Purple is an interesting color that often evokes feelings of creativity, imagination, and spirituality. But is it considered a complementary color? The answer is not quite straightforward. While purple is not a primary complementary color, it can be considered a complementary color in certain color combinations.
What are complementary colors?
Complementary colors are pairs of colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. The most common complementary pairs are:
- Red and green
- Blue and orange
- Yellow and purple
These color pairs contrast strongly with each other, creating a vibrant look when used together. Complementary colors are often used in graphic design, photography, and other visual arts.
The reason complementary colors have such stark contrast is that they contain no hues in common. Red and green, for example, contain neither red nor green hues. This maximizes the visual contrast, making the two colors ‘pop’ when placed side-by-side.
Is purple a primary complementary color?
No, purple is not considered a primary complementary color. The primary complementary pairs are red/green, blue/orange, and yellow/violet. Purple does not have its own distinct complementary color.
However, purple can act as a complementary color in certain contexts. This is because purple is a tertiary color, meaning it is created by mixing primary and secondary colors.
Specifically, purple contains a mix of red and blue. This means it can work as a complement to both green and orange in some situations. Here are some examples:
- Purple and green create a harmonious pairing, since purple contains blue which is complementary to green.
- Likewise, purple and orange complement each other since purple contains red which opposes orange.
So while purple is not a primary complementary color, it can produce pleasing color harmonies when paired with green or orange due to its mixed color composition.
Color wheel showing purple’s relationships
Here is a color wheel showing how purple relates to other colors:
| Red | Orange | Yellow | Green | Blue | Purple |
As you can see, purple sits between red and blue on the color wheel. This allows it to act as a complement to the colors on the opposite side of the wheel, green and orange.
Purple and green color scheme
Pairing purple with green creates a bold, eye-catching color scheme. This works well for things like graphic design, marketing materials, packaging, and photographs.
The vibrancy of the purple plays off the natural tones of the green beautifully. The color scheme evokes feelings of creativity, spirituality, and the imagination.
Here is an example of purple and green used together:
The purple square pops against the green background. The colors complement each other in an exciting way.
Purple and orange color scheme
Purple can also pair nicely with orange. This scheme is bold and energetic, perfect for contexts like sports teams, youth brands, or modern interior design.
Orange and purple have enough contrast to be eye-catching, but still feel cohesive when used together. The warmth of the orange balances out the cool tones of the purple.
Here is an example of a purple and orange color scheme:
Again, the two colors complement each other nicely. The orange square draws attention against the purple background.
Using purple as an accent color
Purple can act as a lively accent color against neutral backgrounds. For example:
- Purple graphics on a white background
- Purple text against a gray backdrop
- Purple buttons on a black interface
The neutral background allows the purple to stand out and grab the viewer’s attention. This is useful in interfaces, documents, advertisements, and other contexts where you want certain elements to pop out.
Here is an example of purple used as an accent color against a white background:
The purple square draws the eye, contrasting strongly against the plain white background.
Purple and yellow color scheme
Purple and yellow can make for an eye-catching color combination. As complementary colors on the color wheel, they have strong visual contrast.
This color scheme is fun and energetic. It’s popular for things like toys, candy packaging, and youth brands trying to capture attention.
However, purple and yellow have so much contrast they can sometimes clash. It’s best to use one color as the dominant shade and the other as an accent.
Here is an example of purple and yellow together:
When used in balance, the two colors can work harmoniously to create visual interest and vibrancy.
Shades of purple
Purple has many shades, from light lavender to deep eggplant. Lighter shades like lavender and lilac have a softer, more delicate appearance. Meanwhile, bold shades like eggplant and magenta pop against other colors.
Using different shades of purple can add depth and dimension to a color scheme. For example, you could pair a bold magenta with a soft lilac to create contrast.
Here are some popular shades of purple:
Playing with different shades of purple can add visual interest and depth to any color scheme.
Psychology of the color purple
Purple has a unique psychological impact. It is often associated with:
- Royalty – Historically, purple garments were reserved for kings, queens, and nobles.
- Luxury – Wealth, extravagance, and high status.
- Mystery – Purple evokes a sense of the spiritual and unknown.
- Creativity – Imagination, artistry, and independence.
- Wisdom – Purple resonates as spiritual and wise.
Marketers leverage these associations in advertisements targeting luxury, creative, or spiritually-minded audiences. However, negative purple associations can include vanity, arrogance, or aloofness.
Overall, purple tends to communicate uniqueness, creative thinking, spiritual wisdom, and unconventionality – for better or worse.
Uses of purple
Some popular uses of the color purple include:
- Branding – Purple stands out in logos and branding for technology companies, foods, and youth brands.
- Fashion – Purple clothes and accessories provide a playful, unconventional look.
- Interior design – Light purple makes living spaces feel soothing, while bold purple adds drama.
- Marketing – Purple grabs attention in advertisements, packaging, and displays.
- Art – Shades of purple are widely used by artists to evoke emotion.
- Weddings – Light purple tones complement traditional white wedding decor.
Purple’s royal associations have cemented it as a popular, versatile color across many contexts and industries.
Conclusion
In summary, purple is not technically a primary complementary color. However, due to its composition of red and blue, it can act as a complement to both green and orange.
Pairings like purple and green or purple and orange create bold, eye-catching color schemes. Purple also works nicely as an accent color against neutral backgrounds.
Shades of purple bring different moods and associations, from light and delicate lavender to bold and mystical eggplant. Overall, purple is a creative, unconventional color that adds visual richness, depth, and interest.
So while not a true primary complementary color, purple can be used in complementary ways to enhance color palettes across design, marketing, fashion, and art.
