Gray and Lavender
Tonal Accent color combination with 1.17:1 contrast ratio
Color Values
#808080128, 128, 1280, 0%, 50%#B56EDC181, 110, 220279, 61%, 65%Harmony: Tonal Accent
One color is neutral and the other carries the chroma, which is a reliable formula for balanced design. The neutral gives the eye somewhere to rest while the chromatic color provides the focal point.
The hue angle between Gray and Lavender is 81 degrees (though one or both colors are achromatic, so hue angle is less relevant than lightness contrast). You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.
WCAG Contrast
UI Preview
Gray surface
Sample text on a gray background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.
Lavender surface
Sample text on a lavender background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.
Design Tokens
CSS Variables
:root {
--color-a: #808080;
--color-b: #B56EDC;
--color-a-rgb: 128, 128, 128;
--color-b-rgb: 181, 110, 220;
}JSON
{
"name": "Gray and Lavender",
"colors": [
{
"name": "Gray",
"hex": "#808080",
"rgb": [
128,
128,
128
]
},
{
"name": "Lavender",
"hex": "#B56EDC",
"rgb": [
181,
110,
220
]
}
],
"harmony": "Tonal Accent",
"contrastRatio": 1.17
}Related Combinations
Frequently Asked Questions
Do gray and lavender go together?
Yes. Gray and Lavender form a tonal accent color combination. One color is neutral and the other carries the chroma, which is a reliable formula for balanced design. The neutral gives the eye somewhere to rest while the chromatic color provides the focal point. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 1.17:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.
What is the contrast ratio between gray and lavender?
The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Gray (#808080) and Lavender (#B56EDC) is 1.17:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.
How do I use gray and lavender in design?
A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.
What are the hex and RGB values for gray and lavender?
Gray has the hex code #808080 and RGB values rgb(128, 128, 128). Lavender has the hex code #B56EDC and RGB values rgb(181, 110, 220). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.