Lavender Color - Exploring and Using Shades of Lavender in Your Art (2024)

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Fields of lavender purple bushes spanning over hills as far as the eye can see are commonly seen in the valleys of France, their sweet fragrance is used in many bath and cosmetic products and perfumes. But what color is lavender? Lavender purple is one of nature’s most glorious colors. Did you know that gorgeous shades of lavender can be found in flora, fauna, and even in a morning sunrise? Would you like to learn more about lavender color? Let’s look at how to make or mix the lavender color, lavender symbolism, and the lavender color meaning. Finally, we will touch on a fantastic topic for decorators and designers: what colors go with lavender?

Describing Lavender Color

Lavender color is best described as light purple and it is named after a plant we all know – one with its small, vibrant purple flowers clumping together on a long stem. Bursting with fragrance, one can almost smell the lavender color just by looking at a tin of paint! As we know, the color purple, which lavender is, is made by blending the red and blue primary colors. To achieve the lavender color, a touch of white would be needed to add to the blend. While lavender color does have red inside its pigment, it is a more blue-toned shade, which is obvious by its cooler undertones. There are many shades of lavender, however.

What color is lavender? Well, to the untrained eye, lavender color can easily be mistaken for other shades of purple. The argument lies between lilac vs. lavender. It all has to do with warm and cool tones as well as the temperature of colors which collectively form part of the color theory wheel.

So, what colors make lavender and how do we know the difference between lilac vs. lavender? Warm tones are red, yellow, and orange, these can be found on the one side of the color wheel. The cooler tones include blue and green. The cooler tones are found on the opposite end of the color wheel. Below you will find the lilac vs. lavender color table:

History of the Lavender Color

The word “lavender” was first used in 1705. It was derived from the lavender flower plant and soon became a well-known and loved color. Lavender color eventually found its way into the ever-popular book published in the early 20th century, A Dictionary of Color. Fashion designers and stamp collectors were one of the first to mention the various shades of lavender. Back in 1950, the Dictionary of Color Names also mentioned this purple shade.

The simple lavender flower color we all know and adore is still considered a “true” lavender color.

The lavender-purple flowers have a multitude of uses, from medicine, tinctures, and perfumes, and they can even be used in baking or in tea. The humble shade, lavender, dates back to early civilizations and can be seen in the remains of Egyptian mummification. Some historians believe that the use of lavender oil in soaps, scents for linen, and perfumes, was developed in the 16th century. It has continued to be used today for a large variety of products.

What Is the Meaning of Lavender Color?

In the early days, lavender purple was hard to find. As such, the color was only seen worn by royalty, wealthy individuals, or at religious gatherings. It was worn by those who could afford it, and today, it still holds its meaning and symbolism. There is so much to say about lavender symbolism because of its rich history. Christianity has claimed that lavender is closely connected to Lent or Easter and can also represent sorrow.

Lavender symbolism has deep roots in many cultures around the world and is often associated with springtime, youthfulness, sophistication, creativity, and femininity. The lavender purple color has masculine meaning too, thanks to its association with wealth, strength, and royalty. In modern living, the simple lavender color is used in healing as it has relaxing and calming properties.

The Various Shades of Lavender

Lavender color is probably one of the most diverse shades of color in the world. Most digital designers will agree that there are many shades of lavender, and it makes design work more fun when you have a beautiful pallet of lavender colors to choose from!

Floral Lavender

This lavender color was originally named periwinkle. Soon, there were multiple shades of lavender purple, and eventually, its name changed to “lavender”. The book A Dictionary of Color was published in the 1930s. The book mentions three additional lavender color names, lavender gray, lavender-blue, and old lavender.

A fact to note is that the lavender gray color was used in Prismacolor colored pencil and later known as a grayed lavender, with the code PC1026.

Web Lavender

Web lavender is the shade of lavender favored by digital designers and webmasters. This lavender purple is lighter than the floral lavender and complements other colors, which makes it an ideal shade for digital commerce.

Lavender Blush

The lavender blush shade of lavender is light and pale purple, it contains white in its mix. A brighter lavender shade containing pink undertones would be the heliotrope lavender color, whereas the lavender blush is predominantly white.

This color is best paired with pastel shades.

Light Lavender

The light lavender color is best defined as light violet and was often nicknamed “wisteria” because the light lavender shade is very similar to the wisteria blossom. While many would consider the Prismacolor pencil PC 956 a lighter shade of violet, it is actually a lilac color. You can find this color in Crayola crayons since 1993.

Languid Lavender

The languid lavender can be defined as a pale, grayish, violet-lavender color. One of the lightest shades of lavender, it was first discovered in the 1940s using the Polchere color system.

This is still used by designers today!

More Lavender Colors

There is a wide range of lavender colors to choose from, and there are too many to list in this article. Paint brands such as Sherwin-Williams have developed a multitude of lavender shades in their color chart, so we have selected the top shades that may interest your curiosity.

A Look at How to Make Lavender Color

Learning how to make lavender color is very easy. When mixing the primary colors blue and red you get purple, but the trick to making lavender is the consistency of the individual primary color. Adding more red paint will present itself as a lilac color, and adding more blue would push it to be a lavender purple. Once you have created your mix of the two primary colors, you would need to use a touch of white to cool the mixture and create a lavender purple. Choosing what shade of either red or blue can also play a role in the outcome of your color mix.

