Pastel colors are defined by their soft, muted, and delicate appearance. Typically, pastels are achieved by adding a lot of white to a pure hue to make the color lighter and less saturated. So can dark colors like black, navy blue, dark purple, etc. also have pastel versions? Let’s explore the nature of pastel colors and see if dark shades can qualify.
What Makes a Color Pastel?
Pastels get their pale, delicate appearance from having a high value and low saturation. Here are the key criteria that make a color qualify as pastel:
- High value – Pastels contain a lot of white or light gray mixed in, making them much lighter than the pure, saturated version of the hue.
- Low chroma/saturation – Pastels are desaturated and muted, meaning they lack intensity and appear “softer” than bold, rich colors.
- High tint – Pastels have white added to the original hue, creating a pale tint of the color.
By lightening the shade and reducing the saturation, pastels take on a gentle, subtle look. They are meant to evoke feelings of calmness, delicacy, and innocence. Some examples of classic pastel colors are powder pink, lavender, mint, buttercream, and baby blue.
The Nature of Dark Colors
Dark colors like black, navy, burgundy, forest green, etc. have very different inherent qualities from pastels:
- Low value – Dark colors naturally have low value, meaning they absorb and reflect little light.
- High saturation – Many dark colors are highly saturated, intense shades.
- Low tint – Dark colors have little white added to the original hue.
With their deep, dramatic personalities, dark colors seem practically the opposite of the soft, fragile pastels. So can a color that’s intrinsically dark and saturated ever become light and muted enough to qualify as pastel?
How to Make Dark Colors Pastel
While it may seem counterintuitive, there are ways to transform dark hues into pastel versions. Here are some tips:
- Add white – Mixing in white lightens the shade and reduces saturation, two key criteria for pastels.
- Add gray – Mixing in shades of gray also lightens the color without intensifying it.
- Desaturate – Reduce the intensity and vibrancy significantly to make the color more muted.
- Use as a tint – Apply the darkened pastel as a tint rather than a solid, opaque color.
By manipulating the properties of dark colors, you can reach pastel or “pale” versions of the shades. Of course, they may never seem quite as airy and delicate as pinks, peaches, or mints, but with enough white or gray blended in, you can get surprisingly soft variations.
Examples of Dark Pastels
Here are some examples of how deep hues can be transformed into lighter, softer pastel versions:
| Dark Color | Pastel Version |
|---|---|
| Navy blue | Pale powder blue |
| Forest green | Sage green |
| Eggplant purple | Lavender |
| Charcoal gray | Silver gray |
| Burgundy | Dusty rose |
As you can see, deep colors like navy, purple, green, and burgundy can become pastel with enough white or gray mixed in. The pastel versions have a much softer, more subtle appearance.
Benefits of Dark Pastels
Turning dark hues into pastels offers some unique benefits:
- Muted tone – They provide a more muted, softened version of an intense dark color.
- Versatility – They expand the range of shades available in the pastel family.
- Uniqueness – Dark pastels offer an unexpected twist on the standard light pastel palette.
- Depth – While softened, dark pastels retain a subtle depth not found in light hues.
Pastel versions of deeper colors like black, brown, navy, plum, and charcoal can create more sophisticated, elegant pastel palettes. The darkened shades add subtle contrast and dimension.
Using Dark Pastels
Here are some ways to effectively utilize pastel versions of darker hues:
- Combine with lighter pastels – Layering softened darker pastels with powder pinks, mints, etc. creates visual interest.
- Use as accents – Dusty darker pastels work nicely as accents against lighter backdrops.
- Add contrast – Dark pastels inject subtle contrast into overall pastel schemes.
- Try as tints – Applying darkened pastels as tints helps maintain their softness.
Incorporating subdued versions of navy, plum, charcoal, and other deep shades adds maturity and intrigue to overall pastel palettes. The darkened pastels introduce new tones while still retaining a soft, muted quality.
Challenges of Dark Pastels
Creating pastel versions of dark colors comes with some potential challenges:
- Still too intense – Even lightened, some dark shades like black may read as too intense.
- Colour muddiness – Mixing in too much white or gray can lead to muddiness.
- Retaining depth – It can be tricky finding the right balance between lightening and retaining some depth.
- Not as versatile – Dark pastels may not work as seamlessly for every application as standard pastels.
It requires very careful mixing and testing to find ideal pastel versions of dark shades. The more white and gray added, the more muted and possibly muddy the colors become. Dark pastels also may not suit every design or subject matter quite as easily as traditional pastels.
Best Candidates for Dark Pastels
Certain deep colors make better candidates for pastel versions than others. Here are some of the top dark shades to try converting to pastels:
- Navy blue – When lightened, it becomes a beautiful, cool pastel blue.
- Eggplant or plum – Light eggplant purple easily achieves a soft, delicate pastel lavender.
- Forest green – Darkening standard pastel greens creates sophisticated sage shades.
- Burgundy – Just a touch of white produces an elegant dusty rose tone.
- Charcoal – Mixing in light grays results in a refined, muted charcoal gray.
These richer, darker starting shades tend to reach attractive pastel finishes with just the right amount of softening and desaturation. Their inherent depth gives them an advantage over attempting to pastelize black or brown.
Should You Use Dark Pastels?
So should you consider incorporating dark pastels into your design work? Ask yourself these key questions:
- Do you want to expand your color palette beyond standard pastel shades?
- Are you looking to add subtle sophistication and contrast?
- Does your subject matter suit the muted mood of pastels?
- Are you willing to carefully test and mix to find ideal softened dark shades?
If you answered yes, experimenting with navy, plum, sage, brick, or charcoal pastels could be rewarding. The elegant, subdued darker tones can add poise and nuance to overall pastel palettes. Just take care not to muddy or over-lighten the hues.
Conclusion
While it may seem counterintuitive, many deep, dramatic shades like navy, burgundy, forest green, and charcoal gray can be lightened and softened into pastel versions. By adding plenty of white and desaturating the colors, you can create muted, delicate pastels from dark hues. These darkened pastels add sophistication, contrast, and expanded options to standard pastel palettes. With careful mixing to retain some depth along with lightness, rich darks like plum, teal, and brick can become unlikely candidates for the pastel family.
So don’t be afraid to experiment with transforming those bold, intense shades into airy pastels. You may discover an elegant, refined palette you never expected from such brooding colors.
