Beige vs. Ivory — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
Beige is a light brown color, while ivory is a pale shade of white with a slight yellow tint.
Difference Between Beige and Ivory
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Beige is a color that sits between brown and white, offering a neutral and muted appearance. It is often associated with simplicity and the natural colors of materials like sand or wheat. Ivory, in contrast, is a shade of white that has a touch of yellow or cream in it, resembling the color of the material from which it takes its name: elephant tusks.
Both beige and ivory are popular choices in interior design, fashion, and art for their understated elegance. While beige evokes feelings of calmness and minimalism, ivory conveys purity and luxury. In various cultures, both these colors are favored for formal events and ceremonial occasions.
In essence, while both beige and ivory are neutral tones, beige leans towards earthiness, whereas ivory tilts towards richness.
Comparison Chart
Base Color
Light brown
Pale white
Undertones
Neutral or grayish
Yellowish or creamy
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Associated With
Natural materials, minimalism
Elephant tusks, luxury
Usage
Often in modern or minimalist designs
Often in traditional or luxurious settings
Feel
Earthy and calm
Rich and elegant
Compare with Definitions
Beige
A light brown color resembling sand.
The beige walls gave the room a calming feel.
Ivory
A classic shade often chosen for its elegant appearance.
The invitation cards were printed on ivory paper.
Beige
A subdued or nondescript color.
The room was decorated in various shades of beige.
Ivory
A pale shade of white with a slight yellow tint.
The ivory wedding dress looked radiant in the sunlight.
Beige
A color often chosen for its versatility in design.
The beige sofa matched well with various accent colors.
Ivory
The color resembling the material of elephant tusks.
She admired the ivory statue on the mantel.
Beige
A neutral shade, often used to convey minimalism.
Her beige outfit was simple yet elegant.
Ivory
A hue symbolizing purity and luxury.
The ivory bedspread gave the room an opulent feel.
Beige
The natural hue of unbleached cloth.
The beige linen curtains added a rustic touch.
Ivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is the same, regardless of the species of origin.
Beige
Beige is variously described as a pale sandy fawn color, a grayish tan, a light-grayish yellowish brown, or a pale to grayish yellow. It takes its name from French, where the word originally meant natural wool that has been neither bleached nor dyed, hence also the color of natural wool.
Ivory
A hard creamy-white substance composing the main part of the tusks of an elephant, walrus, or narwhal, often (especially formerly) used to make ornaments and other articles
A dagger with an ivory handle
Beige
A pale sandy fawn colour
A beige raincoat
Tones of beige and green
Ivory
The creamy-white colour of ivory
An ivory silk blouse
Beige
A light grayish brown or yellowish brown to grayish yellow.
Ivory
A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusks of the elephant.
Beige
A soft fabric of undyed, unbleached wool.
Ivory
A similar substance forming the tusks or teeth of certain other mammals, such as the walrus.
Beige
Light grayish-brown or yellowish-brown to grayish-yellow.
Ivory
A tusk, especially an elephant's tusk.
Beige
A slightly yellowish gray colour, as that of unbleached wool.
Ivory
An article made of ivory.
Beige
Debeige; a kind of woollen or mixed dress goods.
Ivory
A substance resembling ivory.
Beige
Having a slightly yellowish gray colour, as that of unbleached wool.
Ivory
A pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white.
Beige
Comfortably dull and unadventurous, in a way that suggests middle-class suburbia.
Ivory
(Music) Piano keys.
Beige
Debeige.
Ivory
(Games) Dice.
Beige
A very light brown
Ivory
(Slang) The teeth.
Beige
Of a light grayish-brown color
Ivory
Composed or constructed of ivory.
Ivory
Of a pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white.
Ivory
(uncountable) The hard white form of dentin which forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and other animals.
Ivory
A creamy white color, the color of ivory.
Ivory
Something made from or resembling ivory.
Ivory
The teeth.
Ivory
The keys of a piano.
To tickle the ivories
Ivory
(slang) A white person.
Ivory
(informal) A die object bearing numbers, thrown in games of chance.
Ivory
Made of ivory.
Ivory
Resembling or having the colour of ivory.
Ivory
The hard, white, opaque, fine-grained substance constituting the tusks of the elephant. It is a variety of dentine, characterized by the minuteness and close arrangement of the tubes, as also by their double flexure. It is used in manufacturing articles of ornament or utility.
Ivory
The tusks themselves of the elephant, etc.
Ivory
Any carving executed in ivory.
Ivory
Teeth; as, to show one's ivories.
Ivory
A hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
Ivory
A shade of white the color of bleached bones
Ivory
A creamy shade of white, often used in traditional settings.
The candles emitted a soft, ivory glow.
Common Curiosities
Do beige and ivory go well together in design?
Yes, both are neutral colors and often complement each other in design.
Is ivory a type of white?
Yes, ivory is a shade of white with a slight yellow or creamy hue.
Where does the name "ivory" come from?
It's named after the material of elephant tusks, which is called ivory.
beige or ivory?
Beige is typically darker than ivory.
Do beige and ivory have symbolic meanings in different cultures?
Yes, in many cultures, beige represents simplicity and neutrality, while ivory symbolizes purity and luxury.
What's the main difference between beige and ivory?
Beige is a light brown color, while ivory is a pale white with a yellowish tint.
Can both beige and ivory be used in all settings?
While versatile, beige is often preferred for modern or casual settings, and ivory for traditional or formal ones.
Is the color beige named after a natural element?
Yes, beige resembles the natural color of sand or unbleached cloth.
What feelings does beige evoke?
Beige often evokes feelings of calmness, simplicity, and earthiness.
What feelings does ivory evoke?
Ivory is associated with feelings of purity, richness, and elegance.
How do beige and ivory appear under different lighting?
Beige remains relatively consistent, while ivory can appear more yellow or creamier under warm lighting.
Are beige and ivory popular in fashion?
Yes, both colors are popular for their versatility and classic appeal.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
