Aqua Color – Different Shades of Aqua and Color Combinations

When thinking about the aqua color, it most likely evokes images of beaches and clear blue waters. A beautiful color that is bursting with life yet instills a sense of tranquility. Sometimes, the aqua color can be confused with turquoise or aquamarine. So, to make sure this does not happen, let us go deeper and discover a little more about this delightful color.

What Color Is Aqua?

The name itself, Aqua, is the Latin term for water, so you already have some description of what the color looks like, which calls to mind the unspoiled beauty of shallow ocean waters. When you bring in the color wheel, which visually represents all colors, you will find aqua sitting between green and blue.

The aqua color is said to be similar to the cyan color and have the same hex color code. This code is a way of identifying colors online. So, for web design or any computer graphics purposes, these colors are used interchangeably. Other names that are related to this color include electric cyan and waterspout. So, on a computer screen, blue and green light are combined to form the cyan aqua color.

So, are aqua and turquoise different colors? There is only a very small distinction, which is why these colors often get confused with each other. Turquoise appears to be a little darker, while aqua is brighter. When looking at the RGB color codes, you will notice that aqua has equal amounts of both green and blue and no red, while turquoise has a little more green than blue, with a little red thrown in.

Aquamarine, on the other hand, is a lighter version of aqua, with more green than blue, and a little redder in the mix. When looking at all these colors, it is easy to see why they are difficult to distinguish from each other. You have to understand the subtle differences to pinpoint the correct color.

When it comes to printing and using the CMYK color code, which stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. You will notice that when printing out aqua, it uses 100 percent of the cyan and zero percentage of any of the other colors.

All these colors do have associations with bodies of water. When you have the light that travels through water, the red color wavelengths are usually absorbed, while the green and blue are not absorbed, which is why water appears as it does. Other factors also influence the color, for example, water depth, how much light there is, as well as the mineral content of the water. Due to the variety of blue-green colors available, you have a family of aqua colors and a variety of shades of aqua.

Aqua Color: A Brief History

Aqua color does not have a long history and is linked more to the evolution of blue over time. The color blue was first produced by the Ancient Egyptians. Ever since then blue has continued to grow and develop from natural sources to synthetic varieties and then digital expressions. Today you get many shades of blue and aqua is one of them.

The name aqua came about fairly recently, due to the discovery of computers and computer graphics. Originally, the color with the hex code, #00ffff, was defined as cyan. However, with the introduction of the X11 color names, which are the original, standard color names for windows systems, aqua was chosen. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) then made the name popular by adding it to their HTML 3.2 version color palette, which was popular in the 90s.

Meaning of Aqua Colors

Since the aqua color invokes images of pristine beaches and ocean waters, it does tend to have a vacation vibe. This includes feelings of peace, calmness, and relaxation. However, it is also invigorating, refreshing, and energetic. The color also has an association with imagination, growth, cleanliness, clarity, dreaminess, and youth. The color is also reminiscent of skies and feelings of freedom and carefreeness. 

The color can also help to promote healing and rejuvenation, which is why many beauty salons and spas use an aqua color palette. 

Just imagine being on holiday at the beach, with perfect weather and the waves lapping at your feet, and you have, in a nutshell, what an aqua color means. The color can also help to enhance empathy and can represent compassion. Using aqua in any design can add a sense of fun and light and is a color that is easy on the eyes, bringing a sense of tranquility.

Shades of Aqua

We have already mentioned turquoise and aquamarine, which can be considered shades of aqua. However, there are many other varieties of aqua colors, ranging from blue to green and everything in-between. Below are only a handful of these colors.

Aqua Green Color

The aqua green color, as the name implies, contains a lot more green than blue, along with a small amount of red. Aqua green can be invigorating and refreshing and can go well with many other colors, including oranges, pinks, and purples. 

The color also works perfectly with colors in the same family, so teal and turquoise are great choices.

Aqua Blue Color

The aqua blue color has more blue than green and is described as a more vibrant cyan color. Since it has more of a blue undertone, it will work best with orange, pink, and yellow colors to form beautiful contrasts.

Aqua Lake Color

This shade of aqua is closer to teal and has a distinctive blue undertone. When one thinks of a lake, one tends to imagine darker waters, which is what this color is, a darker version of cyan. 

As with teal, earthy warm colors like terracotta should work wonderfully with the aqua lake color.

Deep Aqua

The deep aqua color can be described as an extremely dark cyan, that has slightly more of a green than a blue undertone. The color can be used to add a bit more seriousness, elegance, or sophistication to a color scheme.

Aqua Foam

This is more of a light grayish-cyan color and is more of a cool color due to the larger amounts of green and blue present. The color is also considered to be from the green family side and works well with grayish-pinks to bring in more warmth. 

Pantone has a similar color name with the reference Pantone 14-5707 TCX.

