Purple is a color that evokes feelings of royalty, luxury, and creativity. It lies at the end of the visible spectrum, making it one of the rarer colors in nature. Lilac is a lighter, softer shade of purple that also brings to mind spring flowers and femininity. But does lilac properly belong to the purple color family? While opinions differ, most color experts agree that lilac can be considered a type of light purple.
Defining purple
To determine if lilac belongs to purple, we first need to define what exactly purple is. Purple is a secondary color made by mixing red and blue. The word purple comes from the Old English word purpul which was borrowed from the Latin word purpura meaning a shellfish dye. This dye was expensive and associated with the robes of royalty and high officials in ancient times.
On the color wheel, purple sits between red and blue. It is considered neither warm nor cool but rather a harmonizing bridge between the two. There are no exact specifications for what shades count as purple, but in general purple contains more red than blue. Darker shades like violet have more blue while lighter lavender tones contain more red.
The range of purple shades
There is a wide spectrum of shades that fall under the purple umbrella. Here are some of the most common purple tones:
| Purple Shade | Description |
|---|---|
| Violet | The deepest shade of purple, leaning slightly blue |
| Royal purple | Saturated, medium to dark purple |
| Eggplant | Dark purple with hints of red |
| Lavender | Light, pinkish purple |
| Lilac | Pale purple with grayish undertones |
| Mauve | Soft purple-pink |
| Orchid | Light purple-pink |
As you can see, there are lighter pastel purples as well as deeper, richer purples under the purple umbrella. Most color shades that contain a mix of red and blue lean purple, even if they have warm or cool undertones.
Defining lilac
So how does lilac fit into the purple family? Lilac is an extremely pale, desaturated shade of purple. It was named after the light purple color of lilac blossoms. Some key facts about the color lilac:
– Lilac contains traces of red and blue but is much closer to white than purple on the color wheel.
– It is a pale violet shade with cool, grayish undertones.
– Lilac is lighter and brighter than lavender. It has less pink than lavender or mauve.
– The hex code for lilac is #C8A2C8.
– Lilac works well in spring color palettes and girls’ bedrooms.
– Common synonyms for lilac include wisteria, bloom, and baby’s breath.
So while lilac contains hints of violet, it is quite a bit softer and subtler than most shades of purple. It sits at the pastel edge of the purple family.
Lilac and purple comparisons
Here are some visual comparisons that show where lilac fits in relation to other purple shades:
| Purple Shade | Sample |
|---|---|
| Violet | |
| Lavender | |
| Lilac | |
| Orchid |
As you can see, lilac is much lighter and grayer than rich violet shades. It sits alongside other pastel purples like lavender and orchid.
Expert opinions on lilac and purple
Color theory experts seem divided on whether lilac fully qualifies as a purple or not. Here are some opinions on the lilac-purple relationship:
– The HEX code for lilac (#C8A2C8) places it between pink and purple on the color wheel, leaning slightly more purple.
– David Briggs, author of “The Dimensions of Colour,” groups lilac with other purples but notes its grayish tendencies.
– Donna Baker, who analyzes color meanings, says that lilac straddles the line between pink and purple and could go either way.
– According to Paint and Pantone color specifications, lilac fits under violet and purple umbrellas.
– Some interior designers exclude lilac from purple palettes since it lacks richness and intensity.
So while opinions vary, most experts group subtle lilac at the very edge of the purple family. It seems to be a crossover between pink, purple, and gray shades.
Conclusion
Based on an evaluation of its hue, tint, color wheel placement, and expert analysis, lilac can be considered a very light, soft shade of purple. It sits alongside other pale purples like lavender and orchid. While lilac lacks the richness of true purples like violet and eggplant, it contains enough blue undertones to technically qualify. However, its grayish tendencies put lilac closer to a purple-pink hybrid than a full purple. When decorating, it may make more sense to pair lilac with pinks and grays rather than deeper purples. But on the whole, the delicate bloom of lilac does belong on the far edges of the purple family.
