Indigo Color – 52 Shades, Color Meaning, Mixing Guide and More

The indigo color seems to be a bit of a confusing color, as many people have different views as to what color indigo is. To try and clear things up a bit, we are going through our curated 52 shades of indigo, go into the various indigo color meanings, the history, uses in fashion and interior design and much more.

What Color Is Indigo?

An indigo color can be described as a color that sits between purple and blue when we look at a color wheel. So, is indigo blue or purple? Considering where it is located and the various shades and tints you can find; you can say it is a little bit of both these colors. What colors make indigo? The color can be created by mixing blue and red, however, much debate over whether it is a blue indigo color, or is it more purple?

Even though you can get a variety of shades of indigo, in general, you can describe the color as mainly blue, but with violet undertones or a deep vibrant reddish-blue. Since many of us perceive color differently, indigo is one of those colors that is difficult to define precisely.

When searching for colors online, you will want the hex code to identify them. The hex code for indigo is #4b0082.

The table below shows you what it looks likes, along with other color codes if you wish to use the color in web design or for printing. This color might also differ from that of pigments you use to paint with. As you can see with the RGB or red, green, and blue color code, you will see that the amount of blue is a lot more, when compared to the red.

Indigo Color Meaning

Indigo, a deep color that sits between blue and violet on the spectrum, is often associated with intuition and perception. It’s a color that invokes a sense of deep calm and clarity, reminiscent of the twilight sky. As a color expert, I see indigo as representing wisdom, honesty, and authority.

It’s a color that encourages deep thinking and introspection, often linked to spirituality and enlightenment. In design, indigo can convey a sense of trustworthiness and stability, making it a preferred color for brands that wish to project these qualities.

Its richness also adds a layer of luxury and sophistication, which can elevate the aesthetic of a product or space. Indigo’s powerful associations make it a dynamic and impactful color in various applications, from art to fashion to interior design.

Shades of Indigo

The indigo color is a difficult color to pinpoint, and many have different ideas of what the color should look like. There are also differences in the various types of indigo color, for example, the indigo dye color is different from the pigment and the indigo found in the color spectrum. Below are some of the shades of indigo.

Aesthetic Indigo

Aesthetic Indigo is a dark, muted blue-purple, sophisticated and artistic. It’s great for spaces that emphasize creativity and design, such as art studios or modern galleries.

Blue-Violet

Blue-Violet is a vibrant color that blends the calmness of blue with the mystique of violet. It’s ideal for accent pieces that combine serenity with a hint of creativity.

Bright Indigo

Bright Indigo is a luminous, vivid shade that adds an electric pop to any design. It’s great for modern, high-energy environments or digital interfaces.

Dark Indigo

Dark Indigo is a very deep blue that is almost black, evoking the feel of the deep ocean. It’s suited for elegant attire or as a grounding color in art.

Deep Indigo

Deep Indigo is a saturated, dark blue-purple that suggests sophistication. Perfect for a statement wall or luxury items where depth and intensity are desired.

Electric Indigo

Electric Indigo is a bright and intense version of indigo, almost neon. It’s excellent for vibrant designs that demand attention and can energize a space.

Faded Indigo

Faded Indigo is a light, washed-out blue that has a gentle, nostalgic feel. It’s ideal for shabby chic decor or vintage fashion, bringing a sense of history and charm.

Happy Indigo

Happy Indigo is a bright, cheerful shade of indigo, full of energy and positivity. It’s great for spaces that aim to be vibrant and lively, such as children’s rooms or creative studios.

Heather Indigo

Heather Indigo is a muted purple-grey, soft and unassuming. It’s excellent for textiles and works well in spaces designed for relaxation and contemplation.

Imperial Blue

Imperial Blue is a deep, royal blue that conveys a regal and authoritative presence. It’s suitable for formal spaces or as a commanding accent in design.

Indigo

Indigo is a deep, rich color between blue and violet. Reminiscent of the night sky, it’s perfect for creating a sense of depth and mystery in a space. Tip: Use in a reading nook to encourage introspection and imagination.

