#427898 Hex Color
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Cry Me a River is an ashy, dusty blue with a cool, muted character. Because of its low saturation, the hex code #427898 works best as a supporting tone in UI design rather than a dominant background. It pairs cleanly with warm grays or soft creams. White text is highly legible against this color, meeting accessibility standards for small body text readability.
About Cry Me a River
Overcast water at the far edge of the lake
What does cry me a river mean?
People often link dusty blues like this one to rain, distance, and low-key moods rather than bright cheer. Its mid lightness and muted saturation keep it subdued, like something seen through fog or glass.
Where you see cry me a river
- denim jackets
- storm clouds
- ceramic glaze
- steel water bottles
- faded work shirts
- sea glass
What it works for
This blue works well for calm interfaces, bedroom walls, packaging, and anywhere a cool but not harsh tone is needed.
What colors go with cry me a river?
Burnt Sienna #a93400Its baked red-orange warmth sits opposite this blue on the wheel and keeps both colors lively.Mustard #ffdb58The yellow-brown glow lifts the muted blue without making either color shout.Cream #fffdd0A soft off-white lightens the blue and gives it room to breathe.Sage Green #9caf88Both colors are desaturated, so the pair reads as gentle and unified.Terracotta #e2725bWarm clay against cool blue is a classic pairing with real contrast in temperature.Dusty Rose #b56f76The pink shares this blue's softness and adds warmth without clash.
Questions about Cry Me a River
What is the hex code for Cry Me a River?
Cry Me a River is #427898. In RGB that is rgb(66, 120, 152), in HSL hsl(202, 39%, 43%) and in CMYK 57%, 21%, 0%, 40%.
How should I use #427898 in a UI layout?
Use #427898 as a secondary accent or supporting tone rather than a dominant background color. Its muted, ashy nature creates a sophisticated balance when paired with warm, neutral backgrounds like cream or warm gray, which keeps designs readable and grounded.
Is Cry Me a River readable on white or black?
Cry Me a River has a 4.80:1 contrast ratio on white and 4.37:1 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 works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.