The recommended shades to use are as follows:

Mixing Lavender Colors

Learning how to make lavender colors is easy! When mixing the primary colors blue and red, you get purple. The trick to making lavender is the consistency of the individual primary color. Adding more red paint will present itself as a lilac color, and adding more blue would push it to be a lavender purple. Once you have created your mix of the two primary colors, you will need to add a touch of white to cool the mixture, thus creating a lavender purple. Choosing what shade of either red or blue can also play a role in the outcome of your color mix. The recommended shades to use are as follows:

• Cerulean blue
• Ultramarine blue
• Quinacridone magenta
• Primary magenta
• Permanent Rose

A good mixing technique is to add touches of color at a time, be sure to mix slowly and carefully, especially when adding a primary color like white or black. Remember, less is more!

When mixing lavender purple, you can begin blending by using an equal amount of the primary color.

If you add more blue to the ratio, it will result in a darker purple, and the opposite will happen if you add more red, resulting in a warmer shade of purple. When mixing your colors, ensure that you blend the paints efficiently and minimize any paint streaks. To soften your paint mix of blue and red, you can add white paint. This will make it resemble a lavender purple. Here are a few paint color combinations you could try:

• For a darker lavender shade containing gray undertones, you can mix with cerulean blue and permanent rose.
• For a lovely bright shade, you could combine cyan and magenta.

Adding white to these color combinations will create colors like amethyst or pastel lilac. When creating a lavender purple color pallet, you should try to document your color mixes and multi-shades of lavender in a collection for future reference. Some have considered adding black to the mix to darken their lavender color, but sometimes this can be overbearing and ruin your mix.

Of course, you don’t have to mix all your colors! You could add white to store-bought shades of lavender and then create your desired blend. When learning what colors make lavender and how to make a lavender color, it is important to note the types of primary colors you use. For example, if your red paint has yellow undertones, it could present as a brownish mix. The same goes for the blue pigment. It’s suggested that you check the paint label or test the color before blending. Another example of a yellow undertone in red paint could make your mix appear pink rather than peachy. To avoid mixing the incorrect color blends, keep your workspace clean!

A Look at Different Lavender Color Combinations

Shades of lavender have been used in fashion and design since the dawn of color in ancient civilizations. Lavender symbolism is connected to imagination and creativity. The lavender color exudes luxury and wealth! For 2023, it has been predicted by the WGSN trend forecast that the shade lavender will be on the top list for popularity! It is not hard to imagine because of how versatile the lavender color can be in fashion, when it comes to clothing items such as jackets, handbags, dresses, and coats, this color will stand the test of time!

Gray or silver are beautiful complimentary colors for lavender. These colors work handsomely as accents in a white room. Using decor, such as lavender color cushions and a lavender color throw draped over a gray couch in front of a white wall, is one way to spruce up a room with these color combinations. Here are a few charts to show you what some color combinations look like:

Interior designers are no strangers to the lavender color, and you will often see shades of lavender being used for children’s rooms or nurseries. It was considered a feminine color, but modern design techniques and ideas have pushed the lavender color to new heights! Now, designers are experimenting and using lavender as a bold accent wall in an underwhelming room. What colors go with lavender, you ask? Neutral colors such as gray, silver, and white would complement the shades of lavender. Take a look at the table below:

Mint With Lavender Purple

Lavender purple and mint green are meant to be together – they are an ideal color match! One of the most popular color combinations used for weddings, the cool mint alongside the lovely lavender purple will make any atmosphere soothing as it initiates a calming effect.

Yellow With Lavender Purple

When choosing color combinations, it is always best to decide if you want opposing colors, or if you prefer a complementary color scheme. The best opposing colors would be yellow and lavender color. These two complement each other even though they sit on opposite ends of the color wheel.

Ideally, to not overwhelm the space, you can add these colors as an accent by adding cushions, pillows, vases, and even curtains.

Pink With Lavender Purple

Pink and lavender purple is a known color combination often used in girls’ bedroom interior design. Unicorns and fairies are what spring to mind! That said, it isn’t a recommended color combination to be used in other rooms in the house! If you are eccentric, then who is to say that a pink and lavender purple kitchen color choice would be incorrect? In any design situation, the use of color through accessories and accent walls is the best way to add color to interior design!

The lavender color is timeless, and no one can argue that fact! Designers of all types will tell you that there are plenty of shades of lavender to choose from. So, you are bound to find one to your taste! How do you know what colors make lavender or what color goes with lavender? The trick is to experiment and be creative! Perhaps you will choose lavender purple for your next design plan, seeing that it will be trendy again soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Color Is Lavender Best Described As?

Lavender purple claimed its name from the lavender plant. It is best described as a light purple shade. To create various shades of lavender, you can add white to purple colors.

Which Color Combinations Look Best With Shades Of Lavender?

It is easy to figure out what colors go with lavender. It combines well with neutral colors such as gray, white, and beige. Colors such as green, pink, yellow, and pastel shades go very well alongside shades of lavender. For a bolder color combination, you can try brown or black.

What Color Combinations Make Lavender Purple?

How to make lavender purple is easy. Simply take your primary colors red and blue and add white to create shades of lavender.

What Is the Lavender Color Meaning?

Lavender symbolism is enriched in history, and lavender color meaning is connected to royalty and luxury. It’s rich in history and is linked to sophistication and wealth. It is said to bring a sense of calm and peace.