Purple is a beautiful and regal color that can make a bold statement in any room. However, choosing the right accent colors to pair with purple can be tricky. The wrong color combinations can clash or make the purple seem dull. When selecting an accent color, it’s important to consider the undertones and hue of the specific purple. Pairing complementary colors is the easiest route, while shades of purple paired together create a monochromatic look. With some basic color theory knowledge, you can find the perfect purple color combinations for any space.
Complementary Colors
Complementary colors are located opposite each other on the color wheel. They create a high contrast look that really makes the colors pop. For light and bright purple shades like lilac and lavender, the complementary color is yellow. The warm yellow brings out the lightness and brightness of the purple. Pairing dark purples like eggplant and burgundy with yellow can make the space feel unbalanced, so instead opt for the color’s cooler complementary – green. The right green has enough contrast against the dark purple without competing.
| Purple Shade | Complementary Color |
|---|---|
| Light purples like lilac and lavender | Yellow |
| Dark purples like eggplant and burgundy | Green |
Analogous Colors
Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel, meaning they share similar undertones. Pairing analogous colors creates a harmonious, blended look. For purples, analogous color combinations include:
- Purple, blue, and blue-green
- Purple, red-purple, and red
- Purple, red-purple, and pink
Light shades like lilac look beautiful with pastel blue and green. A regal deep purple pops against burgundy and fuchsia. Just be sure to vary the tones and saturation of each color so they don’t bleed into one another.
Split Complementary Colors
The split complementary color scheme uses colors on both sides of a color’s complement. This creates a more nuanced and subtle contrast than using direct complementary colors. For purple, split complementary options include:
- Purple, yellow-orange, blue-green
- Purple, red-orange, blue-green
- Purple, yellow-green, red
This scheme works for both light and dark purple shades. The warm and cool contrasting colors provide visual interest while remaining soft and inviting.
Triadic Colors
The triadic color scheme uses three colors spaced equally around the color wheel. This creates a very vibrant look. Triadic color combinations with purple include:
- Purple, orange, chartreuse
- Purple, red-orange, spring green
- Purple, cranberry, lime green
While triadic harmonies are bold, be careful not to use colors that are too overpowering or bright. Softer shades tend to look more elegant.
Tetradic Colors
Tetradic color schemes use four colors spaced evenly around the wheel. This creates a colorful, dynamic look. Tetradic combinations with purple include:
- Purple, yellow-orange, blue-green, red
- Purple, orange, spring green, orchid
- Purple, chartreuse, crimson, seafoam
With four colors in play, it’s especially important to pay attention to balance. Use various tones and saturation levels of each color to prevent the combinations from appearing jarring.
Monochromatic Colors
Monochromatic palettes use various tones, shades, and saturations of one single color. With purple, this may include:
- Pale lavender, lilac, vivid purple, dark purple
- Wisteria, plum, eggplant, deep wine
- Pastel purple, purple, royal purple, deep violet
When sticking to a single color family, vary the tones enough so they don’t bleed together. Adding white creates softer pastel versions while using black produces deeper jewel tones.
Neutrals
For a subtle accent, neutral tones like white, black, gray, beige and wood can provide an understated complement to purple. Crisp white makes vivid purples pop while black adds contrast to lighter lavender shades. Wood tones warm up deeper hues like plum and eggplant. Stay away from pairing bright purple with dark brown, which can look murky.
| Purple Shade | Neutral Colors |
|---|---|
| Vivid purple, fuchsia | White, light gray |
| Lavender, lilac | Black, dark gray |
| Plum, eggplant | Wood tones, beige |
Metallic Accents
Metallic accents like gold, silver, copper and bronze pair beautifully with purple shades. Gold and brass bring out warm undertones in deep reddish purples. Silver and copper complement light cool tones like lavender and lilac. Limit metallic accents to small doses to avoid an overly flashy look.
| Purple Shade | Metallic Colors |
|---|---|
| Lavender, lilac, wisteria | Silver, copper |
| Eggplant, wine, burgundy | Gold, brass |
Nature-Inspired Colors
Drawing accent colors from nature is an easy way to create a harmonious, organic look. Soothing greens pair beautifully with light purples, while earth tones like terracotta and mossy green complement deeper shades. Greenery and foliage work well with any purple hue.
- Lilac – Sage green, seafoam, robin’s egg blue
- Lavender – Moss green, celadon, peach
- Eggplant – Olive, terracotta, oatmeal
- Wine – Forest green, caramel, sand
Keep accent colors subtle so they enhance rather than compete with the main purple hue.
Conclusion
With endless purple varieties from pastel to vivid, finding the perfect accent shades may seem tricky. But understanding basic color theory makes combining colors easy. Sticking to complementary hues almost guarantees success. Analogous and triadic harmonies create vibrant, eye-catching palettes. Split complementary and tetradic schemes provide nuanced contrast. Monochromatic plans offer a calming sense of cohesion. Neutrals, metallics and nature-inspired accents gracefully enhance purple’s beauty. Trust your instincts and you’ll find the ideal complements to any purple paint, fabric or decoration.
