Xanadu Color: Practical Guide and Design Tips

Xanadu is a soft, greenish-gray that’s both calming and deep—this shade has been quietly popping up in design spaces.

Specs

Xanadu is a grayish-green color with the following specifications:

• Hex Code: #738678
• RGB Values: 115 (Red), 134 (Green), 120 (Blue)
• Pantone Equivalent: Closest match is Pantone 5625 C
  Encycolorpedia

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Complementary Color

Dusty Pink (#867379): The complementary color lies opposite on the color wheel, creating a balanced contrast.

Adjacent Colors

Muted Teal (#738683): A cooler, slightly bluer shade similar to Xanadu. This shade enhances the serene quality of Xanadu when paired together.

Sage Green (#73866F): A lighter, more yellowish-green that complements the earthy, organic vibe of Xanadu, giving a fresh yet harmonious feel.

Triadic Colors

Dusty Plum (#867387): A muted purple-pink that contrasts Xanadu with a subtle vibrancy, adding a warm but not overly saturated hue.

Analogous Colors

Sage Green (#738670): A softer, slightly more yellow-green shade, adding a fresh, earthy touch that complements Xanadu’s natural vibe.

Cool Teal (#738684): A cooler, more blue-green shade that enhances the tranquil, calming effect of Xanadu.

These values can help you reproduce the Xanadu color across various digital and print mediums.

Why Xanadu is Suitable for Creative Professionals

What makes Xanadu so special?

1. It’s calming, yet sophisticated. Xanadu’s subtle mix of green and gray creates a soothing tone that doesn’t overwhelm. It’s perfect for spaces or designs that need to exude a peaceful, creative vibe without being too loud.
2. It sparks focus and creativity. Xanadu’s muted, earthy nature can enhance focus, making it a great choice for environments where you want to think differently and be creative. This Research from Psychology of Color shows that soft, neutral colors like Xanadu can increase productivity by up to 20% in office environment.
3. It’s incredibly versatile. Whether you're a graphic designer working on a brand identity, a photographer setting up a shoot, or an interior designer revamping a space, Xanadu’s ability to pair well with almost anything makes it a go-to for many creative projects.

Xanadu in Action: Real-World Applications

Here are some types of services and industries where Xanadu can be a great fit

1. Wellness and Health: Its natural feel lends a soothing atmosphere, great for spas, yoga studios, wellness brands, and mental health services.
2. Sustainable Goods and Eco-friendly Brands: Xanadu’s earthy vibe aligns with eco-conscious brands, making it perfect for sustainable fashion, natural beauty, organic foods, and environmental initiatives.
3. Interior Design and Home Decor: For interior brands, Xanadu brings an elegant, subtle touch, fitting for companies focusing on minimalist or nature-inspired decor.
4. Financial Services: The color can work well in banking or insurance by conveying stability and trustworthiness without being too corporate or intense.
5. Educational and Nonprofit Organizations: For sectors where a calm, grounded approach is appreciated, Xanadu can make a brand feel approachable and focused on well-being.

Let’s dive into how Xanadu can be used by creatives across different fields. 

Interior Design: Transform Your Space

Whether it’s a cozy home office or a stylish living room, Xanadu brings some chill to a space. It can be paired with light woods, soft whites, and even metallic accents to create environments that feel both serene and stylish. It’s like wrapping a room in a cozy, yet sophisticated hug.

Graphic Design: Branding and Logos

For graphic designers, Xanadu is an interesting choice for branding, especially for businesses that want to appear modern and grounded. It works well with website backgrounds, or product packaging because it provides a neutral yet interesting backdrop for other elements to pop.

The color’s flexibility allows it to be paired with bright accent colors for bold designs or used in its pure form for minimalistic branding. According to Pantone, greenish hues like Xanadu are trending because they convey trust and professionalism without the starkness of dark greens or grays.

However, Xanadu isn’t commonly used in logos because it doesn’t immediately grab attention or convey strong energy. Logos often aim for high-contrast, bold colors like red, blue, or black to stand out and be memorable, while Xanadu’s muted green-gray blends in rather than standing out.

Virtual Rooms

As more of us work from home or participate in online communities, creating virtual spaces that inspire creativity is essential. 

For example, on platforms like GoBrunch, Xanadu can be used to design a space that feels less corporate and more like a home—a place where people can gather, create, and share ideas without the usual stiff, formal vibes that many online spaces tend to have.

Fashion: Subtle Yet Chic

This color is especially popular in accessories and outerwear, where it adds an understated, chic touch. It’s versatile enough to pair with almost any other color, from jewel tones to pastels, making it ideal for creating versatile fashion pieces.

Pairing Xanadu: Colors That Make It Shine

Here’s a guide to some of the best pairings for Xanadu:

Soft Pinks and Corals

Pair Xanadu with gentle blush pinks or warm corals for a sophisticated, calming effect. The subtle warmth of these shades combined with Xanadu’s cool undertones creates a sense of balance and harmony.

Picture.

Rich Earthy Greens

Want to give your design an organic feel? Pair Xanadu with deep forest greens or sage to bring out the earthiness in both colors. It’s perfect for designs that need a grounded, nature-inspired palette.

Bold, Vibrant Accents

For a bold contrast, pair Xanadu with colors like mustard yellow or burnt orange. These warm tones pop against the coolness of Xanadu, creating a striking visual appeal that’s sure to catch the eye.

Neutral Tones

If you prefer a more subdued look, Xanadu pairs beautifully with other neutrals like ivory, beige, or charcoal. This creates a refined, minimalist aesthetic that works well in both digital and physical spaces.

How to Use Xanadu in Your Favorite Design Tools

Canva

You can easily integrate Xanadu into your Canva design projects by simply using its hex code (#738678). Whether you’re creating social media posts, business cards, or presentations, Xanadu can work as a background color, accent, or even in typography to create a balanced, harmonious design.

Photoshop

In Photoshop, Xanadu can be used for anything from background gradients to color schemes for your designs. With its calm yet sophisticated vibe, it’s perfect for logos, website elements, or even digital artwork. If you're going for a minimalist design, you can use Xanadu with contrasting colors like deep navy or bright yellow to make the design pop. In Photoshop, just input the hex code (#738678) into your color picker, and you're good to go.

The Story Behind Xanadu

The term originally comes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem "Kubla Khan", where Xanadu is a majestic, lush paradise, a place of natural beauty and wonder.

Xanadu is associated with luxury and serenity, inspiring the soft green-gray shade called "Xanadu." The color reflects the tranquility and lush imagery of the mythical paradise.

Correlation with Xanadu - The Movie

The Xanadu color and "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John aren’t directly related, but they both draw on the idea of Xanadu as a mystical or idyllic place. 

Time to Get Creative with Xanadu

I hope this article has inspired you to give Xanadu a try in your next project. Whether you’re redoing your home office, designing a website, or planning your next virtual meeting space, this color has the power to transform the way you approach creativity.

Next time you’re stuck staring at your design tools, think of Xanadu. It might just be the missing piece that brings your work to life.

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