Periwinkle is a light bluish-purple or lavender color. It takes its name from the periwinkle flower, which has light blue to purple five-petaled flowers. Periwinkle is a popular color for paint, fashion, and decor. It evokes feelings of relaxation and tranquility. Periwinkle has long been associated with spirituality and mysticism. Let’s explore the origins, meanings, and uses of the classic color periwinkle.
What is Periwinkle?
Periwinkle is a pale purple blue color that takes its name from the periwinkle flower. The periwinkle or Vinca minor is a creeping myrtle plant that produces lavender blue flowers.
There are over 400 species of periwinkle plants, but only a few have significance for their color:
– Common periwinkle – Vinca minor – Has lavender blue flowers. The color periwinkle is named after this plant.
– Madagascar periwinkle – Catharanthus roseus – Native to Madagascar, this plant has pink, white, and reddish purple flowers.
– Greater periwinkle – Vinca major – Native to Europe, it has pale blue to purple flowers.
The color periwinkle is a light tone of purple-blue that matches the light blue to purple color of some periwinkle flowers. The first recorded use of periwinkle as a color name in English was in 1922.
Periwinkle Color Codes
Periwinkle has a hexadecimal code of #CCCCFF. It is made by mixing equal parts cyan, magenta, and blue light at full brightness.
Here are some other ways to represent the periwinkle color:
– RGB: 204, 204, 255
– CMYK: 20, 20, 0, 0
– Pantone:665 C
Periwinkle is located between lavender and lilac on the color wheel. It is a pale, desaturated shade of purple-blue.
Periwinkle Meanings
What does the color periwinkle represent? Here are some of the symbolic meanings associated with periwinkle blue:
– Serenity – The soft, pale blue evokes a feeling of calm and relaxation. It is associated with mindfulness and tranquility.
– Spirituality – In many cultures, the color blue represents spirituality and mystic forces. Periwinkle blue has a spiritual or magical quality.
– Femininity – Light purple shades are seen as feminine, romantic, and nostalgic. Periwinkle is a popular color for baby girls.
– Memory – The color is said to induce nostalgia and remind us of distant memories. It represents remembrance.
– Friendship – In China, the color periwinkle represents friendship and partnerships. Exchanging the color represents an alliance.
So in summary, periwinkle represents tranquility, spirituality, nostalgia, femininity, and friendship.
History of Periwinkle
Periwinkle has been known since ancient times when periwinkle plants grew in the wild throughout Europe and parts of Asia. Here is a brief history behind the color periwinkle:
– Ancient Greece – Periwinkle flowers are mentioned in the writings of Greek scholars as early as the 2nd century BCE. The Greeks referred to the plant as vinka or vincapervinca.
– Middle Ages – European monks gathered the periwinkle plant for its medicinal properties. They used it to treat diseases like diabetes, malaria, sore throat, and wound healing.
– Victorian Era – Periwinkle became a popular color during the Victorian period. Soft pastel shades like periwinkle and lilac were popular in women’s fashion.
– 1920s – The first known use of periwinkle as a color name in English appeared in 1922. Periwinkle and mauve shades were fashionable during the Art Deco era.
– New Age – In New Age beliefs, periwinkle is associated with the “Third Eye Chakra”, which represents intuition and extrasensory perception.
So periwinkle has a long history dating back to Ancient Greece as a medicinal plant and later became an trendy color in decor and fashion.
Use of Periwinkle Color
Today periwinkle remains a popular color choice in many settings:
Fashion
– Periwinkle is commonly used in women’s clothing and accessories, especially blouses, dresses, and shoes.
– It pairs nicely with black, white, silver, gray, and other cool neutrals.
– In alternative fashion, periwinkle hair dye is a trendy way to get a pastel purple hair color.
Interior design
– In home decor, periwinkle works nicely for walls, bedding, upholstery, curtains, and accent pieces.
– It creates a relaxing effect along with white trim for a beach cottage or spa aesthetic.
– Periwinkle pairs well with most other colors since it is so pale and subdued.
Website design
– For websites, periwinkle can create a calming, trustworthy feeling.
– It is often used along with white space and minimalist layouts.
– Periwinkle is easy on the eyes for long periods of time on screens.
Marketing
– Many brands use a periwinkle blue in their logo and branding to cultivate a feeling of tranquility and spirituality.
– It is also used to appeal to women’s sensibilities.
– Periwinkle is a friendly, non-threatening color, great for creating brand affinity.