Indigo (Pantone)

Indigo (Pantone) is a deep, muted purple-blue, reflecting the standardized color for consistent use in design and fashion. It’s perfect for branding or where color accuracy is crucial.

Indigo (web safe color)

This Indigo is a bold, saturated blue designed to be vibrant and consistent across digital platforms. It’s perfect for web design where strong, consistent color is key.

Indigo Blue

Indigo Blue is a deep blue with a violet undertone, rich and commanding. It’s excellent for adding a striking touch to branding or as an accent in corporate designs.

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting is a vibrant, bird-inspired blue, bright and lively. It’s great for adding a touch of natural beauty to outdoor spaces or as an accent in wildlife-themed rooms.

Indigo Carmine

Indigo Carmine is a deep, vivid blue, resembling the dye of the same name. It’s perfect for bold, statement-making designs, particularly in fashion or graphic arts.

Indigo Denim

Indigo Denim is a classic, deep blue associated with denim fabric. It’s versatile and timeless, perfect for casual wear or bringing a relaxed vibe to interior decor.

Indigo Dusk

Indigo Dusk is a muted blue-purple that captures the peaceful transition from day to night. It’s perfect for a serene living space or bedroom that aims for a restful ambiance.

Indigo Dye

Indigo Dye is a traditional color that resembles natural indigo dye. It’s perfect for creating an authentic, artisanal feel in textiles or rustic interiors.

Indigo Gray

Indigo Gray is a muted blend of indigo and gray, offering a sophisticated and modern hue. Ideal for contemporary spaces, it pairs well with metallic accents for an urban-chic look.

Indigo Mist

Indigo Mist is a soft, ethereal blend of indigo with a hint of gray, reminiscent of a misty morning sky. It’s great for creating a tranquil, dreamy atmosphere in bedrooms or quiet areas.

Indigo Purple

Indigo Purple is a deep, rich blend of purple and indigo, perfect for adding a touch of mystery and luxury to any setting. It works well in creative spaces or as an elegant accent in fashion.

Indigo Red

Indigo Red is a unique blend of indigo with red tones, offering a warm and inviting hue. It’s perfect for cozy, intimate interiors or for adding a warm accent to cool-colored designs.

Indigo White

Indigo White is a very pale blue that has just a whisper of indigo. It’s great for creating a crisp, clean look with a hint of color.

Japanese Indigo

Japanese Indigo, inspired by traditional Japanese dyes, is a muted, dark blue with a touch of green. It’s perfect for creating a serene, Zen-like atmosphere in spaces aiming for natural and harmonious aesthetics.

Kachi Indigo

Kachi Indigo is a dark, muted blue with a hint of gray, evoking the traditional Japanese indigo dye. It’s ideal for adding depth and cultural richness to designs and textiles.

Lavender Indigo

Lavender Indigo is a soft purple with an indigo undertone, blending the calmness of lavender with the depth of indigo. It’s perfect for a serene yet colorful touch in home decor or apparel.

Light Indigo

Light Indigo is a pale, washed-out indigo, offering a subtle hint of color. It’s excellent for creating a light, airy feel in spaces, especially when paired with crisp whites.

Midnight Indigo

Midnight Indigo is a dark, inky blue that captures the essence of a midnight sky. It’s ideal for creating a dramatic and intimate atmosphere in a space.

Muted Indigo

Muted Indigo is a soft, understated blue-purple, ideal for creating a subtle yet colorful ambiance. It works well in relaxing spaces like bedrooms or lounges where a touch of color is desired without overwhelming.

Mystic Indigo

Mystic Indigo is a deep, mysterious blue with a touch of purple, perfect for creating an enchanting and mystical ambiance in a space.

Navy Indigo

Navy Indigo is a dark, almost black shade of indigo, embodying sophistication and depth. It’s a great alternative to black in formal wear or for a dramatic touch in interior design.

Neon Indigo

Neon Indigo is a fluorescent blue with a vibrant, glowing effect. It’s perfect for futuristic or neon-themed designs and can add a dynamic touch to nightlife or entertainment spaces.

