What Colors Go With Purple? – Creating a Purple Color Palette
If you’d prefer to avoid actual gold metal, you might want to include gold fabric in a room with purple furniture. Sparkling, sheer gold curtains can add a magical touch to a living room with purple walls or couches. And shimmering gold accent pillows will certainly make a statement, too.
43 Colors That Go With Purple (Color Palettes)
Purple has long been associated with royalty, and it’s a great way to add a regal air to any room. And depending on the shade you use, you can create a dark and moody aesthetic, a light springlike look, or anything in between.
What Colors Go With Purple?
Here’s a list of colors that go with purple, including color palette examples.
1. Chocolate Brown and Purple
Hex Codes: #7b3f00, #a799b7, #fff8e8
Chocolate brown is a solid grounding color when it comes to design. And particularly in a room with leather furniture, it’s easy to find: dark brown leather couches, chairs, etc. are quite common. If you want to create a darker, non-traditional look, try deep purple walls as a backdrop for chocolate brown furniture.
If you find this look too heavy, you might want to try adding pale lavender or purple accents to a room with deep brown furniture. Soft lavender blankets and throw pillows are an easy way to do this. If you really want to commit to this combination, very pale purple walls also work well in this type of room.
2. Turquoise and Purple
Hex Codes: #30d5c8, #7d5ba6, #dfd9e2
This combination is one that really pops, so it’s not for the faint of heart! Combining bold, saturated shades of each is one option, but it tends to be a bit much for most people. One of the better ways to use this combination is to use a pale version of one color and a deeper version of the other.
For example, you might consider a room with soft turquoise walls and bold, violet accents. Alternatively, you could simply add small accents of purple and turquoise to a room that is mostly neutral. Cool neutrals are your best bet here, as they can tone down the intensity of this contrast.
3. Cool Gray and Purple
Hex Codes: #8c92ac, #49416d, #a1cca5
Cool gray has become a staple neutral in modern interior design. And if you want to create a quiet mood that isn’t boring, try cool gray walls in a bedroom with a purplish patterned bedspread. This look does best in a room that also has lots of white.
You also can take advantage of this combination by making purple an accent color. In a living room with cool gray couches and chairs, you can add a pop of color with rich purple throw pillows. For an even bolder pop, try adding a purple rug. This look goes especially well with pale wood floors.
4. Ash Blue and Purple
Hex Codes: #a7c2cc, #736b92, #7d5c65
If you like both blue and gray but can’t decide between the two, ash blue is a great choice! This smoke-hued blue is often close to being a neutral, but not quite. Especially in paler hues, it makes an excellent wall color for those wanting walls with some character.
Just about any purple shade looks good with ash blue. Very dark purples exert a grounding force, while softer pastels add a gentle, springlike touch. You might try a few deep purple accents in just about any room with ash-blue walls. And if you can find a pattern with these two colors, it’s a great choice for a bedspread or throw blanket.
5. Burnt Orange and Purple
Hex Codes: #bf5700, #58355e, #e5dada
If you’re in search of an autumn-inspired palette, try the unique combination of burnt orange and purple! Though it’s especially bold (and not suited for everyone), the combination of burnt orange and deep violet is an excellent choice. The blue undertones of violet add a cool counterbalance to the heat of burnt orange.
A burnt orange accent wall is a good choice for a room with purple furniture (or even a few purple accents). A little of each of these colors goes a long way, so it’s wise to start with a small amount of each. If you find that you like this combination, you can then add more of each.
6. Warm White and Purple
Hex Codes: #fdf4dc, #533a71, #a799b7
Seemingly small choices (like the shade of white you use) can have a major impact on the overall mood of a room. And since purple is a cool color, warm white can be a way to prevent a room from looking overly cool.
Warm whites also tend to have a vintage appeal, making them a great choice for older-style rooms. For example, warm white crown molding looks great against violet walls. Or for a more modern approach, try a patterned accent wall of both purple and warm white. This is a highly versatile combination, so it can be a lot of fun to experiment with.
7. Verdant Green and Purple
Hex Codes: #12674a, #442b48, #e4dfda
Green and purple might not sound like a great combination at first. But it can be quite effective when you use actual plants in your color scheme! Potted plants look striking against purple walls of almost any shade.
If you’d prefer not to use the real thing, plant-patterned wallpapers can pair well with purple as well. Try a patterned accent wall in a room with dark purple furniture. Or for an even subtler touch, a leaf-patterned pillow or throw can add a fresh burst to a largely purple room.
