The color Indigo is a deep and rich color that is one of seven in the rainbow. But is indigo is more blue or purple?
The truth is, the color indigo is more blue. It is three-quarters blue and one-quarter purple.
Why is indigo more blue than purple? On the color wheel, indigo sits halfway between violet and blue. Violet is halfway between blue and purple.
Indigo at a Glance
| Hexcode | #4b0082 |
| Web Color | #330099 |
| PANTONE Color | 19-3215 TCX Indigo |
| RGB | 29.4% red, 0% green and 51% blue |
| CMYK | 42.3% cyan, 100% magenta, 0% yellow and 49% black |
| Meanings | Integrity, spiritual, concentration, higher consciousness, drama, addiction |
| Color Wheel Placement | A tertiary color between blue and violet (purple) |
| Indigo Color Combos | Yellow |
Indigo Variations
Part of the confusion comes from so many different indigos out there. There’s the dye, which is dark blue. Then there’s colors in the different color systems that are similar but not really. Here are what the codes look like. No wonder indigo is so misunderstood.
History of Indigo
The word indigo also refers to a dye made from the ndigofera a species of plants that were cultivated in East Asia, Egypt, India, and Peru.
The earliest use of indigo dye dates to around 4000 BC. The blue dye can be made from two different types of plants: the indigo plant, which produces the best results, and from the woad plant Isatis tinctoria.
Color of Intuition
The psychological meaning of the color indigo is complex, but it is most associated with intuition, creativity, and spirituality.
- Indigo, with its more-blue than purple, rich color has been associated with of intuition and perception and is helpful in opening the third eye.
- It can help you focus and meditate more effectively. New Age beliefs such as having the ability to achieve a greater level of consciousness are also associated with the color indigo.
- Indigo symbolizes service to humanity.
- Powerful and dignified, indigo conveys integrity and deep sincerity.
- This color also relates to organization and traditions.
- Indigo helps with spatial thinking and creativity.
The Color Indigo and the Rainbow
Indigo has a biblical and scientific meaning. The placement of the color in the rainbow gives it significance.
The rainbow is mentioned in the story of Noah’s Ark. It “is a sign from the Almighty that we are not forgotten.”
God appeared before Noah after the flood, along with a rainbow.
The rainbow is thought to symbolize God’s Integrity with each of the seven colors of the rainbow representing components that come together to create white, or God’s love.
It is believed that the colors violet, indigo and blue symbolize the three Heavens. Violet symbolizes the throne of God. The color indigo represents the universe. Blue represents the Earth’s sky.
Isaac Newton Put Indigo in the Rainbow
Isaac Newton first placed indigo as one seven base colors of his work in the mid-1660s. Newton used a prism on a beam of sunlight, which resulted in a rainbow-like band of colors on the wall.
He could see seven colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. He also noted the infinite spectrum between the base colors.
Indigo Has Four Distinct Tones
Indigo is a perplexing color that has four major tones. As you can tell from the photos, sometimes it looks more blue, sometimes indigo looks like purple’s twin.
The color electric indigo is a bright and saturated color between the traditional indigo and violet. This is the brightest color indigo that can be approximated on a computer screen; it is a color located between blue, a primary color and the color violet of the RGB color wheel.
ELECTRIC INDIGO
The web color blue-violet or deep indigo is a tone of indigo brighter than pigment indigo, but not as bright as electric indigo.
BLUE VIOLET
The web color indigo is equivalent to the color indigo that is usually reproduced in pigments and colored pencils.
WEB COLOR INDIGO
The color of indigo dye is a different color from either spectrum indigo or pigment indigo. This is the actual color of the dye. A vat full of this dye is a darker color, approximating the web color midnight blue.
INDIGO DYE
Indigo in Home Decor
Indigo may not be your first thought when it comes to home decor, but it can add a sense of tradition and depth to a room.
Don’t worry about having a purple living room, indigo home decor items lean more toward deep blue and the indigo dye color.
Why Use Indigo
Indigo is bold. But its depth is rich and comforting. To add depth to the walls, add some applied molding and paint it the same color. Indigo paint on the walls can bring dazzle and coziness to a library, den, or home theatre.
If your home is already decked out in coastal decor, indigo brings sophistication and class to this casual style.
For those of you who don’t want to commit to a wall color, use indigo as a powerful accent color with area rugs, curtains and throw pillows.
Colors That Go With Indigo
What colors go with indigo? A lot more than you think.
White a Classic Combo
Dark blue and white are crisp, clean and classic. This color combination is the equivalent of a little black dress. It can be traditional, coastal, global, fun, boho. Dress it up or dress it down, you can’t go wrong with white.
Red a Natural Match
Indigo and red go together like cheese and crackers. They are a satisfying way to decorate the room. Don’t worry, you won’t feel like you were born on the Fourth of July. Red is an energetic color, one that balances the calm, focused energy of indigo.
Chartreuse (Green Yellow) Gives Indigo a Punch
Chartreuse, you know that electric green and yellow color that makes you look like you’ve had the stomach bug? It looks absolutely fabulous with indigo. Indigo loves yellow, so a yellowy green bold color gives the dark color a pop. Chartreuse throw pillows look amazing on an indigo couch. If you painted the room indigo, try hanging a chartreuse art piece on the wall. Wow!
Calm Down With Indigo and Brown — Oh Yeah Baby.
Imagine a fire crackling away in the fireplace, the smell of leather and books. You’ve got a glass of wine or scotch in one hand and a classic novel in the other. Blanket? Check. Comfy couch? Check. The kids, cat, husband, dog and chaos are all done for the day. It’s time to relax and recharge in the dark cocoon of indigo and brown. It’s magic.
Yellow and Orange Are Indigo BFFs
Complimentary colors bright bold orange and yellow are blue’s besties. If you want a modern look that will dazzle go for the orange.
Related Questions
Is Indigo a Warm or Cool Color?
Indigo is a cool color. But surprisingly enough, it warms up a space.
What Does the Term Indigo Children Mean?
Indigo children, according to a New Age belief are children who possess special or unusual traits and are sometimes called interdimensional.
The idea emerged in the 1970s from Nancy Ann Tappe and was taken on by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober. In the 1990s a series of books was published about these children. No scientific studies have supported the existence of these so-called indigo children.
