Color Inspiration: Lavender (2024)

What Color Is Lavender?

The color lavender is a pale, light purple color, named after the flower of the same name. Much like the flower, it has a cool undertone, typically leaning more towards purple than violet (which would be more of a red hue). In nature, lavender flowers can vary in hue and value. You could, for example, have a dark lavender color or a lighter lavender color in a natural setting. However, a pastel color tends to first come to mind. We’ll take a look at several lavender color shades for your inspiration (perfect if you’re looking to build a lavender color aesthetic).

Love lavender? #E6E6FA is the hex code for a beautiful light purple background—the perfect lavender color.

Note that lilac is often associated with lavender, as the two are close neighbors. The color lilac vs. lavender comes down to hue. Note the lavender blue color tone versus the warmer red nature of lilac. Lavender color tends to be cooler, whereas lilac is almost a pink lavender color, regardless of value (light or darkness).

Think about the color wheel. If you’re looking for a more blue lavender color, lean into blue and less towards a pink lavender color, like lilac. Lavender and lilac color palettes can pair very well with other pastels, like pinks and blues.

The History and Meaning of the Color Lavender

What’s the meaning of the color lavender? It has an association with peace and calm. Again, this may stem from the lavender flower, which is known for its calming properties and scent. It’s common to see this color associated with tranquility.

Interestingly, the word lavender—which again, is likely a reference to the flower of the same name—may come from the Latin word “lavare”, which means “to wash” (source). Lavender has been used for its scent for hundreds of years. It’s also had a large presence in aromatherapy as it’s a soothing scent often used for relaxation and sleep. It’s no wonder, then, that this color is associated with things like calm and peacefulness.

Purple, however, has often had an association with royalty and prestige. The light purple nature of lavender changes that communicative quality. For example, imagine a deep, royal purple—even a dark lavender color. There’s something so regal and strong about it.

A light lavender color, in contrast, is much softer. There’s a gentleness here that almost feels like a breath of cool, refreshing air—it lacks the intensity of a more saturated purple color. We could push this even further with a more muted, dusty lavender color or even a gray lavender color. It could make this color feel subtle, like a whisper.

Lavender Hex, RGB, and CMYK Color Codes

What is the color of lavender in different contexts? Check out these lavender code color values for quick reference.

Use these lavender code color values to select the perfect lavender background color or help you start your own lavender color palette.You can also easily convert CMKY to Pantone colors, if you prefer.

Shades and Tints of Lavender

Let’s start our exploration with a look at some of the different shades and tints of lavender. Use these values to help you select colors in a similar range.

By increasing the value, we can easily come up with the perfect dark lavender color code. Note that these colors are directly influenced by our starter lavender. There is officially a dark lavender color code (#734f96) that is far more saturated!

Likewise, we can decrease the value to create the perfect light purple background. Since lavender is already quite light in value, this lavender color palette is quite pale and subtle.

Next, let’s jump into some complementary colors. On a standard color wheel, purple’s complement is yellow. Therefore, it’s worth looking at some lavender pastel color variants that follow this theme. Take a look—it’s a sweet, welcoming palette with a springtime feel.

That said, a blue lavender color is right at home among soft pastels. If you’re exploring what colors go with lavender, this take is light, playful, and fun. It may resonate well with springtime projects, holidays like Easter, or even projects for children.

Lavender Color Palette Inspiration

But there’s so much more we can do with lavender. In fact, lavender wedding colors are very popular for their soft, dream-like qualities. Likewise, we often see lavender in cosmetics and other products that want to communicate a soothing vibe.

Let’s take a look at some color palette inspiration and lavender color symbolism you can use in your design projects.A lot of these palettes take inspiration from color theory basics.

1. Lavender and Soft Earthy Tones

Try starting with a lavender blue color and mixing it with soft, earthy tones. Again, lavender has a strong association with the lavender flower, so this color palette makes good sense. It could be a great choice if your project focuses on organic or plant-based projects. It could have a strong association with florals too.

2. Lavender and Blues

Lavender already leans into blue, so this color scheme takes that idea and runs with it. Push into blue and then even into blue-green—they both work really nicely with lavender. Don’t be afraid to up the saturation too, as we see in the fifth color in this palette. This harmonious color scheme is rather analogous, when looking at the color wheel, so it’s a simple and easy-to-use choice.

3. Lavender and Pinks

Love a lilac lavender color? Rather than debating which you prefer, the color lilac vs. lavender, why not team them up? Lavender and lilac color schemes can make for a delicate, pretty aesthetic. Imagine beautiful, patterned florals in this color scheme. This looks like something right out of a tea set or floral painting, doesn’t it? It would be a lovely choice for lavender wedding colors.

