#221B31 Hex Color
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This dusty, inky purple leans heavily into darkness, feeling almost black in low light. Because #221b31 is so unsaturated, it functions best as a modern alternative to true black for UI backgrounds. Pair it with soft cream text rather than pure white to keep the interface readable and refined. The hex code for this serious, muted violet is #221b31.
Questions about #221b31
What is #221b31 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #221b31 is rgb(34, 27, 49), in HSL hsl(259, 29%, 15%) and in CMYK 31%, 45%, 0%, 81%.
How should I use #221b31 in UI design?
Use #221b31 as a soft, approachable alternative to true black for background surfaces or text blocks. Because it is so dark, pairing it with off-white or pale lavender creates high readability without the visual harshness of pure white.
Is #221b31 considered a warm or cool color?
While #221b31 contains purple, its extreme saturation and low lightness lean into cool, grounded territory. It avoids the neon vibrancy of brighter violets, feeling more like a dark, moody charcoal or deep eggplant, which makes it feel professional and subdued.
Is #221b31 readable on white or black?
#221b31 has a 16.54:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.26:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.