Aqua Color Combinations

Understanding a bit about color theory and working with a color wheel, can help you to create some amazing color combinations that look great. Aqua pairs best with gray, orange, red, and yellow colors. How can you determine what colors work best? The best way is to look at the various aqua color combinations available.

Aqua Complementary Colors

These are usually quite popular, as all complementary colors enhance each other and create a beautiful contrast. So, if you look at a color wheel and locate the aqua color, all you have to do is look directly opposite it to find its complementary color. 

In this case, it is red. 

Aqua Monochromatic Colors

If you are looking for colors that do not stand out as much and are a little easier on the eyes, then you can go for a monochromatic look. These colors are all from a single color, which comes in many variations.

Aqua Analogous Colors

These are also colors that are less contrasting and form a more harmonious blend. Analogous colors fall close to one another when you look for them on the color wheel. 

When it comes to aqua, you will have blues and greens as analogous colors. 

Aqua Triadic Colors

Triadic colors come back to colors that stand out and create contrast. The simplest combination consists of three colors, which form a uniform or equal-sided triangle shape on the color wheel. More challenging combinations to work with include four or more colors, which include the square or tetradic color combinations. 

Mixing Aqua Color Paints

The simple answer to mixing an aqua color is to blend green and blue. You can then add some white to adjust and lighten the color. You can also make use of lighter shades of blue and green. As we have learned, many colors closely resemble aqua, like turquoise. So, you need to work with the paint colors carefully until you achieve the correct color and tone.

You can also work from a white color base and add in a little blue like brilliant blue. Then add in small amounts of yellow like cadmium yellow instead of green. This is because yellow blended with blue makes green. Try to play around with different ratios until you achieve the color you want. You can also consider using phthalo blue and phthalo green pigments when trying to create an aqua color. However, if you want to save time, the best way to get an aqua color is to purchase the readymade variety at a craft or paint store.

Designing With Aqua Colors

Aqua is a vibrant color, so when using it in design, whether it is a web page, fashion, or interior design, it is best to use it more as an accent color. Aqua is a color that stands out, which makes it a popular color with many brands. For example, Twitter, Skype, and Dell. The color stands out and makes them more memorable.

You can use it with warmer colors like orange, red, and yellow or try it with gray or black.

Aqua also works well with other neutrals like white or cream. Shades of blue like navy and other green colors also go well together with aqua. When using an aqua color scheme, it does bring in more of a summer, beach, and tropical feel.

Decorating With Aqua Colors

When it comes to interior design, the various shades of aqua are quite versatile and can be incorporated into most rooms in the home. The color can help to make a space feel larger and brighter, especially if there is plenty of light filtering in. The best way to create a color scheme is to choose your main color and then add in one or two accent colors.

You can go for an entire room painted with a shade of aqua, or simply paint an accent wall to bring in the color. You can also use a white base color that has a hint of aqua as your main color, making it less of a dominant color. The accent or feature wall can then be a more intense aqua.

Whatever you choose, it is important to create a balance with the colors you are using. When painting all the walls, the ceiling and floors should be neutral, for example, a white ceiling, with wooden floors or gray carpeting. This can help to create a more harmonious look and avoids a room from being overwhelmed by the dominant color.

Furnishings and other accessories can also bring in the aqua color. These are also less permanent, so colors can easily be changed. Consider a lighter shade of aqua as a couch or a beautiful aqua color rug. White or gray sofas can do with a pop of color, and aqua works great to create a contrast. How about some aqua drapes in a neutral base color theme, or a lampshade in a shade of aqua? Bring the color into the kitchen, for example, an aqua backsplash. Patterned and textured fabrics and accessories can also be a good addition.

The aqua color is a beautiful, tranquil, and uplifting color that can be used in all kinds of design projects. Blue, in general, is one of the more popular colors, and the aqua color is simply an extension of this. So, if you are wondering what shade of blue to use, consider the aqua color for your next design idea.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Color Is Aqua?

Aqua is a color that can be found between green and blue, and within the RGB color model, it has equal amounts of both these colors, with zero red included. However, like all colors, there is an array of different shades of aqua colors for you to choose from.

Are Turquoise and Aqua the Same Color?

Both these colors are from the same family and are extremely close in appearance to one another. However, you can notice a small difference between the two colors. Aqua appears brighter, while turquoise is slightly darker.

What Colors Work Best With Aqua?

Aqua is quite versatile and can go well with many colors. First, it works well with similar colors like various shades of blue and green. However, it also goes well with orange, red and yellow. Neutral colors like black, white, gray, and black are also good choices. 

Charlene Lewis( Content Creator and Creativity Writer )

In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.

Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.

Charlene Lewis has been working for artincontext.org since the relaunch in 2020. She is an experienced writer and mainly focuses on the topics of color theory, painting and drawing.

Learn more about Charlene Lewis and the Art in Context Team.