Colors that go with indianred

#CD5C5C · warm red · hue 0° · best text: #000000

Ten combinations ranked by measurable criteria — hue harmony, WCAG contrast with indianred, lightness spread and saturation compatibility. Every pairing lists why it works.

Ready-to-use palette

#CD5C5C
#800000
#F5F5DC
#040348
#042E60
#FAFAF9
#cd5c5c #800000 #f5f5dc #040348 #042e60 #fafaf9
#CD5C5C #800000 #F5F5DC #040348 #042E60 #FAFAF9
Open in palette generator →Full indianred page →

Best combinations — ranked

#1

Maroon #800000

· Same hue family as indianred (Δh 0°) — guaranteed harmony
· Close value pairing (2.75:1) — use for large surfaces, not small text
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 28) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
2.8:1
vs indianred
#2

Beige #F5F5DC

· Warm/cool bridge (Δh 60°) — adds depth without tension
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.59:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 43) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.6:1
vs indianred
#3

Night Blue #040348

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈119°) — balanced three-way contrast
· Text-safe contrast with the anchor (4.75:1, passes WCAG AA)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 48) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
4.8:1
vs indianred
#4

Marine #042E60

· Split-complementary angle (Δh ≈147°) — strong but softer than direct complement
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.38:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 34) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.4:1
vs indianred
#5

Aqua #00FFFF

· Complementary hue (Δh ≈180°) — maximum hue contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.17:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 38) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.2:1
vs indianred
#6

Dark Blue #00035B

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈122°) — balanced three-way contrast
· Text-safe contrast with the anchor (4.54:1, passes WCAG AA)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 46) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
4.5:1
vs indianred
#7

Midnight Blue #191970

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈120°) — balanced three-way contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.73:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 38) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.7:1
vs indianred
#8

Palegreen #98FB98

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈120°) — balanced three-way contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.14:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 37) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.1:1
vs indianred
#9

Forest Green #2D5A27

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈113°) — balanced three-way contrast
· Close value pairing (2.03:1) — use for large surfaces, not small text
· Similar saturation (53% vs 40%) — both moderate
contrast
2.0:1
vs indianred
#10

Dark Green #033500

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈117°) — balanced three-way contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.49:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 35) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.5:1
vs indianred

Why these and not others

Pairings are scored against hue-harmony angles (0°/30°/60°/90°/120°/150°/180°), WCAG contrast ratio with indianred, lightness separation and saturation/chroma compatibility. Near-identical colors (ΔE₀₀ < 3.5) are excluded — every entry adds real information.

FAQ

What colors go with indianred?

Maroon, Beige, Night Blue, Marine and Aqua rank highest for indianred (#CD5C5C) by hue harmony, contrast and saturation compatibility. The full ranked list is on this page with the reasoning for each pairing.

What is the complementary color of indianred?

The complementary hue of indianred (hue 0°) sits at hue 180°. The closest named colors on that side of the wheel are listed in the combinations above.

Is indianred a warm or cool color?

Indianred is a warm color (hue 0°). It pairs naturally with warm neutrals and earthy tones.