Color Guide: How to Work With Lavender
Ever fresh, lavender comes in many flavors for the home: sophisticated neutral, cool accent and, yes, perennial nursery favorite
Lovely lavender. It's feminine and spring-like and has the dewy freshness of youth. Which is why it shows up in so many nurseries. But lavender isn't just kid stuff. It's a sophisticated, varied and versatile color that works in any room in the house.
True lavender is a mix of violet and white and is named for the flower. But what we call lavender incorporates an immense spectrum of colors, from light purples to pale pinks, to blues and grays. Generally its purple and pink versions — and these range in tone from very light to medium dark — evoke femininity and youth and freshness, while the grayer hues are more neutral, elegant and grown-up.
Its complementary colors depend on which lavender you are using. Every variation looks crisp and bright with white. The brighter, purple versions looks great with lime green and orange. The grayer lavenders look great with beige, magenta and yellows (gold and warm browns). But as you will see from the photos below, there is almost nothing you can't put with it. It's seen here with charcoal, navy, turquoise, terra-cotta and more. Did I leave anything out?
True lavender is a mix of violet and white and is named for the flower. But what we call lavender incorporates an immense spectrum of colors, from light purples to pale pinks, to blues and grays. Generally its purple and pink versions — and these range in tone from very light to medium dark — evoke femininity and youth and freshness, while the grayer hues are more neutral, elegant and grown-up.
Its complementary colors depend on which lavender you are using. Every variation looks crisp and bright with white. The brighter, purple versions looks great with lime green and orange. The grayer lavenders look great with beige, magenta and yellows (gold and warm browns). But as you will see from the photos below, there is almost nothing you can't put with it. It's seen here with charcoal, navy, turquoise, terra-cotta and more. Did I leave anything out?
This bright, true lavender seems to pop off the wall. But in this setting it looks modern and sophisticated. It could easily go frilly with different accessories.
A warm, purple lavender looks so rich and beautiful on this wainscoting. It's young and fresh but not so babyish that you'd need to paint over it as this child grows. I think this particular combo could work in a lot of different rooms.
This very pale lavender is so innocent and soft. But again, it’s not babyish. It works for an infant, but it would work for an adult too.
A color consultant can help pick the perfect hue for your space
A color consultant can help pick the perfect hue for your space
The Pinks
This rosy pink lavender is so unexpected and so very lovely with these stained glass windows. This space brings traditional and contemporary design together perfectly. Doesn’t it just look peaceful?
This rosy pink lavender is so unexpected and so very lovely with these stained glass windows. This space brings traditional and contemporary design together perfectly. Doesn’t it just look peaceful?
A pinkish-lavender stairwell is just a little bit glamorous. It gives a soft warmth to the grays and bright whites that live with it here.
This very pale pinky lavender adds to the feminine nature of this home office. And it looks so lovely with the gold tones in the mirror, floor and chair.
The Grays
This shade of gray lavender was on the cover of every design magazine in 2010. It's warmer than a true gray but subtle enough to work as a neutral. It has an elegant, rich feel. It also looks great as upholstery.
This shade of gray lavender was on the cover of every design magazine in 2010. It's warmer than a true gray but subtle enough to work as a neutral. It has an elegant, rich feel. It also looks great as upholstery.
A lighter, and maybe even grayer, version. It's the perfect neutral for this eclectic but formal living room.
This is a very blue lavender, almost a periwinkle. I love it with all the bright pinks and purple. Even with the bold, vivid colors, this room is very traditional and not at all over the top.
Another pale blue lavender on the walls. Because everything else is so colorful and bright, the wall color recedes into a nice, warm neutral.
In the Bath
This touch of lavender adds some femininity and keeps this bright white bath from feeling too sterile.
This touch of lavender adds some femininity and keeps this bright white bath from feeling too sterile.
Lavender is the perfect backdrop for major glamour, especially when paired with gold.
In the Bedroom
Layers of lavender and purple fit right in with this earthy bedroom, maybe because they so often appear in the natural world.
Layers of lavender and purple fit right in with this earthy bedroom, maybe because they so often appear in the natural world.
Lavender gets along perfectly in this eclectic room full of color. It looks especially good with the gold curtains, don’t you think?
In the Kitchen
A bank of hypermodern lavender-gray cabinets gives this space its life and even a touch of humor.
A bank of hypermodern lavender-gray cabinets gives this space its life and even a touch of humor.
Lavender Ceasarstone quartz counters. This kitchen is pretty frilly, but I think this could work in a very modern kitchen with clean lines and very little embellishment as well.
Lavender cabinetry is both homey and modern.
Talk to a local kitchen designer about adding a touch of lavender to yours
Talk to a local kitchen designer about adding a touch of lavender to yours
Decorating With Lavender
Here is that grayish-lavender upholstery I was talking about. It's modern, but it's also timeless. And it looks so great with golds and creamy white.
Here is that grayish-lavender upholstery I was talking about. It's modern, but it's also timeless. And it looks so great with golds and creamy white.
More grayish-lavender upholstery. It looks rich and elegant in this marvelously eclectic room. That lavender and gold suzani sofa makes me swoon.
True-blue lavender upholstery paired with a dark, grayish lavender accent wall and lots of gold. Colorwise, this room has got it going on (I am less sure about the design of the furniture).
Lavender Outside
The real deal. Most of the lavender color you see outside is going to come from lavender flowers and other landscaping plants, like catmint, echium and wisteria.
The real deal. Most of the lavender color you see outside is going to come from lavender flowers and other landscaping plants, like catmint, echium and wisteria.
Lavender shutters against a turquoise house equals fun.
A lavender door with its Caribbean sister colors.
Lighter but still very purple. This is what most people think of when they think of lavender.
Very soft, pinkish lavender. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is for babies and little girls only. It could be a great neutral.
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A light purple lavender with a shock of bright, vivid chartreuse saves this open, modern room from the expected bright white of so many rooms in this style. I love it.