diff --git a/inc/helpers.php b/inc/helpers.php
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8598b4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/inc/helpers.php
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<?php
+function darken_color($hex, $darken_amount = 40)
+{
+    $hex = str_replace('#', '', $hex);
+    if (strlen($hex) == 3) {
+        $hex = $hex[0] . $hex[0] . $hex[1] . $hex[1] . $hex[2] . $hex[2];
+    }
+
+    $rgb['r'] = hexdec(substr($hex, 0, 2));
+    $rgb['g'] = hexdec(substr($hex, 2, 2));
+    $rgb['b'] = hexdec(substr($hex, 4, 2));
+
+    foreach ($rgb as &$value) {
+        $value = max(0, $value - $darken_amount);
+    }
+
+    return '#' . str_pad(dechex($rgb['r']), 2, '0', STR_PAD_LEFT) . str_pad(dechex($rgb['g']), 2, '0', STR_PAD_LEFT) . str_pad(dechex($rgb['b']), 2, '0', STR_PAD_LEFT);
+}