Northwind
Also known as: Coastal Mist, Ivalo River, Wave Splash, Melting Point
Northwind is a pale, gentle cyan that reads as cool and clear. It shines in tech interfaces and water themes. Reach for a red companion shade to give Northwind maximum contrast. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (16.01:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Northwind color codes
- HEX
- #CEE5E9
- RGB
- rgb(206, 229, 233)
- RGBA
- rgba(206, 229, 233, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(189, 38%, 86%)
- HSV
- hsv(189, 12%, 91%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(12%, 2%, 0%, 9%)
- LAB
- lab(89.3 -7.3 -4.7)
- OKLCH
- oklch(90.6% 0.025 209.3)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
neutral, leaning cool
subtle cyan undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: lightcyan#E0FFFF · ΔE 6.1
- RAL 7035 — Light grey#CBD0CC · ΔE 8.2 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck — Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Northwind works
- Web & UI: Too light for text, ideal as a background wash that keeps a page from feeling sterile.
- Interiors: Wall-to-wall safe: it behaves like a white with personality, especially in north-facing rooms.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively — dividers, chart series, illustration accents — and let neutrals carry the type.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land — front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Northwind
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Northwind by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 1.31:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 16.01:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a Northwind background: #000000
Palettes featuring Northwind
Northwind with its complement
Soft neighbors of Northwind
Northwind triad
Similar colors
- Ice Cold#D2EAF1 · ΔE 1.7
- Teardrop#D1EAEA · ΔE 2.4
- Shark#CADCDE · ΔE 2.5
- Breezy#C2DDE6 · ΔE 2.9
- Goddess#D0E1E8 · ΔE 3.0
- Peek-a-Blue#C5E1E1 · ΔE 3.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Northwind is closest to Fresco.
Northwind FAQs
What color is Northwind?
Northwind is a light cyan with the hex code #CEE5E9. In HSL terms it has a hue of 189°, 38% saturation, and 86% lightness.
What is the hex code for Northwind?
The hex code for Northwind is #CEE5E9. In RGB it's rgb(206, 229, 233), and in CMYK it's cmyk(12%, 2%, 0%, 9%).
What colors go well with Northwind?
Northwind pairs naturally with red tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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