The meaning behind powder blue
About the color
Powder blue is a dusty shade of blue with a grey tint. It received its color name from powdered cobalt glass, used in dye and laundry since the 17th century. While cobalt glass, also known as smalt, has a bright blue tint, powder blue refers to a much lighter muted shade.
Powder blue is similar to other low-saturated blue hues, like sky blue, baby blue, pale blue. All these tints often occur in nature (look at the sky, for example), and share the same symbolism. These shades represent tranquility and peace.
The color meaning behind powder blue also refers to trustworthiness and reliance, making it a popular color for tech companies. Think of Skype, Facebook, Twitter — they all use different shades of blue in their brand palettes.
If you want to use this particular shade for your designs, use powder blue’s hex code #B0E0E6. It’ll help you not confuse it with similar hues.
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| HEX | #B0E0E6 |
| RGB | 176, 224, 230 |
| CMYK | 0.23, 0.03, 0, 0.1 |
Application in design
Powder blue is a neutral color, so you can’t have too much of it in your design. This means you can use it as a background shade. At the same time, this tint might not be the perfect choice for accents due to its paleness.
To create a nature-inspired aesthetic, combine pale blue with other neutral colors, like grey, white, olive, or tan. You can also pair it with its complementary color, dusty pink, to add a hint of innocence to your designs.
To get an arctic-inspired color combination, experiment with other shades of blue. Use this palette to promote winter sports equipment, schools, or services.
