Midnight Blue Color – The Unique and Versatile Shade of Blue

It comes as no surprise that the color, midnight blue, can easily be related to the vast expanse of the night sky. The experience of looking up at the bright stars in the midnight sky has been the source of many mysteries, revelations, and visions. Let us now consider this amazing color in more detail and learn more about what colors go with midnight blue.

What Is the Midnight Blue Color? 

Midnight blue is almost the same as navy blue, only a little darker in tone, and under certain lights, it may also appear to appear black. What is the midnight color, cool or warm? Midnight blue is generally regarded as a warm color and can easily arouse feelings of awe. The shade and tone of blue have been used by artists over the centuries to portray the night sky, and midnight blue is no exception as it is a rich, deep shade of blue as well as black, indicative of the sky at night. In the table below we show you the midnight blue hex codes, which identify the color, and the various color codes for graphic designs and printing.

History of Midnight Blue 

The title “midnight blue” was first applied in 1915, and the color’s name often resembles the dark blue shade of the night sky when viewed against the full moon. Although the color name is new, a dark blue similar to midnight blue was used in Vincent van Gogh’s art, namely Starry Night and Café Terrace at Night (1888), which he painted when inspired by the view he saw from his window. This painting is one of his first to feature a starry night.

Edward VIII (1894 to 1972) the Duke of Windsor, promoted the midnight blue color for men’s tuxedos and suits in the 1920s.

His theory was that the midnight blue color, distinct from the color black, would enable photographers to capture more tailoring details like buttons, pockets, and lapels. He believed that this would improve his dress code and status with the press. This resulted in having one of his evening suits become part of the collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 1958, the company Crayola replaced their crayon shade “Prussian Blue” with a new name which they called “Midnight Blue”.

Meaning of the Midnight Color Blue 

The blue midnight color is believed to give physical as well as mental health benefits. Possessing soothing abilities, it can also slow down the metabolic rate of the body. This color provides a sense of wisdom, mystery, and stability, but also seems to promote a feeling of introspection. 

Midnight blue represents dependability and trustworthiness and is associated with strength and authority.

However, it can also have an air of evil or harm with it, this is because the color has some negative connotations due to its resemblance to the color black.  Midnight dark blue conjures up a sense of peace and tranquility and is often referred to as a quiet, safe, and organized color.  The color midnight blue is used by many advertising companies to portray a sense of security, and eating from a blue plate is often recommended for weight loss. You can also use the color in all four seasons of the year. 

Shades of Midnight Blue Color  

The color blue seems to be a big favorite amongst many different people. All the different shades of blue bear a similar association. However, darker blues like midnight blue, appear to have a stronger link to authority and power. The darker or deeper the blue colors all share the same meaning as black, and the many shades of midnight blue can range from navy blue to bright medium blue.

Navy Blue 

This refers to a very dark shade of blue, which is also a cool color. Navy blue also bears the symbolism of power, importance, authority, and confidence. Just like all other dark blue shades, navy blue is also associated with conservatism, unity, intelligence, and stability.

Navy blue, just like black, can also be utilized as a neutral color, and the military and police often use navy blue in their uniforms.

Dark Blue 

The color dark blue is often confused with navy blue, as they are both closely related. However, the dark blue shade is unique enough to be able to stand out by itself. When considering the color wheel, dark blue is associated with elegance, intelligence, and authority. In countries like Korea, the color dark blue is used as a form of mourning. 

Indigo 

Indigo is a dark purplish-blue color, which is also a cool color and appears between violet and blue in our rainbow. The color is associated with most of the darker shades of blue and symbolizes stability, trust, and truthfulness.

As indigo is also considered a royal blue, it speaks of authority just as the royalty of purple does and has often been referred to as dark violet.

Dark Slate Blue 

Dark slate blue is another dark shade of blue with a very slight purple or gray tone to it. The dark slate blue color is slightly softer than navy blue, and its slight purple tone makes it a warm and rich color that is also associated with confidence and importance. 

What Colors Go With Midnight Blue?

There is a large range of colors that work well with midnight blue. For inspiration, in the winter, your color palette could have some deep reds, or orange can bring brightness to its hue as well as hot pinks. Combining yellow with midnight blue makes a striking contrast in the night sky.

If you are looking for a more refined look, then midnight blue goes well with neutral colors like beige and white.

