Lapis Lazuli Color Psychology & Meaning
Lapis lazuli is the most expensive pigment in history — ultramarine extracted from this Afghan mineral was reserved for the Virgin Mary's robe in medieval paintings.
#1A2A4A
#1A5A9A
#4A90D8
#C0D8F0
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Lapis Lazuli Color Palette
#1A2A4A · #1A5A9A · #4A90D8 · #C0D8F0
AAA
WCAG Grade
9.7:1
Contrast Ratio
2,200
Saves
5,900
AI Copies
Use #1A2A4A as background. Use #1A5A9A as primary accent. Use #4A90D8 as secondary. Use #C0D8F0 as body text.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Lapis Lazuli 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: 2.4% | 26, 42, 74 | 65%, 43%, 0%, 71% | 220°, 48%, 20% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 9.9% | 26, 90, 154 | 83%, 42%, 0%, 40% | 210°, 71%, 35% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 26.4% | 74, 144, 216 | 66%, 33%, 0%, 15% | 210°, 65%, 57% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 66.6% | 192, 216, 240 | 20%, 10%, 0%, 6% | 210°, 62%, 85% |
Lapis Lazuli 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 Lapis Lazuli palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#1A2A4A gently saturated blue
#1A5A9A saturated cyan-blue
#4A90D8 saturated cyan-blue
#C0D8F0 gently saturated cyan-blue
Lapis Lazuli 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #C0D8F0 on #1A2A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.72:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A2A4A on #C0D8F0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.72:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #C0D8F0 on #1A5A9A |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.82:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #1A5A9A on #C0D8F0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.82:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #4A90D8 on #1A2A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.26:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1A2A4A on #4A90D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.26:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C0D8F0 on #4A90D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4A90D8 on #C0D8F0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4A90D8 on #1A5A9A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.11:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1A5A9A on #4A90D8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.11:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1A5A9A on #1A2A4A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.02:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1A2A4A on #1A5A9A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.02:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Lapis Lazuli 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.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Lapis lazuli has been mined for 6,000 years and ground into ultramarine pigment for medieval and Renaissance painting. The specific blue remains one of the most culturally loaded colors in art history.
Best Design Use Cases
Dark deep blue for backgrounds. Rich lapis blue for primary elements. Mid blue for secondary. Light sky-blue for text on dark.
Industries This Palette Suits
Art brands, luxury goods, heritage fashion, premium stationery.
Colors That Pair Well With Lapis Lazuli
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.
orange
directly opposite #1A5A9A on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #1A5A9A — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Lapis Lazuli Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #1A5A9A for small UI elements on #1A2A4A — at 2.0:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #C0D8F0 — 9.7:1 against #1A2A4A passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Don't use #4A90D8 behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Lapis Lazuli Color Scheme
To use this Lapis Lazuli 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 #1A2A4A for the main background and #1A5A9A for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #C0D8F0 and #1A2A4A is 9.72:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Lapis Lazuli Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Lapis Lazuli color palette?
The Lapis Lazuli palette contains #1A2A4A, #1A5A9A, #4A90D8, #C0D8F0. 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 Lapis Lazuli color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #C0D8F0 on #1A2A4A reaches 9.7:1 (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 Lapis Lazuli palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #99591A, #232390, #EBECEF 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 Lapis Lazuli palette create?
Lapis Lazuli reads as rich, beautiful, premium. Saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated blue — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Lapis Lazuli color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Lapis Lazuli 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 Lapis Lazuli 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 Lapis Lazuli's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.