So in design and branding, periwinkle is widely used to convey calmness, spirituality, and nostalgia. Its pale purple-blue shade has almost universal appeal.
Periwinkle Color Palettes
Periwinkle can be paired with many colors depending on the desired look and feel. Here are some recommended periwinkle color palettes:
Periwinkle and White
– Periwinkle and white creates a fresh, open look. The white anchors the lightness of periwinkle.
– Works nicely in beach house, cottage, or Mediterranean inspired rooms.
– Also popular in New England and nautical themed designs.
Periwinkle and Gray
– Periwinkle gray is a soothing, sophisticated color combination.
– Looks modern and stylish, popular in contemporary interior design.
– Works well for creating a relaxing spa or retreat environment.
Periwinkle and Green
– Periwinkle and mint green is a pretty springtime color palette.
– Brings to mind fresh flowers, pastel candies, and Easter eggs.
– Try pairing with other pastels like peach and yellow for a soft, feminine look.
Periwinkle and Gold
– Periwinkle and gold communicates spirituality and magic.
– Reminiscent of ancient mystic practices, tarot cards, and divination.
– Works great for New Age gift shops, fortune tellers, and mystic art.
So periwinkle pairs nicely with white, gray, green and gold depending on the overall look you want to achieve.
Matching Colors
What are some colors that are similar to periwinkle? Here are some matching shades that coordinate well with periwinkle:
– Lavender – Lavender is slightly darker and brighter than periwinkle. More purple than blue.
– Lilac – Also darker than periwinkle. Lilac is a pale violet shade with more red-purple hues.
– Baby blue – Has more blue than periwinkle but is just as pale and soft looking.
– Powder blue – Similar to baby blue but slightly darker. Works well with periwinkle.
– Thistle – A pale purple gray color that is a close match to periwinkle.
– Orchid – Orchid is more purple than periwinkle but they complement each other nicely.
– Wisteria – Wisteria is also a plant name and a pale purple shade that pairs well with periwinkle.
So some close color equivalents include lavender, lilac, baby blue, powder blue, thistle, orchid and wisteria. All share a light purple or blue palette.
Tones of Periwinkle
Periwinkle can be made into many lighter and darker tones. Here are some variations:
– Pale Periwinkle – Nearly white with just a hint of purple-blue.
– Periwinkle White – Periwinkle with a lot of white added to dilute the color.
– Dark Periwinkle – More purple blue intensity while still muted.
– Periwinkle Blue – Emphasizes the blue notes over the purple.
– Periwinkle Lilac – Muted lilac shade with hints of periwinkle.
– Deep Periwinkle – A darker, more saturated version of the classic color.
– Pastel Periwinkle – Very light and desaturated periwinkle.
– Vivid Periwinkle – Slightly more intense than the original shade while remaining soft.
There are endless variations of periwinkle tints, tones, and shades. Adding white lightens it to pastel periwinkle; adding black deepens it to deep periwinkle. Adjusting the levels of blue vs. purple also creates new hues.
Periwinkle Color Psychology
Periwinkle has a generally positive color psychology, evoking feelings of:
– Calmness – The pale purple shade is soothing and peaceful. It lowers stress levels.
– Spirituality – Periwinkle is associated with mysticism, magic, and expanding consciousness.
– Nostalgia – It reminds people of pleasant memories and wistfulness.
– Femininity – Seen as a delicate, romantic color related to feminine energy.
– Openness – The cool blue tones feel airy, open, and free.
However, some negative associations include:
– Ambiguity – Due to being so pale and vague, periwinkle can seem ambiguous.
– Immaturity – In some contexts, the soft color can seem childish rather than sophisticated.
– Melancholy – While nostalgic, periwinkle can also induce sadness over the past.
Periwinkle works best in design to create feelings of tranquility, mysticism, and remembrance. Its associations with spirituality and femininity allow for a wide range of applications.
Conclusion
In summary, periwinkle is a light purple or lilac blue color named after the periwinkle flower. It has a relaxing effect and represents spirituality, nostalgia, femininity, and friendship. Periwinkle has been used since ancient Greek and Roman times for medicine and dye. It rose to popularity in the Victorian era and Art Deco period as a fashionable pastel shade.
Today periwinkle remains widely used in interior design, website design, fashion, and marketing to convey tranquility, sentimentality, and mystical qualities. It works nicely with white, gray, green, gold, and other light, airy colors. There are many tones of periwinkle ranging from pale baby blue to vivid lilac. Experiment with this classic shade in your next design or DIY project for a touch of relaxing color.
