Everything about
the color Lime
The meaning of the color Lime and color combinations to inspire your next design.
What color is lime?
Lime is a bright, vivid shade of green. The lime color code is #00FF00.
On the hex color chart used by web designers and developers, there are actually two shades called “lime”. Lime green (which has the hex code #32CD32) is slightly darker in appearance than lime (which has the hex code #00FF00).
Lime can look yellow-tinged and is sometimes thought of as a mix of green and yellow. However, shades of green like olive and kelly green are actually closer to yellow on the color wheel than lime.
To make lime paint, simply mix two or three parts yellow to one part blue paint.
The history of lime
“Lime green” was first used as a color name in 1890. The hue is named after the typical shade of the citrus fruit limes.
The color green has long had positive connotations. The hue was held in high regard in Ancient Egypt, when it was considered a symbol of rebirth, strength and good health. In the Middle Ages, when the color of a person’s clothing denoted their social rank and profession, green was worn by the upper classes—the Mona Lisa wears green in her famous portrait.
More recently, bright shades of green like lime were popular in 1960s clothing. The shade has had a fashion comeback in recent years, especially from 2018 onwards.
What does the color lime mean?
Lime’s head-turning appearance is likely to communicate energy, youth and zest.
As the color of trees, grass and the natural environment, green has strong associations with renewal and regeneration. It’s also a color commonly associated with youth—if someone is “green”, it means they’re inexperienced. Lime’s bright, playful appearance is particularly likely to make this impression.
Green is also considered the color of freshness, which is why many food, supermarket and health food brands have green logos.
But green can also be associated with poison. In Disney movies, lime is often a signal of evil—toxic magic potions as well as the eyes of villains like the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty are all colored the bright green hue.
According to color psychology, green is associated with balance and harmony, and is thought to help promote a sense of calm and clarity.
How to use the color lime
Lime is a bold shade that’s perfect for when you want to capture attention. In design, you could use it as accent color contrasted with a neutral hue like black or white. But go easy—as it is very bright, too much lime might be overwhelming.
Lime is a popular color in fashion and has been worn in recent years by everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Kim Kardashian West. In interior design, a splash of lime can liven up a room.
What colors go with lime?
Despite its vivid appearance, lime can be matched with many different colors. It looks great next to fuchsia, which is its complementary color on the color wheel. Bright oranges, yellow and other shades of pink and purple can also be combined with lime for a radiant, lively palette. Lime really pops next to black and also matches well with neutrals like white and tan. The colors that pair well with lime include:
Similar colors to lime
Looking for a different hue? The following colors are related to lime.
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