Dark backgrounds that work
The colors here sit below an OKLab lightness of about 0.36, the range used for dark themes, headers and moody print. Each swatch's "Aa" figure shows white text contrast, and almost all pass WCAG AA comfortably.
Why not pure black?
Pure #000000 next to pure white creates the maximum possible contrast, 21:1. That can cause a shimmering effect for some readers on bright screens. Many dark themes use a near-black, or a very dark blue or green, with slightly off-white text instead. The near-blacks group above is a good starting point.
Choosing by mood
- Navy is the classic alternative to black: formal, trustworthy, easy to pair.
- Forest and dark teal feel natural and premium.
- Burgundy and plum add richness and warmth.
- Chocolate and olive feel earthy and organic.
Dark mode tips
In a dark interface, keep surfaces in a narrow band of dark tones and use lightness, not shadows, to show elevation: raised cards get a slightly lighter shade. Saturated colors look more intense on dark backgrounds, so soften accent colors a little.
Test any text and background pair with the contrast checker. For lighter options, see shades of blue and gray, and build a complete scheme with website color schemes.