Lavender is a light purple color that is named after the flowering plant Lavandula. The lavender plant produces light purple flowers, which is how the color got its name. However, there is some debate around whether lavender should be considered a light or dark shade of purple. In this article, we will examine the different shades of lavender and purple, look at how they are defined, and determine whether lavender is truly a dark purple or not.
Defining Lavender and Purple
To understand whether lavender is a dark purple, we first need to define what we mean by “lavender” and “purple.”
Lavender is a pale, soft shade of violet. It is considered a light, cool color and is associated with spring and femininity. Lavender got its name from the lavender flower, whose blooms are a light purple or lilac shade.
Purple, on the other hand, is a secondary color made by combining red and blue. It is considered a royal, rich color associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, and ambition. There are many shades of purple, from light to dark. These include:
| Light Purple Shades | Dark Purple Shades |
|---|---|
| Lilac | Royal Purple |
| Mauve | Eggplant |
| Wisteria | Byzantium |
| Thistle | Tyrian Purple |
| Lavender | Imperial Purple |
As you can see, lavender is generally considered one of the lightest shades of purple, while dark purple contains richer, deeper hues.
The Color Spectrum
To better understand lavender’s place among purple shades, it helps to look at the color spectrum. The color spectrum arranges colors by hue and lightness/darkness.
Violet and purple fall at the end of the color spectrum, between blue and red. Within the purple family, colors range from light to dark. Lavender sits at the very light end, as a pale rendition of violet. As purple gets darker, it moves through medium shades like lilac and mauve into deep hues like eggplant and burgundy.
So in the range of purples, lavender is decidedly light, especially compared to richer, darker purples.
Lavender Color Codes
Examining the hexadecimal color codes that define lavender also sheds light on whether it qualifies as a light or dark purple.
On the standard RGB color wheel used for digital and web displays, the main lavender color code is:
RGB: 221, 160, 221
Converted to a hexadecimal code, this is:
Hex: #DD9ADD
As RGB values get closer to 255, they get lighter. Lavender’s RGB values put it solidly in the lighter end of the spectrum.
There are also lighter and darker variations of lavender with the following codes:
– Lavender (light): #E6E6FA
– Lavender (medium): #B57EDC
– Lavender (dark): #967BB6
But even the darkest shade of lavender here is relatively light compared to true dark purples like eggplant (#430541) and deep purple (#301934).
So again, the specific color codes show that lavender falls more in line with light purples than darker shades.
How the Eye Perceives Color
Our perception of color is subjective. Two people may look at the same lavender item and come to different conclusions about whether it appears light or dark.
In general though, the human eye tends to perceive pale, desaturated shades as lighter and rich, saturated shades as darker. Lavender is quite soft, pale and desaturated compared to deep purple hues.
Studies on color perception find that we tend to classify colors along three main attributes:
– Hue – The pigment, ranging from reds to violets
– Value – The lightness or darkness of a color
– Chroma – The saturation, purity or intensity of a color
Lavender is perceived as having a light value and low chroma. Light values make a color appear soft and muted rather than intense. Low chroma means a color has been diluted with gray or white rather than being fully saturated.
These qualities give lavender a lighter, more subdued look compared to the very high value and chroma of dark purples.
Cultural Color Associations
The meanings and impressions associated with lavender versus deep purple also show how they are perceived differently.
Lavender is strongly associated with spring, romance, youth, femininity and softness. Its delicate, flowery nature gives it a light and tender feel.
Deep purples like eggplant and burgundy feel richer, more mature, prestigious and elegant. Dark purples are associated with royalty, luxury, ambition and mystery.
So culturally, lavender elicits images of innocence and lightness, while deep purples convey depth, prestige and intrigue. This reinforces lavender’s status as a lighter purple, not a darker shade.
Uses and Applications
The uses and applications of lavender vs. dark purple also indicate how they are perceived differently:
– Lavender has decorative applications like spring wreaths and flower arrangements. It is used in feminine products, nurseries, baby blankets and wedding themes.
– Dark purple is used for more elegant, formal occasions like state dinners and fancy galas. It conveys prestige in applications like royal robes, luxury packaging and capes.
– Lavender is popular for women’s apparel like dresses, blouses and hats. Dark purple is seen in richer fabrics like velvet and satin.
– In food, lavender flavors things like shortbread cookies, cupcakes, and scones. Dark purple is found in foods like plums, grapes, berries, wine, and chocolate.
So lavender tends to have delicate, sweet applications fitting a light color, while dark purple conveys formality, luxury and sophistication.
Lighting Conditions
The lighting that lavender and dark purple are viewed under also impacts whether lavender appears light or dark.
In bright lighting, lavender retains its light, soft, muted appearance. But in dim lighting, it can appear darker and richer. Meanwhile, dark purples look very dark under any lighting.
So lavender has chameleon-like properties in that it shifts in look based on lighting. But dark purple remains consistently dark across conditions.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of color spectra, color codes, human perception, cultural meanings and real-world use cases, lavender sits decidedly on the light end of the purple family.
While lighting can influence its appearance somewhat, lavender is widely considered a light, delicate shade whether it is used in fashion, decor, food or other applications. Its soft, pale nature gives it an airy, feminine feel compared to the depth and prestige of true dark purples.
So while lavender is undeniably a purple, it falls far on the light end of the purple spectrum rather than being considered a dark purple hue. When comparing purple shades, lavender is very light and muted in look and feel.
References
ColorSOS. “Purple Color Meaning – The Color Purple Symbolism.” Accessed September 23, 2023. https://www.colorsos.com/purple-color-meaning-symbolism/.
Bourn, Jennifer. “Color Meaning: Meaning of The Color Lavender.” Bourn Creative, February 14, 2011. https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-lavender/.
Green, Jonathon. “What Is the Difference Between Lavender & Lilac?” Hunker, July 17, 2017. https://www.hunker.com/13410409/what-is-the-difference-between-lavender-lilac.
Kuehni, Rolf G. Color: An Introduction to Practice and Principles. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
Lindbloom, Bruce. “RGB/HTML Color Wheel.” Accessed September 23, 2023. https://www.colorwheels.com/rgb.htm.
Wikipedia contributors. “Lavender (color).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed September 23, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender_(color).
