The main difference between Cornflower Blue and Lavender is hue — Cornflower Blue is a cool blue, while Lavender is a cool off-white. Cornflower Blue and Lavender are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) and Lavender (#E6E6FA) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Cornflower Blue is more saturated (79% HSL vs 67%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Lavender can feel washed out when printed small.
Cornflower Blue hits a 2.97:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Lavender only reaches 1.23:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Lavender is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Cornflower Blue leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Lavender is the more muted of the two (67% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Cornflower Blue's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) is a light, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Lavender (#E6E6FA) is a very light, moderately saturated off-white with a cool undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and balanced in intensity.
Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.
Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.