8. Charcoal and Purple
Hex Codes: #36454f, #8d80ad, #f4f3ee
Charcoal gray is a staple of interior design, and for good reason. Though it functions as a neutral, its deep and rich coloring imparts a lot more personality than most neutrals do! And when you combine it with purple, the two colors can exert a cool and calming energy on the rest of the room.
Charcoal’s grounding influence is a great choice for furniture or bedspreads, and it pairs well with a bold purple accent wall. If you go this route, be sure to add some paler neutrals to prevent your palette from becoming overly dark. Light wood tones or white walls are a good way to do so.
9. Light Wood Tones and Purple
Hex Codes: #d7ba89, #462255, #b47eb3
Speaking of light wood tones, they’re a safe and dynamic choice to pair with most shades of purple. Light wood floors can add some balance to rooms with darker purple accents. But if the room you’re designing doesn’t have wood floors, you can still take advantage of this combo.
If a room has exposed beams, a light stain looks especially nice in a room with a violet rug or accent wall. You can also choose to place light-finished wooden furniture against darker purple walls for a unique, high-contrast palette.
10. Silver and Purple
Hex Codes: #c0c0c0, #7a306c, #000000
Metallic accents (or even just hardware on furniture) can add some pizazz to any room. And like charcoal, silver has a cool energy that seems to work synergistically with purple. Luckily, silver metallics are common enough that you can incorporate them any way you wish. Try silver photo frames against lavender walls for a gentle, springlike look. Or intersperse a few silver bowls or vases in a room with a purple couch, bedspread, etc.
You don’t have to incorporate actual metal to harness this combination, either. Silver-toned accent pillows make quite a statement against velour violet couches, chairs, etc.
11. Pink and Purple
Hex Codes: #ffc0cb, #7a5980, #3b3b58
This combination might seem a little too Barbie-like for most tastes. But when carefully used, it can create an inviting palette with a great mixture of cool and warm. For a subtle use of this combination, add a pink and purple patterned throw, tapestry, or even wallpaper into a mostly neutral room.
Alternatively, pale pink accent walls can function similarly to warm white walls. A purple rug or even accent pillows can be a nice touch; they still offer an interesting combination without adding an overwhelming amount of pink and purple.
12. Lemon Yellow and Purple
Hex Codes: #fef250, #54428e, #49a078
Yellow and purple are complementary colors, so combining them is great if you’re looking to add a real pop of color. That said, it’s a good idea to use one as a primary shade and one as an accent. For a bolder look, try lemon yellow walls (or even just an accent wall) as a backdrop for a purple couch. Green goes well with this combination, so try adding in a few potted plants.
For a gentler, more toned-down look, choose a soft, dusty purple to pair with lemon yellow. This look offers vintage appeal with a touch of modern energy.
13. Teal and Purple
Hex Codes: #008080, #ae8ca3, #272635
This look might remind you of the popular 90’s teal and purple patterning, but it has a place in modern design, too. A little goes a long way here, so you might even consider starting with a teal and purple patterned wall hanging. If you want to add a little more color, try choosing either teal or purple and then adding an accent rug, too.
For a little pop of color, you might want to intersperse both teal and purple accents in a room that is mostly neutral. This combination is great in a room that is primarily charcoal or another shade of cool gray.
14. Peach and Purple
Hex Codes: #ffcda2, #893168, #989fce
The soft, summery warmth of peach goes beautifully with purple. And depending on the shade of purple you choose, you can cultivate a variety of different moods. If you want a soft and springlike feel, opt for pale lavender and pale peach. Even something as simple as a plant in a lavender pot in front of a peach-hued wall will work.
For something bold and offbeat, combine darker purples (like royal purple) with peach. A purple quilt with a few peach accent pillows can help you create an unusual and memorable bedroom palette. Both of these combinations look great with cooler neutrals like gray and white.
15. Sky Blue and Purple
Hex Codes: #87ceeb, #bf9aca, #495159
As we’ve seen, various shades of blue and purple pair well together. And if you’re looking for a high-energy blue, look no further than sky blue. This shade looks good with muted, mauve-like purples: try a purple and white patterned wallpaper with sky blue upholstered furniture.
Alternatively, you can combine purple and sky blue patterns to add a dynamic touch to a mostly-neutral room. Vintage-inspired floral or paisley prints are great for this! Patterned curtains, rugs, bedspreads, and wallpapers are all great choices. This pattern looks especially nice with shades of warm white.
16. Dusty Rose and Purple
Hex Codes: #b48e92, #533b4d, #faedca
If you like the idea of pink and purple but worry about the combination becoming garish, try a palette of dusty rose and purple. Dusty rose is a lovely, muted shade of pink that adds some softness to any palette. And if you want a departure from traditional neutrals, it makes a great wall color. Try adding a few purple accents (of any shade) to a room like this.
