ivory is the traditional fourteenth wedding anniversary gift and Pearl is the traditional thirtieth wedding anniversary gift. Pearl and opal, which are shades of ivory, are considered gemstones. Elephant ivory tusks have a high value and worth in many cultures and have long been used in the creation of furniture decor jewelry and home decor.

Types or Varieties of Beige

Cosmic Latte

The name of this color is a name given in 2002 to the average color of the universe derived from a sample of the electromagnetic radiation of 200,000 galaxies, this name was given by a team of astronomers at Johns Hopkins University.

Ecru

From the 19th century until at least 1930, ecru meant exactly the same color as beige, in other words, a pale cream color like beige, and this word is often used to refer to fabrics such as silk and clothing in their unbleached state.

Ecru comes from the French word écru, meaning ‘raw’ or ‘unbleached’. However, since at least the 1950s, ecru has been taken as a color distinct from beige, most likely to allow interior designers to have a wider palette of colors to choose from when painting or decorating a room.

Desert Sand

The desert sand color has been taken by many as a deep variation of beige. This color is considered to be a pale tint of a color called desert. The color name “desert” first came into use in the 1920s. In the 1960s, the American Telephone & Telegraph Company at the time, marketed desert sand colored telephones for work offices and homes. However, they described the color as “beige”. Because of this event, it is not uncommon for many people to refer to the color of desert sand as “beige”.

Unbleached Silk

Unbleached silk is one of the traditional Japanese colors in use since it began in 660 CE which comes in the form of various dyes that are used in the design of kimonos, an emblematic garment for the Japanese. The Japanese name for this color is referred to as shironeri.

Interior Decoration with Beige Color

Beige is a very popular color in home design and decorating. Beige provides a nice balance of neutrality, calm and comfort that is ideal for the home. While it is a popular choice, it could also suggest conventional thinking and a focus on basics such as comfort and family relaxation. Wearing beige suggests a desire for comfort, neutrality and perhaps conformity. Someone doesn’t want to stand out, they want to blend in with the crowd. It could also suggest a compulsion for cleanliness, similar to wearing white, however, unlike white, they are looking for something a little more comforting, perhaps with more emotion and life.

Wearing beige may also suggest a desire for the natural look, depending on the shade. Beige often blends with skin tones, giving a natural even nude look. This could suggest a desire for natural in other areas of your life, for example, a leaning toward natural and organic foods, limiting artificial cosmetics and air fresheners. As a light neutral shade, beige is one of the most popular colors in interior design. It is ubiquitous in homes, offices, schools, hospitals and more. “Contractor’s beige” is the name generic paint builders use to cover the interior walls of a new home. Beige is a staple of fashion and minimalist design. It can have pink, brown or gold undertones, subtly changing the character of a room while remaining in the background. Many linens and raw fabrics are beige.

Beige Color Number or Color Code

Hex Triplet: # F5F5DC
RGB coordinates: (r, g, b) (245, 245, 220)
CMYK Code: (c, m, y, k) (0, 0, 10, 4)
HSV Code: (h, s, v) (60 °, 10%, 96%)

Beige Objects and Things

The color of a room, a telephone, a dress, a skirt, a pillow, a bottle, a stuffed animal, gloves, a chair, a roll of thread, a purse, sandals, a lamp, a box, among others.

Other Colors in ALPHAPEDIA