Midnight blue is a deep, rich shade of blue that conjures images of the night sky. It’s a popular color for fashion, home decor, art, and more. But how exactly do you make the perfect midnight blue? There are a few different ways to achieve this dark, saturated blue depending on the project and medium you’re working with. Read on to learn the basics of mixing and matching to create your own custom midnight blue.
Understanding Midnight Blue
First, it helps to understand what defines the midnight blue color. This deep blue got its name because it resembles the sky on a clear night around midnight. It’s very dark but still retains a blue tone rather than appearing black.
Specifically, midnight blue typically has:
- A very dark value and low lightness
- A cool blue tone rather than purple or green undertones
- High saturation compared to lighter blues
- Reduced brightness compared to brighter blues
So when mixing midnight blue yourself, you want a combination of pigments and colors that achieve this deep, saturated, slightly cool blue.
Mixing Midnight Blue Paint
For paints, midnight blue is easily achieved by mixing a dark blue with black paint. Here are some simple ratios to try:
- 4 parts navy blue paint + 1 part black paint
- 2 parts ultramarine blue paint + 1 part black paint
- Phthalo blue paint + ivory or mars black paint
Navy blue already has dark value and subtle warmth. Adding a touch of black helps create the darker midnight blue tone. Ultramarine blue has more red-blue tones, so adding black saturates it to a rich midnight tone. Phthalo blue is a pure, cool blue so it needs black added to take the brightness down.
You can experiment with mixing different blue paints with black until you achieve the desired darkness and subtle warmth or coolness. Always add black sparingly so you don’t take away all the blue tones.
Dyeing Midnight Blue Fabric
For dyeing fabric or clothing, you’ll need to use a couple of blue dye colors to achieve midnight blue. Here are some great options:
- Navy blue + turquoise blue dyes
- Indigo dye + navy blue dye
- Indigo dye + turquoise dye
Navy blue dye already has a nice dark shade while turquoise or aqua dyes add extra blue-green tones for vibrancy. Using two blue dyes together creates the rich, saturated midnight blue.
Indigo dye will give you a dark blue base since it’s known for dyeing deep shades. Layering indigo with either navy blue or turquoise dyes will build up the blue tones for midnight blue. Make sure to follow the dye package instructions since the process differs for natural versus synthetic fabrics.
Mixing Midnight Blue Icing
Making midnight blue icing or candy melts is also easy with a combo of blue food coloring. Gel food colors work best to achieve deep, vivid shades.
Try mixing:
- Navy blue + sky blue gel colors
- Royal blue + turquoise blue gels
- Electric blue + violet gel colors
Navy blue has red-leaning undertones while sky blue is a purer blue to balance it out. Royal blue has hints of red and purple while turquoise adds green tones. Finally, electric blue with violet makes a well-balanced, vivid midnight blue.
Always start by adding a small amount of each color, then increase drop by drop until you reach the perfect midnight shade. The colors may seem brighter before blending together.
Creating Midnight Blue With RGB
If you need to create a digital midnight blue for websites, graphic design, or printing, you’ll use a RGB color combination.
In general, look for RGB values around:
- R = 25-50
- G = 0-50
- B = 100-150
Some specific RGB values for midnight blue are:
| HEX Code | R Value | G Value | B Value |
| #191970 | 25 | 25 | 112 |
| #003366 | 0 | 51 | 102 |
| #000080 | 0 | 0 | 128 |
These all provide a nice dark blue in the RGB color space. You can also experiment with similar RBG values to tweak the shade and saturation of your midnight blue.
Buying Pre-Mixed Midnight Blue Paint
The easiest way to get midnight blue is to purchase pre-mixed paint rather than blending it yourself. Here are some good midnight blue paint options across brands:
- Benjamin Moore: Midnight Blue 2067-10
- Sherwin-Williams: Naval SW 6244
- Behr: Blue Note BNC-47
- Valspar: Midnight Spell 4004-10A
Hardware stores often have sampler sizes so you can test out a few midnight blues from different brands. Benjamin Moore and Behr offer blue with subtle warm, purple tones while Sherwin-Williams and Valspar are slightly greener and cooler.
Ready-Made Midnight Blue Dye
For dyeing fabric and clothing, you can also buy premixed midnight blue dye. Common options include:
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in Midnight Blue
- Dylon machine fabric dye in Midnight Blue
- Jacquard Indigo Discharge Paste Midnight Blue
- Dharma Fiber Reactive Dye in Deep Midnight Blue
Rit, Dylon, and Jacquard all offer ready-made dyes in vivid midnight blue tones. Or try Dharma’s indigo-based discharge dye for natural fibers like cotton and linen. Mix the dyes per package instructions based on your fabric type.
Purchasing Midnight Blue Decor Items
For home decor, midnight blue can be incorporated through furnishings, textiles, accessories, and more. Rather than dyeing your own fabrics, consider buying home goods in pre-mixed shades. Some places to browse include:
- Bedding and pillows from Crane & Canopy
- Hand towels and bath mats from West Elm
- Table linens and napkins from Pottery Barn
- Curtains and drapes from Lulu & Georgia
Throw blankets and pillows from Anthropologie
Major home retailers like these offer a wide selection of midnight blue items for decor and textiles. Visit stores in person to view swatches and samples so you can find the perfect midnight blue shade.
Finding the Exact Midnight Blue for You
While there are basic mixes that produce a midnight blue tone, you can tweak the shades by adjusting color ratios. Add more black, green, or violet to create cooler midnight blues. Incorporate more navy or purple for warmer, subtle red tones.
Test out small amounts of paint, icing, or dye first. Comparing swatches side-by-side under natural light helps you identify the perfect midnight blue for your next project. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the unique midnight blue hue you love!
Conclusion
Midnight blue is such a versatile, mood-setting color for all kinds of mediums and uses. Follow the simple formulas outlined above to mix your own customized version using paints, dyes, icing, or digital RGB values. Or take the easy route by purchasing ready-made midnight blue paint, decor items, and dye kits. However you make it, incorporating this elegant, deep blue into your projects is sure to create a beautiful, eye-catching look. So embrace the night sky and make midnight magic with this rich, universally flattering hue.