Like many purple combinations, this one also does well in smaller doses. A painting or other wall hanging with mostly dusty rose and purple shades can also add a gentle energy to a largely-neutral palette.
17. Warm Gray and Purple
Hex Codes: #afa79f, #440381, #9b7ede
Gray and purple helps create a balanced palette, but you often see purple combined with cooler grays. But if you want to avoid your color palette becoming overly cool, warm gray can be a great alternative. And since gray is a neutral, there are plenty of ways you can use this combination.
Warm gray walls can make a room feel warm and inviting, and incorporating even a few deep purple pillows can offer a grounding influence. This look is an especially good candidate for a largely monochromatic color scheme; in a mostly-gray room, a few small purple accents (even a bouquet of violets!) can create a focal point and transform the palette.
18. Sage Green and Purple
Hex Codes: #9caf88, #b399a2, #232e21
Sage green has become quite a popular color in recent years. Its earthiness offers a nature-inspired, calming atmosphere. And since it functions almost like a neutral, it pairs well with a wide range of colors. It looks especially nice with lavender or dusty shades of pale purple. Patterns are great if you can find them, but sage green also makes a great modern wall color.
Alternatively, for a unique look, try incorporating sage green furniture (like an accent table). This shade looks great against lavender or dusty purple walls.
19. Cobalt and Purple
Hex Codes: #0047ab, #ab81cd, #e7dfc6
Cobalt is a deep yet energetic shade of blue that looks great with purple. If you want to create a dynamic and modern palette, try a cobalt blue couch, sculpture, or wall hanging against a rich royal purple wall.
On the less bold side, a patterned rug with cobalt and purple (of any shade) is a nice choice in a room that is largely made up of pale neutrals. The somewhat darker pattern helps ground the neutrals, and it also adds a touch of uniqueness to the room.
20. Warm Beige and Purple
Hex Codes: #f5f5dc, #81717a, #9d8ca1
Beige is quite the popular neutral when it comes to design. It’s especially common in living rooms. Beige works well because it’s a great backdrop for just about any accent color. Warm beige in particular is great for balancing out cooler colors like purple, too.
Purple curtains, accent pillows, and even rugs are a nice way to add some character to a living room that’s mostly beige. And if you want to incorporate some more purple, try soft purple walls. Lavender or soft grayish violet are both good colors for this.
21. Forest Green and Purple
Hex Codes: #014421, #c297b8, #bdd9bf
If you’re going for a bold yet stately color scheme, forest green is an outstanding color to include. You can create a deep, moody aesthetic by placing forest green couches or chairs against dark purple walls. If you don’t want something quite so dark, paler purple walls also work as a backdrop for forest green furniture.
For something a little more unusual, dark green glassware (bowls, vases, etc.) can look striking in a room with soft purple walls. This look is especially great for a dining room. Try combining forest green glassware and a green table runner with soft purple walls and dark-stained wood furniture.
22. Taupe and Purple
Hex Codes: #483c32, #5f4bb6, #ddd1c7
The understated, gray-brown elegance of taupe makes it a great neutral for a variety of palettes. In recent years, it’s become a popular color for wood tones. So if this is a color you want to use, you can easily integrate it using wood floors or furniture.
From there, you can add purple chairs, walls, curtains, or just about anything you can think of. Cooler-hued purples work especially well here, as they help reinforce the calmer energy that comes from taupe. This look does best when balanced out with white, cream, or other pale neutrals to help prevent the palette from becoming too dark or suffocating. In a room with taupe floors and purple walls, white wall trim or crown molding can work very well.
23. Burgundy and Purple
Hex Codes: #800020, #bbb6df, #585481
If you’re going for a borderline-monochromatic look, combining burgundy (which is essentially a dark reddish purple) with purple is a good way to go. Burgundy leather furniture can add a stately and vintage-inspired feel to a room. You can pair it with another shade of purple; soft purple walls or a bolder purple rug can work well.
This combination does well with some lighter colors, too. Including a good bit of cream or pale gray can work. Or for a more unique look, try adding soft sage green walls to a room with burgundy furniture and a purple rug. This is an unusual combination, but it can be a lot of fun to experiment with!
24. Dark Wood Tones and Purple
Hex Codes: #4f301f, #726da8, #f3efe0
Any time a room prominently features wood, you have the opportunity to really transform the palette based on the color of stain you choose. For a deep and moody look, try combining dark wooden cabinets and a deep purple backsplash in a kitchen. You can achieve a similar mood in a wood-floored room by combining dark-stained floors with dark purple walls.
