Choosing color palettes that go well together can be tricky, especially when working with less common shades like lavender and mint green. However, with some basic color theory knowledge, you can create beautiful, harmonious color combinations. In this article, we’ll explore what colors pair nicely with lavender and mint green to help you make decor and fashion choices you’ll love.
Understanding Color Harmony
Before looking at specific color combinations, it’s helpful to understand the basics of color harmony. The main types of harmonious color schemes include:
Complementary – Opposite colors on the color wheel (e.g. red and green)
Analogous – Colors next to each other on the color wheel (e.g. blue, blue-violet, and violet)
Triadic – Colors equally spaced around the color wheel (e.g. red, yellow, blue)
Split-Complementary – A color plus the two colors on either side of its complement (e.g. orange, blue-green, and blue-violet)
Tetradic – Two pairs of complementary colors (e.g. red, green, blue, and orange)
Monochromatic – Shades, tones, and tints of one single hue
Understanding these harmonious color schemes helps guide us in choosing colors that work well with lavender and mint green.
What Colors Go with Lavender?
Lavender is a light purple or violet shade that leans slightly blue on the color wheel. When selecting colors to pair with lavender, we want to look at analogous, complementary, and split-complementary schemes.
Analogous Colors
Analogous colors that go well with lavender include:
– Light blue
– Periwinkle
– Plum
– Orchid
– Lilac
– Violet
– Mauve
Sticking with shades that are adjacent to lavender on the color wheel creates a soothing, harmonious look. Light blue and periwinkle complement the blue undertones in lavender, while plum, orchid, and lilac pick up on its purple notes.
Complementary Colors
The complement of lavender is yellow-green. This creates a vibrant, high-contrast color scheme. Specific yellow-green shades that complement lavender include:
– Chartreuse
– Lime green
– Yellow-green
– Greenish-yellow
A small pop of any of these yellow-green shades can make lavender “pop” in an interior space or outfit. Use sparingly to create an energizing contrast.
Split Complementary Colors
The split complements of lavender are the colors on either side of yellow-green:
– Yellow
– Green
These create a less jarring but still striking color combination. Buttery yellows and fresh greens pair beautifully with lavender in all sorts of design applications.
Triadic and Tetradic Colors
Lavender works well in triadic and tetradic color schemes too. Possible triadic options include:
– Lavender
– Red-orange
– Blue-green
And tetradic lavender palettes could include:
– Lavender
– Chartreuse
– Red
– Blue
These schemes offer contrast while maintaining balance through the use of colors evenly spaced around the color wheel.
What Colors Go With Mint Green?
Mint green is a soft, cool pastel green. Effective color pairings complement or contrast the blue undertones in mint green.
Analogous Colors
Analogous colors that look great with mint green include:
– Seafoam green
– Aqua
– Turquoise
– Teal
– Blue-green
Using different tones of greens and blues in the same family as mint green creates a calm, soothing palette. The analogous colors share enough hints of green and blue to complement mint green nicely.
Complementary Colors
The complement of mint green is red-violet:
– Magenta
– Fuchsia
– Raspberry
– Wine
– Plum
These reddish-purples contrast beautifully with mint green. They create an eye-catching, vibrant color scheme. A little bit of a red-violet color goes a long way when paired with mint green.
Split Complementary Colors
The split complements of mint green are the colors on each side of red-violet:
– Red
– Violet
Mint green paired with scarlet reds or purpley-blues like violet make surprising yet pleasing combinations.
Triadic and Tetradic Colors
Possible triadic color schemes with mint green include:
– Mint green
– Magenta
– Yellow-orange
And tetradic options could be:
– Mint green
– Magenta
– Yellow
– Blue
Carefully chosen shades can ensure these color schemes are harmonious rather than clashing.
Best Color Combinations with Lavender and Mint Green
Now that we’ve explored colors that go well with lavender and mint separately, let’s look at color combinations that feature both lavender and mint green together:
Lavender and Mint Green
Obviously these two pastel colors pair beautifully on their own! Combining light purple lavender with cool mint green creates a soft, feminine aesthetic. The two colors have enough contrast to be visually interesting but their muted tones keep them peaceful and relaxed.
With White
Adding crisp white to lavender and mint green lightens up the palette. White acts like a neutral blank canvas that allows the other colors to really shine.
With Light Blue
Since both lavender and mint green contain hints of blue, light powder blue complements both colors nicely.
With Pale Yellow
Buttery pale yellow brings out the green tones in mint green and adds warmth to balance the coolness of lavender.
With Gray
Medium grays help ground lavender and mint green’s softness with their neutrality. Charcoal gray can also add nice contrast.
| Color Scheme | Example Color Combination |
|---|---|
| Lavender + Mint Green | Lavender + Seafoam Green |
| With White | Lavender + Mint Green + White |
| With Light Blue | Lavender + Mint Green + Powder Blue |
| With Pale Yellow | Lavender + Mint Green + Pale Yellow |
| With Gray | Lavender + Mint Green + Medium Gray |
Using Lavender and Mint Green Together in Design
Now that you know what colors pair nicely with lavender and mint green, how do you put that knowledge into practice? Here are some tips for successfully working these colors into your designs:
Home Decor
In home decor, lavender and mint work best when used sparingly alongside neutrals like white and gray. Use lavender and mint in accent pieces like throw pillows, area rugs, and decorative accessories. Painting one wall in a soft lavender or mint green can also work beautifully.
Clothing and Fashion
For clothing and fashion accessories, lightweight fabrics like linen, chiffon, or lace help maintain the delicate feeling of lavender and mint. Use lavender as the dominant color and add mint green accents or vice versa. Layer white and gray separates on top for a complete outfit.
Events and Parties
The light, airy vibe of lavender and mint makes them a perfect pairing for spring and summer events like baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, weddings, and brunches. Use them in your invitations, decorations, flowers, and refreshments.
Graphics
For graphic design, websites, logos, or marketing materials, use lavender and mint green as background colors paired with a bolder, contrasting shade like navy blue, magenta, or black for text and accents. Keep photographs and graphics clean and minimalist.
Conclusion
Creating cohesive, harmonious color palettes with uncommon shades like lavender and mint green just takes a bit of color theory know-how. Stick with analogous, complementary, triadic, and tetradic schemes using colors suggested in this article, and you’ll always achieve aesthetically pleasing results. Whether you’re dressing up your home, perfecting your wardrobe, planning events, or beautifying websites and brochures, lavender and mint green are a match made in design heaven.
