Colors That Match Lavender

Inspired by the soft hue of lavender flowers, the color lavender is a light tint of purple. Similar to the scent of lavender, which has a calming effect on the mind, walls painted in lavender may help you feel soothed and restful.

The color residing opposite of lavender on the color wheel is a light tint of yellow. Yellow balances the cool, relaxing side of lavender with a touch of warmth. Used together, yellow and lavender make a room comfortable and inviting. Brighten a lavender bedroom with sunny yellow curtains and bedding. Use yellow frames on pictures mounted to a lavender wall. Accent lavender upholstery on a sofa or chair with lemon-yellow pillows or use yellow and lavender pillows on a taupe or gray sofa.

For more variety in a lavender color palette, try a split complementary scheme using yellow orange and yellow green. This combination works well in nurseries and kids' bedrooms, using a trio of pastel colors or brighter, more saturated hues. Have some fun on walls with a band of horizontal stripes in yellow orange, lavender and yellow green. Paint an accent wall behind a lavender headboard in yellow orange, covering the bed with a floral patterned quilt in white, lavender and light yellow green. In an adult bedroom or living room, use muted shades for more of a neutral tone while adding color to the room. Paint walls in a muted sunflower, celery or lavender or a combination of two, using one color on an accent wall. Use the third color as an accent color on an upholstered piece, ceramic art or an area rug.

If you can’t get enough lavender, layer the room in varying tints and shades of this purple hue. The palest shade of lavender on a paint chip often looks like a soft gray, revealing a hint of purple once you have it on the walls. Consider this tone for a light and airy feel on the ceiling. The deepest shade of lavender appears as a dark, mysterious purple, adding a sense of richness when used on an accent wall or luxurious velvet drapes. Use a medium shade of lavender on walls or upholstered furniture*. Neutrals add depth and interest to monochromatic schemes, giving the eye a place to rest from all the purple. Use a crisp shade of white or cream on trim and mix in gray, brown and taupe on furniture and flooring.

Add more complexity to a lavender room with an analogous mix of violet, blue-violet and red-violet hues. Bring in red-leaning shades of plum and fuschia mixed with blue-leaning notes of iris, periwinkle and indigo. Accent lavender walls with drapes in plum and a bedspread featuring a floral print in fuschia, lilac and green. Drape an indigo throw over the arm of a periwinkle chair and include a pair of bedside lamps with iris-colored ceramic bases.