Is purple and lavender the same color?
Purple and lavender are often used interchangeably to refer to shades ranging from light to dark violet. However, while related, the two colors have some distinct differences.
Key Characteristics of Purple
Purple is a secondary color made by combining red and blue. On the color wheel, it is located between violet and magenta. Some key characteristics of purple include:
– Wide range of shades – Purple has a wide spectrum ranging from dark mulberry to pale lilac. Popular purple shades include royal purple, amethyst, plum, and berry.
– Associated with luxury and royalty – In many cultures, purple is associated with wealth, exclusivity, and nobility. Historically, the expensive purple dye was affordable only to royalty.
– Made from mixing red and blue – When you combine red and blue in equal amounts, you get a vivid violet-blue purple. Adding more red makes purple redder, while more blue makes it bluer.
– Located between red and blue – On the color wheel, purple sits between the primary colors of red and blue. It blends the passion and energy of red with the calm and serenity of blue.
– Complementary color is yellow – The complementary color of purple is yellow. This means purple and yellow contrast strongly with each other.
Key Characteristics of Lavender
Lavender is a lighter purple with a soft, floral feel. Some defining features of lavender include:
– Pastel, light purple – Lavender is a pale, soft purple with a washed-out appearance. It is much lighter than vibrant purple shades.
– Named after the lavender flower – The distinctive color takes its name from the light purple flowers of the lavender plant.
– Soothing, feminine aura – With its soft, delicate hue, lavender evokes a sense of gentle femininity and old-fashioned charm.
– Relaxing, calming effect – Lavender is thought to have a calming effect on mood and emotions. The color is associated with relaxation and sleep.
– Located closer to pink on the wheel – On the color wheel, lavender sits between purple and pink. It has more pink undertones compared to richer purples.
– Complementary color is yellow-green – Lavender’s complementary color is a bright yellow-green. The two colors create a vibrant contrast.
How Purple and Lavender Differ
While lavender is technically a light shade of purple, calling it purple doesn’t quite do it justice. Here are some key ways that purple and lavender differ:
| Purple | Lavender |
|---|---|
| Vibrant, deep shade | Pastel, pale shade |
| Evokes passion and energy | Evokes relaxation and calm |
| Located between violet and magenta | Located between purple and pink |
| Royal, luxurious associations | Soft, delicate, floral associations |
| Made by combining red and blue | Tinted by adding white/pink to purple |
As shown in the table, purple tends to be bold and deep while lavender is soft and light. Purple is a secondary color between red and blue. Lavender is a tinted tertiary color made by diluting purple towards pink and white.
Comparing Shades
Looking at specific shades makes the distinction clearer. Here are some examples contrasting purple and lavender hues:
– Royal purple vs lavender blush
Royal purple is a rich, jewel-tone purple resembling the color of European royalty. Lavender blush is a pale, pinkish tone like the inside of certain seashells.
– Eggplant purple vs. lavender gray
Eggplant purple is a deep reddish-purple resembling eggplant skin. It sits between purple and magenta. Lavender gray is a pale purplish-gray that retains the softness of lavender.
– Violet purple vs. lavender blue
Violet purple is a vibrant purple leaning towards indigo and blue tones. Lavender blue is much softer sky blue with only a hint of pale purple.
– Mulberry purple vs. lavender pink
Mulberry is a dramatic reddish-purple color, like the juice of mulberries. Lavender pink is whisper-soft, with barely any saturation.
Psychology of the Colors
In color psychology, purple and lavender elicit some shared and some differing psychological responses:
| Purple | Lavender |
|---|---|
| Regal, luxurious | Gentle, graceful |
| Mysterious, esoteric | Romantic, nostalgic |
| Creative, imaginative | Soothing, peaceful |
| Wise, dignified | Feminine, delicate |
Purple is associated with extravagance, creativity, and mystery. Lavender has connotations of romance, femininity, and calm. Both evoke a sense of spirituality.
Cultural and Historical Associations
Culturally, purple and lavender have the following associations:
– Purple is the color of royalty, used for the robes of emperors and kings. It represented power and prestige.
– In the Catholic church, cardinals wear purple robes. Bishops wear lavender.
– Associated with magic and mysticism, purple gels were used when photographing ancient grimoires.
– Lavender represents caution or acknowledgment of something ironic in British dressage horse riding competitions.
– To the Greeks, purple had divine associations with Bacchus and Dionysus. Lavender represented beauty and cleanliness.
– In New Age and mystical beliefs, purple auras indicate higher consciousness and spiritual awakening. Lavender auras have similar connotations.
– Purple became associated with the women’s suffrage movement in the late 19th century in Britain and America.
Usage in Fashion and Décor
In fashion and interior design, purple and lavender are used in the following ways:
– Purple adds drama and intrigue to any outfit. Dark eggplant purple is a staple color for winter clothes.
– Pale lavender and lilac shades are used for spring and summer wear, often in girls’ dresses and feminine clothing.
– In interiors, bold purple makes a dramatic accent wall or statement piece. Softer lavenders are popular for bedroom colors.
– Lightweight chiffon or lace in lavender is used for curtains and other home textiles to create a Victorian feel.
– Vibrant purple makes for lively accent pillows, throw blankets, and area rugs.
– Pastel lavenders and lilacs are trendy baby nursery and kids’ room colors for their playful femininity.
Significance in Nature
In the natural world, purple and lavender appear in the following instances:
– Lavender flowers are a distinctive pale purple with a fresh, floral scent used in perfumes.
– Purple mountain majesties refer to the hazy purple appearance of mountain ranges seen from afar.
– Jacaranda trees have trumpet-shaped purple flowers that give a vivid color splash when they bloom.
– Purple loosestrife is an invasive wetland plant with a brilliant purple bloom.
– Purple butterflies like monarch butterflies have an iridescent purple sheen to their wings.
– Purple garlic is a variety of hardneck garlic with a rich purple stripe on each clove.
– Amethyst, a luminous purple quartz, is one of the most famous purple gemstones, often favored by royalty.
Conclusion
In summary, while lavender is technically a light purple, it has distinctive soft, elegant connotations compared to the drama and prestige of true purple. Calling a pale, delicate lavender shade “purple” fails to capture its full essence. So while the two colors are linked, they are not quite the same!
