Aegean Blue Color Palette
#4E9EC8 · #8EC8E0 · #F0E8D8 · #1E5A8A
Use #4E9EC8 as the background. Use #8EC8E0 as the primary accent. Use #F0E8D8 as secondary. Use #1E5A8A as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Aegean Blue — ocean, cool, pastel.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Aegean Blue color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 30.2% | 78, 158, 200 | 61%, 21%, 0%, 22% | 201°, 53%, 55% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 52.4% | 142, 200, 224 | 37%, 11%, 0%, 12% | 198°, 57%, 72% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 81.2% | 240, 232, 216 | 0%, 3%, 10%, 6% | 40°, 44%, 89% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 9.4% | 30, 90, 138 | 78%, 35%, 0%, 46% | 207°, 64%, 33% |
Aegean Blue Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Aegean Blue palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Aegean Blue Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1E5A8A on #F0E8D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.98:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #F0E8D8 on #1E5A8A |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.98:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #1E5A8A on #8EC8E0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.98:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #8EC8E0 on #1E5A8A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.98:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #F0E8D8 on #4E9EC8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.45:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4E9EC8 on #F0E8D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.45:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1E5A8A on #4E9EC8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.44:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4E9EC8 on #1E5A8A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.44:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8EC8E0 on #4E9EC8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.63:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4E9EC8 on #8EC8E0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.63:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0E8D8 on #8EC8E0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.50:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8EC8E0 on #F0E8D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.50:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Split-Complementary Scheme
The Aegean Blue palette is built using a split-complementary relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A split-complementary palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Aegean Blue
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
directly opposite #8EC8E0 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #8EC8E0 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Aegean Blue Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #8EC8E0 for small UI elements on #4E9EC8 — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #1E5A8A on #4E9EC8 — 2.4:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #F0E8D8 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Aegean Blue Color Scheme
To use this Aegean Blue color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'} Web Design Tip
Use #4E9EC8 for the main background and #8EC8E0 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #1E5A8A and #4E9EC8 is 2.44:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Aegean Blue Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Aegean Blue color palette?
The Aegean Blue palette contains #4E9EC8, #8EC8E0, #F0E8D8, #1E5A8A. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Aegean Blue color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #1E5A8A on #F0E8D8 reaches 6.0:1 (AA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Aegean Blue palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #DEA187, #96A3D9, #121517 extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Aegean Blue palette create?
Aegean Blue reads as ocean, cool, pastel. Gently saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Aegean Blue color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Aegean Blue palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Aegean Blue palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Aegean Blue's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.