Blueprint Grey Color Palette
#DCE4EC · #A8B8C8 · #5E7288 · #222E3C
Use #DCE4EC as the background. Use #A8B8C8 as the primary accent. Use #5E7288 as secondary. Use #222E3C as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Blueprint Grey — mono, cool, vintage, ocean.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Blueprint Grey 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: 76.8% | 220, 228, 236 | 7%, 3%, 0%, 7% | 210°, 30%, 89% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 46.8% | 168, 184, 200 | 16%, 8%, 0%, 22% | 210°, 23%, 72% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 16.2% | 94, 114, 136 | 31%, 16%, 0%, 47% | 211°, 18%, 45% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 2.6% | 34, 46, 60 | 43%, 23%, 0%, 76% | 212°, 28%, 18% |
Blueprint Grey 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 Blueprint Grey palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
Blueprint Grey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #222E3C on #DCE4EC |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.73:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #DCE4EC on #222E3C |
Aa Sample Text
| 10.73:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #222E3C on #A8B8C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.79:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #A8B8C8 on #222E3C |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.79:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #5E7288 on #DCE4EC |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.86:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #DCE4EC on #5E7288 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.86:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #222E3C on #5E7288 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.78:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5E7288 on #222E3C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.78:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5E7288 on #A8B8C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.44:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A8B8C8 on #5E7288 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.44:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A8B8C8 on #DCE4EC |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.58:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #DCE4EC on #A8B8C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.58:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Blueprint Grey palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Best Design Use Cases
Industries This Palette Suits
Colors That Pair Well With Blueprint Grey
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 #A8B8C8 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
30° beside #A8B8C8 — 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 Blueprint Grey Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #A8B8C8 for small UI elements on #DCE4EC — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #222E3C — 10.7:1 against #DCE4EC passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #5E7288 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #A8B8C8.
How to Implement the Blueprint Grey Color Scheme
To use this Blueprint Grey 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 #DCE4EC for the main background and #A8B8C8 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #222E3C and #DCE4EC is 10.73:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Blueprint Grey Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Blueprint Grey color palette?
The Blueprint Grey palette contains #DCE4EC, #A8B8C8, #5E7288, #222E3C. 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 Blueprint Grey color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #222E3C on #DCE4EC reaches 10.7:1 (AAA). 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 Blueprint Grey palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #C4B3A1, #AEAEC1, #131416 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 Blueprint Grey palette create?
Blueprint Grey reads as mono, cool, vintage. Muted cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Blueprint Grey color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Blueprint Grey 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 Blueprint Grey 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 Blueprint Grey's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.