Purple and red are two common colors that many people have in their crayon boxes or see around them in everyday life. When mixed together, these two colors combine to create a new shade known as maroon. But why exactly does blending purple and red make maroon? Let’s take a closer look at the color theory behind this color mixing combination.
Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
To understand why purple and red make maroon when combined, it helps to first review some color basics. The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. These are the core colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors. When two primary colors are blended together in equal parts, they make the secondary colors:
- Red + Blue = Purple
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Blue + Yellow = Green
Secondary colors are located between the primary colors on the color wheel. Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color adjacent to it on the color wheel. For example:
- Red + Purple = Red-Purple
- Blue + Green = Blue-Green
- Yellow + Orange = Yellow-Orange
The tertiary colors have more complex names but are often simplified to the two colors used to create them.
How Red and Purple Make Maroon
Keeping these color relationships in mind, maroon is considered a tertiary color between red and purple on the color wheel. More specifically, maroon forms when you mix together red and purple.
Red and purple are both strong, vivid colors. Red is a primary color and purple is a secondary color. When blended, these two colors temper each other into the darker, more muted tertiary shade of maroon.
The mixing ratios of the two colors influence the exact hue of maroon created. Mixing equal parts red and purple will result in a true, balanced maroon. Adding more red pushes the shade toward a more reddish maroon, while extra purple shifts it to a more purple-based maroon.
The Color Properties of Maroon
So what are the defining characteristics of maroon as a color? Here is an overview of its key color properties:
- Hue – Maroon is considered a reddish-purple shade positioned between red and purple on the color wheel.
- Value – Maroon has a darker value than its parent colors of red and purple. Adding colors together darkens their values.
- Saturation – Maroon has lower saturation than red and purple, which are both highly saturated colors. Mixing highly saturated colors together lowers the overall saturation.
- Shades – There are many shades of maroon ranging from reddish maroons to more purple-based maroons depending on the mixing ratios used.
- Lightness – Maroon is generally considered a dark color with low lightness. However, tinting it with white can produce lighter maroon shades.
Examples of Maroon Colors
There is some flexibility in the precise appearance of maroon depending on how the red and purple pigments are blended. Here are some examples of maroon colors and their hex code values:
| Maroon Shade Name | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Rich Maroon | #AB4E52 |
| Dark Reddish Maroon | #8B3838 |
| Soft Maroon | #C35B66 |
| Purple Maroon | #7B1146 |
These swatches demonstrate the range of maroons from more red-based shades to purple-toned maroons.
Maroon vs. Other Similar Colors
Maroon is often confused with other deep red or reddish-purple shades. How does maroon compare to some of these similar colors?
- Burgundy – Burgundy is a darker, cooler red than maroon with more brown undertones.
- Ruby – Ruby is a much brighter, luminous reddish color compared to the muted maroon.
- Magenta – Magenta is a vivid reddish purple closer to purple. Maroon is a more subdued mix of red and purple.
- Cordovan – Cordovan is lighter and less grayish than maroon with a strong burgundy influence.
- Garnet – Garnet is brighter and more purple-red than the brownish maroon.
While similar, maroon stands apart from these other shades in its darkness, slight purple undertone, and muted quality.
Uses and Meaning of the Color Maroon
Now that we understand the makeup and characteristics of maroon, what is this color used for and what meaning does it convey? Some key uses and associations include:
- Associated with prestige and luxury due to its rich, elegant look.
- Often used in formalwear and business attire.
- Used to convey elegance, sophistication, exclusivity.
- Popular fall/winter color used in fashions and home decor.
- Common color for interior design accents and wall colors.
- Distinguishes elite schools and exclusive organizations.
- Used by major universities as a primary team color.
Maroon is a flexible color that spans formal and casual settings. Its muted, earthy quality lends an elegant sophistication while still feeling grounded.
Tips for Mixing Maroon
Ready to start working with maroon in your own projects? Here are some top tips for combining and styling this rich color:
- Pair maroon with neutrals like cream, tan, gray and black to create classic, elegant looks.
- Combine with whites and pastels for a softer aesthetic with maroon as the accent.
- Mix and match shades of red and purple with maroon as a bridge between the two.
- Add texture with maroon velvets, corduroys and faux fur accents.
- Use maroon as a solid wall color or on accent walls in a room.
- Add maroon throw pillows, rugs, blankets and other accessories to a neutral room.
- Incorporate maroon through vases, candles, table linens and other decorative touches.
With its flexibility, maroon works in formal, casual, traditional, modern and eclectic spaces. Have fun using this rich color in your own style.
Conclusion
When blended together, the primary color red and the secondary color purple create the dark, muted tertiary shade known as maroon. Understanding the color relationships on the color wheel helps explain how this color mixture works. Maroon’s unique color traits like its purple-red hue, dark value, lower saturation and range of shades distinguish it from other similar reddish-purple colors. This versatile and sophisticated hue has many uses spanning fashion, interior design and branding. So next time you mix together red and purple, you can feel confident knowing you’ve created the elegant tertiary color maroon.