4. Lavender, Black, and Golds

But not all lavender color schemes have to stay soft. Try pairing a gray lavender color with a bold black, grays, and gold. This high-contrast color scheme can make a much stronger impact than sticking to more muted, lower-value choices. Imagine the gold and lavender here as foil stamps—it could be quite a classy look.

5. Lavender and Saturated Colors

Likewise, you can be playful and unexpected with lavender too. Here’s a look at a dusty lavender color paired with some fun, saturated color choices. In this case, it might make a perfect lavender background color, while the “louder” colors here are used to create emphasis in the composition.

6. Lavender and Mauve

If you fancy a more pink lavender color, you can take the lavender and lilac color and push more towards a red or a mauve. Notice how it creates such a warm color scheme. Again, remember to reference the color wheel. Purple, violet, and red are close neighbors, so using colors like this should prove to be quite harmonious.

7. Lavender and Triadic Inspired Colors

Triadic color schemes are another color wheel concept. If you’re still unsure about what color goes with lavender best, you might want to try a concept like this one. Pairing a light purple with orange and green not only has some natural vibes but also keys into that triadic color system. Keep the values soft and the saturation low for a relaxing color scheme.Again, color theory and the color wheel can be an excellent means of generating interesting color palettes.

8. Lavender and Royal Colors

Remember when we mentioned royalty in our discussion of lavender color symbolism? We can use that association to our advantage too. Try a strong, royal purple and red—pair them with gold and accent them with a soft lavender. The result is a bold color scheme that has a touch of softness, perfect to use as a supplement.

9. Lavender and Yellow Greens

Instead of pushing towards blues or blue-greens, try jumping towards the yellow side of green, like a soft chartreuse color. This is another light lavender color scheme that could have a strong association with peaceful, relaxing energy. Light purple, lavender color shades are so good at capturing that tranquil feeling.

10. Lavender and Vanilla

Here’s a tasty color scheme with some bakery inspiration in mind. Warm, creamy vanillas paired with lavender can be a fun choice. In this case, the lavender is a bit more unexpected. Notice how we have warm beiges, brown, and cream—the blue lavender color adds some interest here, breaking up that pattern.

How to Use Lavender

Now that you have some idea of what colors go with lavender, let’s explore some examples of lavender in action. While lavender definitely has its niche, it can be used in fun and creative ways too. From packaging to business cards, check out these interesting projects that use a lavender color aesthetic.

Package Design

Skincare, makeup, and other cosmetics are a place we often see lavender—and with good reason. Check out these lovely package designs. You might notice some familiar things here, like the use of yellow. It’s a strong complement when working with purple, whether it’s a light purple color or a dark lavender color. Yellow has the potential to pop against purple too. But notice how we see variants of lavender, both light and dark, in these packages.

Invoices, Schedules, and Planning

When it comes to plans, receipts, and schedules, stress might come to mind. Remember the meaning of the color lavender? It can be a creative color to use in situations like this because it visually communicates the opposite of stress. Lavender is generally a peaceful, tranquil color, so using it in planning materials and receipts might create an atmosphere that’s a little more inviting for the task at hand.

Events and Invitations

Lavender wedding colors are very popular, and we particularly see that when looking at event and invitation design. Light-purple lavender colors pair so nicely with florals. Check out these lovely examples—notice the green in the first as a subtle complement. In the second, we lean into those soft, earthy values.

Business Card Design

Lavender can also be an excellent choice for business card design—and branding in general. It’s all about what you aim to communicate. If your professional focus and communication would benefit from keywords like peaceful, welcoming, and tranquility, consider giving lavender a try. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a rustic aesthetic either. Note how the second business card here is quite modern in its aesthetic and use of lavender.

Pattern Design

Patterns using lavender can also benefit from those communicative properties. Patterns inherently rely on repetition—which can be inherently calming, soothing, and supplemental. Lavender fits in so well with this concept! Again, florals are often a strong choice, but notice how different shapes, styles, and aesthetics can work well with this soft, welcoming color.

Explore More Color Combinations Today!

You have so many options when exploring ​​what color goes with lavender. Color is very communicative, so keep that in mind when making your choices and building your color palettes. If you’re looking for a soft, peaceful color, consider lavender. It’s a great choice for weddings, but also consider stressful situations that might want added peace. A doctor’s office, for example, could benefit from soft, peaceful colors.

Use this lavender color inspiration to help you with your next design project. Happy designing!