Nightshade Indigo

Nightshade Indigo is a dark, moody blue with a hint of purple, reminiscent of the nightshade plant. It’s ideal for creating a dark, intimate setting or for sophisticated evening wear.

Ocean Indigo

Ocean Indigo is a deep blue with green undertones, capturing the essence of the deep ocean. It’s perfect for spaces that aim to evoke the vastness and mystery of the sea.

Orchid

Orchid is a bright, floral purple, evoking the exotic beauty of its namesake flower. It’s great for adding a vibrant, feminine touch to interiors or as a lively accent in fashion.

Pale Indigo

Pale Indigo is a light, desaturated indigo, subtle and soothing. It’s suitable for creating a soft, calming effect in spaces like nurseries or light-filled sunrooms.

Pastel Indigo

Pastel Indigo is a soft, light blue with a hint of indigo, gentle and dreamy. It’s ideal for creating a soothing, airy feel in spaces like nurseries or light-filled living areas.

Persian Indigo

Persian Indigo is a deep, intense purple, rich and exotic. It’s excellent for adding a luxurious and regal touch to interiors, textiles, or fashion.

Royal Indigo

Royal Indigo is a deep, saturated blue-purple that exudes luxury and depth. It’s perfect for an elegant backdrop or sophisticated apparel.

Slate Indigo

Slate Indigo is a muted blue-grey, sophisticated and modern. It’s perfect for urban-inspired designs, contemporary fashion, and modern home decor.

Smoky Indigo

Smoky Indigo is a deep, dusky blue with a smoky quality, perfect for creating a mysterious and sophisticated atmosphere. It works well in spaces designed for relaxation or contemplation.

Starry Indigo

Starry Indigo is a deep, dark blue that evokes the night sky filled with stars. It’s ideal for creating a sense of wonder and infinity in a space, especially in astronomical or space-themed rooms.

Steel Indigo

Steel Indigo is a cool, metallic blue with a hint of indigo, modern and sleek. It’s perfect for industrial-inspired designs or as a contemporary accent in home decor.

Stormy Indigo

Stormy Indigo is a dark, brooding blue with gray undertones, capturing the essence of a stormy sea. It’s great for dramatic and moody interiors or for adding depth to a color palette.

Supreme Indigo

Supreme Indigo is a rich, deep blue with a regal presence, blending the depth of indigo with a sense of luxury. Ideal for formal settings or as an accent in high-end fashion and design.

Tropical Indigo

Tropical Indigo is a lighter, softer blue with a touch of purple, evocative of tropical twilight. It’s suitable for vacation-inspired apparel or breezy, beachfront interiors.

Twilight Indigo

Twilight Indigo is a dark blue-grey that mimics the subtle hues of the evening sky. It’s great for creating a tranquil, sophisticated setting in both modern and classic interiors.

Vintage Indigo

Vintage Indigo is a washed-out, aged blue, evocative of worn denim or antique fabrics. It’s excellent for vintage fashion or in rustic interior settings where a touch of nostalgia is desired.

Violet Indigo

Violet Indigo is a deep, purplish-blue that offers a blend of the calm of blue with the intrigue of violet. It’s well-suited for design elements that seek a balance of warmth and coolness.

Vivid Indigo

Vivid Indigo is a striking, bright blue-purple that exudes energy and vibrancy. It’s perfect for eye-catching designs, digital art, or as a statement color in modern interiors. Tip: Use in small doses to add a dynamic touch to a space.

Indigo Color: A Brief History

Indigo’s origins are rich and multifaceted, with its roots deeply entrenched in both history and science. Historically, the indigo dye was derived from the plant Indigofera Tinctoria, known as true indigo, and was first imported to Europe from India, hence its name from the Latin ‘indicum,’ meaning Indian. The dye, which is closer to blue than purple, has been used since ancient times, with evidence of its use dating back to 4000 BC in Peru.

