Elephant
General Information about #173641
The hexadecimal color #173641, often referred to as 'Elephant,' is a dark, muted shade of grayish-blue. It is composed of 9.02% red, 21.18% green, and 25.49% blue. In the RGB color space, it's considered a cool color, due to the higher presence of blue. It conveys a sense of calmness, sophistication, and stability. In terms of color theory, its relative darkness places it closer to shades often associated with trustworthiness and reliability. It is frequently used to evoke feelings of understated elegance and can be a versatile base color in designs where subtlety is desired. Because it is a muted color, it can be easily combined with other colors.
The hex color #173641, also known as 'Elephant', presents some accessibility challenges due to its relatively low luminance. When used as a background color, it necessitates very light text to ensure sufficient contrast for readability, ideally achieving a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal-sized text, as recommended by WCAG guidelines. If used for text itself, a much lighter background is crucial. Tools like contrast checkers can help verify compliance. Furthermore, consider users with low vision or color blindness, who may struggle to differentiate elements with insufficient contrast. Providing alternative visual cues, such as underlines or icons, can enhance usability for a wider audience. It's imperative to avoid relying solely on color to convey information.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
- #294b57
A slightly lighter shade of gray, offering better contrast against dark text while maintaining a similar aesthetic.
- #355c7d
A desaturated blue that provides a subtle alternative with improved visual distinction.
- #4b6a75
A lighter version of the same blueish grey to allow better readability, still giving a calm and trustworthy impression.
Applications
Corporate Website Design
This color is ideal for creating a sense of sophistication and stability in website designs. It can be used for headers, footers, or backgrounds, especially for sites aiming for a professional or corporate look. It evokes feelings of trust and reliability, important for businesses. Used sparingly, it can create a strong visual impact. Consider pairing it with lighter colors to ensure text readability and overall balance. Because of its darker tone, it should be used with intention, to create a feeling of depth and weight to a webpage. Its muted tone makes it versatile with other colors as well.
Fashion Design
This color can be incorporated into fashion designs to create elegant and timeless pieces. It's suitable for outerwear, such as coats and jackets, as well as sophisticated evening wear. The color projects a refined and understated look. It pairs well with neutral tones and can be accented with metallic accessories for added flair. Because the color is calm and elegant, it can also be used as a base color for a whole outfit and build around it with scarfs, bags or jewelry. As such it makes a great choice for basic pieces in every wardrobe.
Interior Design
Use in interior design to add a touch of modern elegance and a grounding presence to a room. Ideal for accent walls in living rooms or bedrooms, or as a base color for furniture upholstery. Creates a calm and sophisticated atmosphere. Combine with natural materials like wood and stone for a balanced aesthetic. The color works particularly well in spaces where a sense of quiet and understated luxury is desired. Consider lighter accents to keep the room from feeling too dark and add depth.