Other colors that provide a balanced combination with midnight blue are maroon, olive, light blue, dusty rose, deep purple, and gold. so, what colors go with midnight blue? To elaborate more on the colors that go well with midnight blue let us consider the following combinations determined by color theory.

Midnight Blue Complementary Colors 

A complementary or contrasting color simply means that that particular color is found directly opposite the main color on the color wheel. When paired, they provide contrast. These two colors tend to also cancel each other out when mixed, and if you combine the two, you will produce a brownish color. The complementary or contrasting color for midnight blue is dark olive green.

Dark olive green has a slight black or brown hue and is associated with elegance or sophistication and is effective when applied in a professional or a personal setting.

Midnight Blue Monochromatic Colors 

A monochromatic color combination is simply a variation of different shades, tones, or tints that provide you with a subtle color combination. This can be used for any project, giving you a delightful and harmonious look. Two of the monochromatic colors for midnight blue are blue-black and iris.  

Midnight Blue Analogous Colors 

An analogous color scheme is where a group of three or more colors is found to be right next to one another on the color wheel, which will contain the main color and then two other supporting colors on either side of it. This type of analogous color scheme is often used for interior decorating as it creates a harmonious look.

The analogous colors for midnight blue are dark cerulean and Persian indigo.

Midnight Blue Triadic Colors 

Any triadic color palette has three colors, and they form a triangle, which contains the main color and two other colors, that when you draw a line between them, form an equal-sided triangular shape. The triadic color scheme provides lively and vibrant colors when combined.

The triadic colors for midnight blue are prune and dark green.

What Colors Make Midnight Blue Color Paint? 

The midnight dark blue color is a very dark blue shade and is regarded as the darkest shade of blue that there is. So much so, that it can easily be mistaken for black, which makes it a shade that you can use in place of black serving as a neutral color. If you are looking for the exact shade of midnight blue, try mixing your own. So, what colors make midnight blue?

Selecting a Dark Blue Paint Color

The first step is to select a dark blue color you can use. Because midnight blue is so very dark, you need to make sure you select a shade of blue that is dark so that you will not have to use too much black to get your midnight blue color. The color blue has cooler and warmer undertones so there is no wrong or the right color of blue shades for you to choose from.

Stay away from a sky-blue color as it contains a great deal of white, which will leave you with more of a gray color.

Mixing Midnight Blue Colors

Only mix the amount of paint you are going to use to avoid wasting any. Add the blue paint you choose to your palette or mixing container, and then begin to carefully add some black paint a bit at a time. Remember that it is always easy to add more black paint if you need to, but you cannot take black paint away if you have added too much. Now make sure you mix the two colors properly until you are satisfied with the blended shade.

It is always easy to add more black paint if you are not entirely satisfied, but remember, paint is always going to dry slightly darker than it appears when wet.

Midnight Blue Color in Design

The midnight blue color is very versatile and has been used in the fashion industry as an alternative to black for many years, and when treated as a neutral color it can match almost any other shade. It is a very practical and refined color and is a very somber and fun alternative to wearing black. For the graphic designer, finding just the right color is vital to make graphic designs work. A confident and reliable color that is perfect for artists and clients alike.

In interior design, the use of midnight blue paint can add sophistication to a room but be careful not to paint the entire room with the color as it will make the room feel claustrophobic and oppressive, rather combine it with a livelier alternative color like white and natural elements like wood.

Consider painting an accent wall or using patterned wallpaper. You can also bring in midnight blue couches and other accessories. It is a great color for all types of design styles and can be used in living areas, the bedroom, the bathroom, and even painted kitchen cabinets.

Midnight blue is an amazing color to work with, even though it is so dark. However, it is also a very versatile color, allowing you to switch from rustic to preppy palettes, and from modern to classic effortlessly. It is truly a color for all seasons!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Midnight Blue Color? 

What is the midnight blue color? This is a color that is darker than navy blue and is generally considered as being the darkest blue color that can easily be mistaken for black.

Is Midnight Blue a Neutral Color? 

Midnight blue is a very versatile color, and you can easily use it with other neutral colors like white and beige. Since it is so close to black, you can substitute it to create a sophisticated and artistic combination.

Can Midnight Blue Go With Gray?

Gray is also considered a neutral color that can either have warm or cool undertones. Try combining a light warm gray with a softer midnight blue to create a cozier feel to a room. Combine the blue and gray with white to design an even more tranquil environment.

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.