For years branded as a symbol of a certain “casual” monotony, the khaki color has made a comeback first in fashion and then in interior design, where it is highly valued for its versatility and subtle elegance, which makes it capable of enhancing the hues with which it is paired, and being enhanced by them in turn.
How is khaki color?
Khaki color is a shade of beige, or light brown, which can have several shades, such as olive green or sand yellow. It should not be confused with the fruit of the plant of the same name. In fact, the Italian cachi comes from the English khaki, which in turn originates from the Persian khak, meaning “earth.” Khaki color, therefore, is synonymous with “color of the earth.” The usage, in the English language, dates back to about the mid-1800s, around the time when this hue began to be used for military uniforms, more specifically those of the British Army in India. Today it is used in many armed forces, especially for summer uniforms and camouflage. In the 1990s and early 2000s, khaki pants became something of a (non)style symbol for young entrepreneurs in California tech start-ups. For the past two or three years, it has been a popular color in clothing-from sportswear to runways.
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What are the various shades of khaki color?
Khaki has a few different gradations, with shades on yellow or green. As can be seen in the palette above, we have light khaki (or light khaki), dark khaki (or dark khaki), and khaki green (or khaki green, which is very similar, and in some cases coincident, to olive green). In the Pantone palette, the color called khaki is darker. In the RAL system, khaki gray is even darker and tends to brown.
How to match khaki color?
Being part of the neutral shades, khaki can be combined with a wide range of colors.
- With neutral colors: white, especially in warm shades such as ivory; sand; taupe. To decorate tone-on-tone, you can also focus on the various “souls” of khaki, so on different shades of brown and green.
- With pastel tones: powder pink; peach; blues and dusty greens. The palette of ultra-matt coatings from Rio Verde’s Vintage Prestige range, for example, goes very well with khaki. They can be used on many different materials, from wood to glass, metal to fabric, plastic to small portions of wall.
- Among the bright colors: many shades of blue, bordeaux, earthy and spicy yellows, dark oranges, coral red, brick, terracotta.
This is with regard to khaki used as a primary or secondary color. In that case, metallic elements in shades of gold, bronze or brass can be thought of as an accent color. A product such as Rio Verde’s Golden Prestige, a metallic interior coating that is odorless and free of substances hazardous to health and the environment, can come in handy even without sanding. Alternatively, you can even go for neon colors. But khaki itself is also perfect for use as an accent color: a neutral, elegant touch that can be used in different rooms of the house, acting as a “binder” between different spaces.
Khaki color in different home spaces
In the living room we can think of khaki walls with beige sofa and navy blue cushions, or sugar paper sofa and burnt orange fabrics. Or decline the furnishings in the various shades of khaki, starting with the sofa. In the dining room, the khaki palette lends itself well to both walls and textile elements, from tablecloth to curtains and rugs. The same goes for the kitchen, where it can also be used for upholstery and accessories. In the bedroom, khaki linens go well with other neutral shades and pastel colors. In the bathroom, it is good for walls and fabrics as well as for bathroom fixtures. As for materials, make way for natural ones. Wood, first and foremost, and then wicker and rattan. It also goes well with stone and terracotta. Jute, linen and cotton for fabrics, but also leather. Of metal we have already mentioned: in warm shades such as brass, gold and bronze.
What is the difference between khaki and écru?
As we explained in the article on écru, the two colors are quite similar. Ecru has a greater yellow component, as we see in the image above, which shows other neutral shades such as ivory white, sand, and camel.
