Exploring the Color #5E8494

#5E8494 sits at 198° on the color wheel, placing it in the azure family of the cool half of the spectrum. With 22% saturation and 47% lightness, it reads as a softly muted, balanced tone — a balanced mid-energy presence that sits comfortably alongside other UI tones. Its RGB mix of 94, 132, 148 produces a 5.20:1 contrast ratio against black, which clears WCAG AA for body text in that pairing.

In RGB space #5E8494 is a clear variant of CSS gray — about 40 units away from #808080. Designers reach for azure hues at this saturation when the brief calls for restraint and atmosphere, and at this lightness when they want a present, comfortable mid-canvas voice. On screen the cool cast tends to pair best with warm neutrals in the 25°-45° range to add life.

Darkening Shades

Lightening Shades