Samarkand Blue Color Psychology & Meaning
Samarkand blue is the turquoise of Timurid tiles — a rich, jewel-toned blue offset by gold. It is the color of caravanserais and domes on the Silk Road, exotic and ceremonious.
#1E7FB0
#4FA3C8
#E3C77A
#0E3A57
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Samarkand Blue Color Palette
#1E7FB0 · #4FA3C8 · #E3C77A · #0E3A57
Fail
WCAG Grade
2.7:1
Contrast Ratio
140
Saves
440
AI Copies
Use #1E7FB0 as the background. Use #4FA3C8 as the primary accent. Use #E3C77A as secondary. Use #0E3A57 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Samarkand Blue — rich, cultural, ancient.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Samarkand 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: 18.6% | 30, 127, 176 | 83%, 28%, 0%, 31% | 200°, 71%, 40% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 32.0% | 79, 163, 200 | 61%, 19%, 0%, 22% | 198°, 52%, 55% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 58.6% | 227, 199, 122 | 0%, 12%, 46%, 11% | 44°, 65%, 68% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 3.8% | 14, 58, 87 | 84%, 33%, 0%, 66% | 204°, 72%, 20% |
Samarkand 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 Samarkand Blue palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#1E7FB0 saturated cyan-blue
#4FA3C8 gently saturated cyan-blue
#E3C77A saturated orange
#0E3A57 saturated cyan-blue
Samarkand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #0E3A57 on #E3C77A |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.22:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #E3C77A on #0E3A57 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.22:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0E3A57 on #4FA3C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.20:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #4FA3C8 on #0E3A57 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.20:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E3C77A on #1E7FB0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.70:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1E7FB0 on #E3C77A |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.70:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0E3A57 on #1E7FB0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1E7FB0 on #0E3A57 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.68:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E3C77A on #4FA3C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.72:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4FA3C8 on #E3C77A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.72:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4FA3C8 on #1E7FB0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1E7FB0 on #4FA3C8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.57:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Split-Complementary Scheme
The Samarkand 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.
Hue Wheel
A split-complementary palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
The Timurid capital Samarkand was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries with the most ambitious tilework of the Islamic world, dominated by lapis and turquoise blues against gold.
Best Design Use Cases
Turquoise for tiles and hero surfaces. Lighter blue for accents. Gold for patterns and ceremony. Deep navy for text. Suits Silk Road travel, Islamic art contexts, and rich cultural branding.
Industries This Palette Suits
Travel, heritage tourism, Islamic art, ceramics, cultural institutions.
Colors That Pair Well With Samarkand 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.
orange
directly opposite #4FA3C8 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #4FA3C8 — 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 Samarkand Blue Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #4FA3C8 for small UI elements on #1E7FB0 — 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 #0E3A57 on #1E7FB0 — 2.7:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #E3C77A behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Samarkand Blue Color Scheme
To use this Samarkand 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 #1E7FB0 for the main background and #4FA3C8 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #0E3A57 and #1E7FB0 is 2.68:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Samarkand Blue Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Samarkand Blue color palette?
The Samarkand Blue palette contains #1E7FB0, #4FA3C8, #E3C77A, #0E3A57. 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 Samarkand Blue color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #0E3A57 on #E3C77A reaches 7.2:1 (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 Samarkand Blue palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #C87451, #5C6FBC, #EAEEF0 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 Samarkand Blue palette create?
Samarkand Blue reads as rich, cultural, ancient. Gently saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Samarkand Blue color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Samarkand 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 Samarkand 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 Samarkand Blue's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.