What Color Is Ecru? About Ecru Color

Are you curious about what color is ecru? Stick around as we will share the answer…

With people being shuttered away in their houses these days, it comes as no surprise that many have noticed some imperfections and even signs of wear ad tear around their homes.

One of the easiest ways to breathe new life into just about any type of space is by giving it a fresh coat of paint.

While the color white tends to be the default choice for many homeowners, some find it too clinical and even stark. Because of this, opting for a beige-like hue, such as ecru, has been a popular choice.

Often touted as a sister hue of beige, ecru is considered a more elevated and elegant counterpart that brings a sense of sensuality, rawness, and warmth.

If you have yet to familiarize yourself with this color, it’s best that we start off by learning a bit of its history and how it is normally used.

To learn more about ecru, continue reading…

History of the Color Ecru

Ecru has been around for ages. As a matter of fact, this hue has been in existence since the early 19^th century.

However, before being given its own distinction, ecru was actually synonymous – and even interchangeable – with the color beige.

Coming from the French word ecru, the hue was largely based on unbleached linen, meaning it retained its natural hues and sense of rawness.

It is derived from the Old French word es-cru, meaning completely raw and unrefined. It also refers to being unbleached.

Similarly, cru, in Modern French, now means the same thing, having adapted the language throughout the years and merely dropping the ‘es.’

In the olden times, ecru referred to being stripped of a natural state. However, as times moved on, ecru adapted to refer to a piece of fabric in its rawest, purest form.

This means the fabric remains untouched and unchanged and has yet to be bleached or dyed.

A slightly lighter and similar counterpart to beige, the color ecru was only reportedly coined in the 1870s, approximately 10 years after the word and the color beige had arrived in English.

This allowed individuals to properly distinguish one hue from another.

However, it was only around the 1950s that interior designers fully designated and changed ecru to what it is today to avoid further confusion and mix-ups with the use of beige.

What Color Is Ecru?

Although its similarities with beige are uncanny, ecru is actually described as a mixture of grayish and yellowish tones. Sometimes it can also be tinged with brown or tan. It is also described as a pale cream color.

To help recreate this color on your own, you only need the three primary colors, namely red, yellow, and blue. Mix small amounts until you achieve a brown hue and then throw in some white paint.

Keep on adding white until you have reached ecru. Feel free to add yellow for a bit of warmth. You may also add gray, the product of black and white, to add depth and achieve the sense of rawness you are going for.

Ecru in Design

Monochromatic dressing is still a huge fashion trend these days – and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. This means that many people are dressing in one color from head to toe, and one of the hottest colors used to keep up with this fashion trend is ecru.

While some may think that this is tacky and downright distasteful, monochromatic dressing makes for an easier and more stylish affair than ever before.

Just think of Jane Birkin and her fashion-forward looks. With ecru being a neutral color, it will always be a fail-safe option whether you’re dressing up or down.

The key to wearing ecru from head to toe is layering textured pieces. For example, now that it’s spring, you might want to wear an ecru-hued linen dress and layer this with a chunky sweater.

At the same time, add some gold accessories to keep within the same color palette.

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For those looking for a home refresh, using soft ecru as your main base will lend your space a glowing aura that’s not too stark or muddy. Instead, it will impart a sense of warmth and coziness thanks to its warm undertones. Pair it with dove gray and hints of yellow – or even some dark green or olive, or pastel hues such as pink, blue, or purple, if you like – for a muted yet mature look.

The Bottom Line

Drawn to the lovely and soft vibes that ecru imparts? With its sensual and dramatic effects, this hue is certainly one that can give any space brightness and warmth without being too overpowering. Feel free to play around with textures and accessories to fully highlight what ecru has to offer.