Throughout history, indigo has been highly valued, becoming a rare and sought-after commodity in Europe by the 17th century, traveling along the Silk Road. Its cultivation spread across various regions, including Asia and the Americas, where it played a significant role in the economy, such as funding the American Revolutionary War, before being replaced by synthetic dyes.

Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665) by Johannes Vermeer; Koorosh Orooj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From a scientific perspective, indigo is recognized as one of the colors of the visible spectrum, situated between blue and violet. Its inclusion as one of the seven rainbow colors is credited to Isaac Newton, who identified the color spectrum. However, the necessity of indigo as a distinct color in the spectrum has been debated, with some suggesting that it be removed due to its close resemblance to blue and violet.

Despite this, indigo has made a lasting impact in the art world, used by renowned artists like Sir Peter Paul Rubens and Johannes Vermeer to create depth and intensity in their works. Today, while most indigo dye is synthetic, its legacy continues, notably in the ubiquitous denim jeans pioneered by Levi Strauss, and in various art mediums where it remains a celebrated color.

Creating Indigo Paint Colors

A major use for indigo colors in paintings is to create landscapes and night skies. If you want to use an indigo color when painting, it might be best for you to purchase a tube of indigo color paint. The pigment color is quite popular, easily obtained, and affordable. Most of these paints are made from around three parts blue and one part purple.

You can create your own indigo color by blending the following paints in the same ratio.

• Darker blues are not the best option for creating indigo; rather use something like a cobalt blue.
• When it comes to purple, you can consider dioxazine purple or violet paint, which might work even better.

Create a color palette when blending indigo so that you can test it out and make a reference chart for future use. Combine three parts blue with one part purple and then you can experiment from there. If you think you have added too much purple, and the color becomes too dark, try to add in more blue to lighten it instead of adding in white.

Indigo Shades in Fashion

Interior Design With Indigo

Indigo is a color that can be used to great effect in all areas of design, but especially in fashion and interior design. Indigo is a classic color that lasts through all kinds of trends, and it can be combined with many other colors to make create some interesting interior designs. The indigo color can be used in most rooms, including the bedroom, living areas, and even the kitchen.

To create the best classic look, indigo will always work well with white and beige.

The color can be used as the main theme of a room and all the walls if you are looking for something bolder. Just remember to balance it out with other colors that work well with indigo, so it does not appear too heavy and overwhelming. Otherwise, adding in indigo accents can be a way of bringing in the color, without it becoming too much. This can be done by creating an accent wall and using accessories like throws and cushions to bring color into a room. There are all kinds of other indigo accessories you can bring into a room.

• Patterned rugs
• Vases
• Paintings
• Candles
• Lamps

You could also decide on indigo furniture, think sofas, single-seated armchairs, and kitchen chairs. In the bedroom, the base of the bed could be indigo or use linens and fabrics to create a calm and welcoming space.

Add in a patterned comforter and other colors like white or for more color, consider yellow or orange accents. The color A dark, saturated blue indigo color is a good choice, as it has soothing properties. The color indigo can also make a beautiful and soothing bathroom design. Combine it with white as well as gold taps to add a bit of a luxury feel to the room

Indigo might be a difficult color to describe, but it certainly does have a place in our lives. A soothing color that is also associated with creativity and wisdom, and with all the different shades available, indigo can be the next color theme for your home or outfit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Indigo Blue or Purple?

Indigo can be described as a color that is situated between blue and purple on the color wheel. So, it can be seen as a blend of both colors. However, there are many shades of indigo and some are more of a blue indigo color, while others have more of a purple undertone.

What Color Is Indigo?

Let us first look at what colors make indigo. Since indigo is a combination of blue and purple, you can say that indigo is a blue with a violet or reddish undertone. However, it can range between being more purple or bluer, which is what makes it difficult to define.

How Can You Wear the Color Indigo?

Indigo is a color that does not attract attention and is the perfect everyday color to wear. Some of the best colors to wear with indigo include mustard, emerald-green, orange, gray, and mint. The color can be used with pants, jackets, dresses, skirts, shirts, and shoes.

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.