This same look also works well with any type of wooden furniture. Darker wood certainly makes a statement. Pair it with softer purples for a high-contrast look or add more deep hues with darker purple walls, rugs, curtains, etc. Just make sure you include enough lighter colors (and/or natural light) to help balance out the mood.
25. Coral and Purple
Hex Codes: #ff7f50, #e9d2f4, #6b4d57
Coral is a high-energy color that’s reminiscent of summer, and there are plenty of possibilities when it comes to using it in design. And when combined carefully, it also does quite well alongside purple. You might consider coral living room furniture with a dark purple accent pillow or two.
And even though it might be hard to find, a purple and coral pattern is also a great way to add energy to a room. A rug, wall hanging, or even a statement piece like a chair are all good choices. If you want something a little subtler, choose a soft coral wall color in a room with purple accents or furniture. Generally speaking, softer purples seem to pair best with coral.
26. Mint Green and Purple
Hex Codes: #99edc3, #a79ab2, #65524d
Like sage, mint green has become a popular choice for interior design, and it makes an especially nice wall color. Try a living room or bedroom with mint green walls and choose a patterned rug with a fair amount of purple. You can choose deeper purple for more contrast, or keep the pastel theme and go with lavender or something similar.
Somewhat surprisingly, mint green seems to do well as a color for kitchen cabinets. Purple cookware, small appliances, and even kitchen towels look especially good here. Go for light, cool hues for a peaceful energy. Or if you like patterns, try a mint and purple floral patterned wallpaper for an accent wall in just about any room.
27. Gold and Purple
Hex Codes: #d4af37, #5c415d, #f7f4f3
This highly regal combination conjures up images of old castles and opulent interiors. It also makes a beautifully assertive design choice. On the extra-bold side, you can choose gold-framed chairs with rich purple upholstery. Of course, this look can be over the top for some. So if you want something more understated, go for purple walls with gold-framed photos or art pieces.
If you’d prefer to avoid actual gold metal, you might want to include gold fabric in a room with purple furniture. Sparkling, sheer gold curtains can add a magical touch to a living room with purple walls or couches. And shimmering gold accent pillows will certainly make a statement, too.
28. Royal Blue and Purple
Hex Codes: #4169e1, #493548, #c2efb3
Royal blue and purple are perfect for creating a high-energy blue and purple palette. You can harness the two colors in one piece with a set of blue and purple ombre curtains. This combination also does well in small doses. Add royal blue and purple throw pillows to a white or gray couch for a pop of color.
If you want to go bold, you might consider a piece of royal blue furniture (like a bookcase, beanbag chair, etc.) in front of pale purple walls. Since royal blue and purple are both fairly intense, keeping one much softer in the palette can help prevent the combination from becoming too overwhelming.
29. Kelly Green and Purple
Hex Codes: #4cbb17, #6d545d, #fffffc
This might sound like quite the odd color scheme. But combining kelly green and purple can really add some depth to a color scheme. If you want to try out this combination before committing to it, include a plant with bright green leaves in a purple pot in a room that’s mostly neutral.
If you want to use both of these colors in a bigger way, find a kelly green couch, chair, or bedspread. Then, place it in front of a deep, cool-hued purple. Dark or aubergine shades work especially well here, as they can help temper kelly green’s bright energy. If you’d rather not go for dark purple walls, simply add a deep purple accent pillow or two.
30. Pale Sand and Purple
Hex Codes: #e5d5ba, #564256, #778da9
Sand is one of the paler neutrals, so it will work well with most shades of purple. It does best with very pale purple or very deep purple. Pale purple harmonizes with sand’s soft energy while deeper purple provides a welcome contrast.
If sand is a pale enough shade, it can work almost like an off-white wall color. It’s also a good finish for wooden furniture and a common color for upholstered furniture. Try either of these choices against pale, dusty purple walls. Or if you prefer, pair them with a rich aubergine accent wall.
31. Medium Brown and Purple
Hex Codes: #7f5112, #9f87af, #fff8f0
Since medium brown is a fairly common color for both wooden and leather furniture, this color combination is one that’s fairly easy to accomplish. And since some shades of medium brown seem to have faint purplish undertones, the two colors go together better than you might think.
One of the easiest ways to create a medium brown and purple palette is to combine a purple rug and accent pillows with medium brown leather living room furniture. You can even add purple curtains if you wish. Use rich, red-tinged purples for a more playful effect, or opt for a more subdued grayish purple for a more classic look.
