What Are Muted Colors?
Muted colors are desaturated versions of vibrant hues, created by mixing in black, white, gray, or complementary colors. This softens their intensity, making them versatile, refined, and easier on the eyes. Instead of demanding attention like bright colors, muted tones create subtle contrast, evoke emotion, and guide users naturally through a design.
What Makes a Color Muted?
A color becomes muted when mixed with:
- Black, for a deeper, shadowed effect
- White, to create a pastel or faded look
- Gray, to neutralize intensity
- Complementary colors, to naturally desaturate hues
For example, a bright red mixed with brown or gray becomes muted brick red—perfect for a warm, earthy vibe. Curious about how muted colors work in branding? Check out our branding services and explore color theory for more insight.
Muted Colors vs. Vibrant Colors: What’s the Difference?

Muted colors are soft, neutral, and earthy, creating a calm, elegant, and sophisticated feel. They work well in minimalist design, luxury branding, and cozy interiors, offering a refined aesthetic without overwhelming the eye.
Vibrant colors, on the other hand, are bold, intense, and attention-grabbing. They bring energy and playfulness to a design, making them ideal for pop art, sports branding, and youthful aesthetics where high visibility is key.
In branding and UI/UX, muted and bold colors are often combined for balance. A bold blue primary color can be softened with a muted blue in secondary elements to create depth and hierarchy. A bold overlay on a muted background enhances contrast while maintaining a clean, modern look.
Choosing between muted and vibrant colors depends on the message you want to convey—muted tones for a timeless, professional feel, vibrant hues for high-energy impact.
How to Create a Muted Color Palette

At CC Creative, we love to balance bold colors with their muted counterparts to create depth and visual hierarchy in design. For example, if we use a bold blue as a primary brand color, we might pair it with an opaque blue in supporting elements to soften the contrast while maintaining cohesion. Sometimes, we even overlay bold colors over muted tones to create layered effects that enhance readability and focus.
Some popular muted colors include earthy tones like terracotta, olive green, and mustard yellow, soft pastels such as dusty pink, sage green, and powder blue, and cool, minimalist hues like taupe, charcoal, and desaturated navy. These tones provide flexibility and can be mixed to create stunning color schemes.
Want to craft the perfect muted color palette? Here’s how:
Step 1: Start with a Base Color
Pick a vibrant color—say, bright blue.
Step 2: Add a Touch of Gray
Slowly mix in gray to reduce intensity and soften the shade.
Step 3: Introduce Complementary Colors
Adding a small amount of a color’s opposite (e.g., muted orange for blue) naturally tones it down.
Step 4: Pair with Neutrals
Mixing muted colors with beige, taupe, or soft white creates a balanced palette.
Step 5: Test It in Your Design
Apply your colors to a website or branding layout, then tweak as needed.
For an in-depth look at color impact in design, check out this introduction to color theory and color palettes.
Why Designers Love Muted Colors
Muted colors are the secret weapon of sophisticated design. Studies show that desaturated hues evoke trust and calmness, making them a go-to for brands that want to feel premium yet approachable. Understanding color harmony is key to using muted colors effectively in design.
Muted colors are widely used across different industries to create distinct aesthetics and enhance visual appeal.
In branding and marketing, high-end brands rely on muted color palettes for an elegant, timeless feel that exudes sophistication and trust.
For web and UI/UX design, muted tones contribute to a clean, polished look while improving readability and reducing visual fatigue, making them an excellent choice for digital products.
In fashion and interior design, soft, warm muted tones help create cozy, inviting spaces that feel harmonious and effortlessly stylish.
Case Study: How Airbnb Uses Muted Colors
Airbnb is a perfect example of muted colors in action. Their website and app use warm, desaturated tones to feel welcoming, comfortable, and modern. This subtle color strategy reinforces their brand’s message of home and connection.
Muted Colors in UI/UX Design
Muted colors aren’t just a trend—they’re a staple in digital experiences. Brands like Airbnb, Dropbox, and Slack rely on muted color palettes to create sleek, user-friendly interfaces. At CC Creative, we use muted tones in SaaS branding, UI/UX design, and Webflow development to enhance usability while keeping designs visually stunning.
For more on design aesthetics, check out our article on Brutalism vs. Neobrutalism in Web Design.
