Purple is a beautiful and popular color that can pair well with many shades. However, some colors don’t mix as well with purple and can make an unappealing or clashing combination. As an interior decorator or fashion designer, it’s important to understand what colors don’t complement purple tones.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the color wheel and basic color theory to break down exactly what colors don’t go well with purple. We’ll also provide visual examples of bad purple pairings and better alternatives. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of which hues to avoid when working with purple.
Understanding the Color Wheel
To know which colors clash with purple, we first need to understand the basics of the color wheel. The color wheel displays shades in a circle according to their undertones. We can break the color wheel down into:
Primary Colors
The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. These are pure pigment colors that can’t be created by mixing other shades. All other colors are derived from the primary three.
Secondary Colors
When you mix two primary colors, you get a secondary color. For example:
- Red + Blue = Purple
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Blue + Yellow = Green
Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary and secondary shade. For instance:
- Red + Purple = Red-purple
- Blue + Green = Blue-green
- Yellow + Orange = Yellow-orange
Complimentary Colors
Colors on opposite sides of the wheel are complimentary shades. They create a striking contrast when paired together. For purple, the complimentary color is yellow.
Analogous Colors
Analogous colors sit directly next to each other on the color wheel. Think of shades in the same color family. For purple, analogous colors are red-purple and blue-purple.
Color Temperature
Along with undertones, colors also have a temperature. Warm colors like red, orange and yellow give off warmth and energy. Cool colors like blue, green and purple feel more calming and reserved. It’s important to balance color temperatures in a cohesive palette.
Now that we understand these core color theory concepts, we can determine which hues don’t work with purple.
Colors That Clash With Purple
When deciding which colors clash with purple, we want to avoid shades on opposite sides of the color wheel. We also want to avoid pairing very warm and very cool tones together. Through color theory analysis, we’ve determined these colors tend to clash with different shades of purple:
| Color | Why It Clashes |
|---|---|
| Red | Very warm, complementary color |
| Orange | Very warm tone |
| Yellow | Warm, complementary color |
| Chartreuse | Very warm tone |
| Lime green | Very warm tone |
| Spring green | Warm tone |
| Teal | Contrasting cool tone |
As you can see, the colors that tend to clash with purple are warm shades like red, orange, yellow and bright greens. Very warm and very cool tones often create vibrating, disjointed combinations with purple’s mid-range temperature. Additionally, red, orange and yellow are on the opposite side of the color wheel from purple, making them complementary colors that can look garish together.
Now let’s look at some visual examples of bad color pairings with purple and how to fix them.
Bad Color Combinations
It’s helpful to see visuals of unappealing purple combinations to really understand why they don’t work. Here are some examples of colors that don’t complement purple tones:
Purple and Red
When paired together, red and purple create a very high contrast, complementary pairing that tends to vibrate. The eye doesn’t know where to focus, making this combination unsuitable for most applications.
Better option: Choose an analogous color like red-purple or blue-purple instead of true red for a more harmonious scheme.
Purple and Orange
Like red, orange is a very warm tone that clashes with the cooler undertone of purple. This combination can look disjointed and garish.
Better option: Swap orange for a warmer purple like mauve or use orange as an accent color strategically instead of equally paired with purple.
Purple and Yellow
While complementary colors can sometimes work in small doses, yellow and purple are so extremely different in temperature that they often look vibrating and mismatched together.
Better option: If you want to use a complementary scheme, add an intermediate color between the yellow and purple to bridge the gap. Or, shift the yellow to a warmer tone like gold.
Purple and Lime Green
Once again, the high contrast between a very warm green and mid-range purple makes for an unpleasant pairing.
Better option: Substitute lime green for a more muted green like sage. Or, use lime green sparingly as an accent color.
More Flattering Color Pairs
Now that we’ve looked at combinations that don’t work, let’s look at some more harmonious color pairs for purple:
- Purple and blues
- Purple and mauves
- Purple and plums
- Purple and pinks
- Purple and whites/creams
- Purple and grays
- Purple and taupes
- Purple and gold
- Purple and navy
Sticking to analogous, triadic or split complementary combinations will result in more attractive, subtle color schemes instead of loud, clashing pairings.
Additionally, similar shades like mauves, plums and lavenders make pleasing partners for purple. Neutrals like white, gray, tan and navy also combine seamlessly with purple. And for a touch of contrast, metallic gold adds warmth and shine.
Colors That Go Well With Different Purple Tones
The specific purple hue you’re working with can impact what pairs well with it. Light purples tend to suit warmer complements while darker purples match cooler tones. Here are some examples of flattering color pairs for different purple shades:
| Purple Tone | Most Flattering Color Pairs |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Peach, pink, warmer grays |
| Lilac | Powder blue, blush pink, cream |
| Wisteria | Sage green, butter yellow, ivory |
| Eggplant | Mint, teal, navy, pewter |
| Royal purple | Gold, olive green, espresso |
Pairing the right purple tone with flattering color matches is key for a cohesive, harmonious look.
Using Monochromatic Schemes
One easy way to create a pleasing palette with purple is to use a monochromatic color scheme. This involves working within shades and tints of one color. Combining deeper and lighter variations of purple automatically creates a cohesive look.
Adding white and blacks can enhance a monochromatic palette. Try using darker purples with crisp whites and add black for drama. The more tints and shades of purple you incorporate, the more dynamic the scheme will be.
Conclusion
Understanding which colors clash with purple helps prevent poor combinations in your designs. While bright, warm shades like red, orange, yellow and lime green tend to vibrate against purple, cooler analogous hues and neutral metallics and earth tones create more harmonious combinations. Following color theory concepts, working in similar undertones and balancing temperature will result in attractive, polished palettes. Use the guidelines and visual examples in this piece as a guide when putting together your own purple color schemes.