Need a fresh tint or blend for your brand colors but don’t want to switch to a design tool or SCSS? Meet color-mix()! This modern CSS function lets you mix two or more colors directly in your stylesheet — no extra preprocessor needed. It’s perfect for generating tints, shades, or overlays on the fly, making your design system more dynamic and DRY. In this MiniCoursey quick guide, you’ll learn what color-mix() is, how it works, and best practices for practical color blending.
What is CSS color-mix()?
color-mix() blends two colors together in a specified color space (like srgb or hsl) and ratio.
Basic Syntax
Write the function with the color space and the colors you want to blend, plus their percentages.
.button {
background: color-mix(in srgb, red 60%, blue 40%);
}
This example creates a purple blend from 60% red and 40% blue — directly in CSS!
Why Use color-mix()?
- Generate new tints, shades, or overlays without duplicating hex codes.
- Keep your color system DRY and flexible.
- Experiment with blends for hover states, borders, or backgrounds.
💡 Pro Tip: Use
color-mix()with custom properties for dynamic themes and reusable tokens.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Always check browser support —
color-mix()is modern but rolling out!
FAQ
Q: Can I mix more than two colors?
A: Officially it blends two colors, but you can nest or chain results for complex mixes.
Q: What color spaces are supported?
A: Most modern browsers support srgb and hsl — more may come soon.
Related Link
👉 Check out previous: CSS Relative Color Syntax — Smarter Color Management
Where to Learn More
Visit MDN’s color-mix() docs for more advanced usage and real-world examples.
Conclusion
Congrats — you now know how to blend colors directly in CSS with color-mix()! Tweak tints and shades without leaving your stylesheet.
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