Mellow apricot
A soft apricot shade listed in the British Standards for building colours
Mellow apricot is a gentle orange-yellow colour, similar to the fruit's flesh but lighter and softer. It appears in the British Standards 5252 list, which guides colour choices in building and design. The shade is identified by the code #06E50 in this standard.
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- Mellow apricot is #06E50 in the British Standards 5252 list.
- It is a soft orange-yellow, lighter than typical apricot.
- Used for colour coordination in building construction.
- The British Standards 5252 list was finalised in 1955.
What colour is Mellow apricot?
Mellow apricot is a soft, light orange with a hint of yellow, recalling the gentle tone of ripe apricot fruit. It stands out from brighter oranges by its subdued, pastel quality, making it less intense and more calming to the eye. This colour is often chosen for its understated warmth, fitting well in coordinated palettes for interiors and exteriors.
Where does Mellow apricot come from?
The name 'mellow apricot' comes from its resemblance to the mellow, soft colour of apricot flesh. It was included in the British Standards 5252 list, a system created to help architects and designers choose colours for buildings. The list began in 1930 and was finalised in its current form in 1955.
How Mellow apricot is defined
Mellow apricot is not tied to a specific pigment or dye. Instead, it is defined by its appearance and a standard code: #06E50 in the British Standards 5252 system. This ensures consistency when the colour is used in paints and finishes for construction and design.
Where Mellow apricot is used
This colour is mainly used in architecture and building design, where it helps create coordinated colour schemes for walls, finishes, and other surfaces. The British Standards 5252 list, which includes mellow apricot, is a reference for professionals choosing colours that work well together in built environments.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
The lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusThe orange stripe of the flag stands for Protestants, the followers of William of Orange. In Northern Ireland the Orange Order still marches each 12 July in orange sashes.
Politics and protestSource: Orange OrderShades and relatives of Mellow apricot
Mellow apricot is one of several apricot-inspired shades. It is lighter and less saturated than standard apricot. Other related colours may include deeper or more vivid apricot tones, but mellow apricot is set apart by its soft, pastel quality.
Colours that go with Mellow apricot
Harmonies are worked out from the value #F8B878. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Mellow apricot
What colour is mellow apricot?
Mellow apricot is a soft, light orange with a hint of yellow, similar to the inside of an apricot but gentler and less vivid.
Where does the name 'mellow apricot' come from?
The name comes from its resemblance to the mellow, soft colour of apricot fruit flesh.
Where is mellow apricot used?
It is mainly used in architecture and building design, as part of coordinated colour schemes for interiors and exteriors.
How is mellow apricot defined?
It is defined by its appearance and by the code #06E50 in the British Standards 5252 colour list.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Apricot (color)" (the section "Mellow apricot"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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