32. Dark Emerald and Purple
Hex Codes: #225a2f, #805d93, #f5d7e3
Of all the shades of deep green, emerald probably goes the best with purple. Emerald, like the stone it’s named after, has prominent bluish undertones. That feature makes it go especially well with bluer shades of purple. This look does well with a layered look; you can include a few shades of purple. Try pale purple walls, a dark purple velour couch, and emerald accent pillows.
If you like patterned walls, you also might consider a wall patterned in emerald and white. A distinctive pattern will look great against a piece of purple furniture or even a purple rug. Or for a bolder, cocooning look, pair emerald walls with a solid aubergine door. Emerald and aubergine pair nicely together, and this combination is perfect for creating moodier palettes that really stand out.
33. Tangerine and Purple
Hex Codes: #f28500, #3e2f5b, #f3efe0
This combination might sound odd at first. After all, most people see orange and purple similarly: in design, it’s important to not overdo either one. And since the contrast between bright tangerine and calmer purple is so striking, this combination works best when used sparingly.
If you want to include just the smallest bit of this combination, try incorporating a woven blanket including both colors; you can drape it across a couch or use it as a wall hanging. You also might want to try incorporating small amounts of purple and orange in a mostly-neutral room. For instance, in a room with a cream-colored couch, try a purple rug with orange and purple throw pillows.
34. Navy and Purple
Hex Codes: #000080, #6c596e, #bfb5af
Many of the blue and purple combinations we’ve covered so far have involved fairly bright, high-energy blues. But if you prefer something deeper and more grounded, navy blue is the ideal choice. It’s also incredibly versatile. For an interesting palette you don’t see every day, combine a navy blue bookcase or wall with a purple and magenta rug.
If you want to create a little more contrast, try adding a sprinkling of electric purple into a room with a navy accent wall. You might do this with accent pillows, a rug, or even an art piece prominently featuring bright purple.
35. Champagne and Purple
Hex Codes: #f7e7ce, #52154e, #111344
Champagne is a beautifully unique neutral that looks especially regal. It’s somewhere between beige, white, and gold, and it can be found on upholstery and metal hardware alike. For an elegant living room, try placing champagne-colored upholstered chairs in a room with one or more purple walls. Or if you prefer lighter walls, you can do what’s essentially the reverse: place dark purple furniture in a room with champagne walls and curtains.
Champagne also makes an especially elegant color for sheets. In this context, it pairs nicely with a royal purple bedspread. Try adding some champagne-colored accents (like lampshades or furniture hardware) around the room to coordinate.
36. Magenta and Purple
Hex Codes: #ff00ff, #63458a, #f3e8ee
Magenta is an incredibly bright color, so it might sound like a strange choice to include with purple. But darker or dusty-hued purples can be a great way to balance out magenta’s energy. Try a mostly-magenta art print above a dusty purple couch.
Both magenta and purple also do well as isolated pops of color. For a uniquely modern look, place a bright magenta chair in a largely white room. Add a purple vase, table, or other accessory elsewhere. You may also want to include other bright colors elsewhere in the room. When used somewhat sparingly, both purple and magenta can be part of an ultra-modern aesthetic.
37. Mustard Yellow and Purple
Hex Codes: #ffdb58, #736372, #a18276
We mentioned earlier that yellow and purple are complementary colors, so they create quite a contrast in any room. But if bright yellows are too high-energy, a muted mustard yellow might be just what you’re looking for. This shade goes well with similarly muted grayish purples.
It’s also a fairly easy color to come across, as mustard yellow furniture is somewhat easy to find. You might want to try a mix-and-match look here; a mustard yellow chair and grayish purple couch can work beautifully together in a living room! You might want to choose a pale, cool gray as the main neutral, but either a warm white or cool white can work as well. If you want to create an eclectic and memorable room, this is a great combination to try.
38. Black and Purple
Hex Codes: #000000, #731963, #fffdfd
Black and purple go well together, especially if you are careful to not overuse either one. This combination is quite effective when one is used as an accent. For example, a few black picture frames and black furniture can look nice against purple walls. Choose darker purples for a more dramatic look, or go with softer shades if you’d rather emphasize contrast. In either case, including some white can create a balance. Try white window frames, door frames, etc.
The black, white, and purple combination works well in bathrooms as well. In a bathroom with black and white tiling on the floors and/or walls, add a purple shower curtain, towels, and rug. You get the dynamic look of black and purple together, but the white helps break up the two and prevent the look from becoming overly dark.
39. Lime Green and Purple
Hex Codes: #32cd32, #331e36, #939196
The bright, slightly yellowish look of lime green can add real zing to just about any room. And purple, especially darker purple, helps to ground this bright color and add some contrast. Try taking a lime green bedspread and adding a couple of purple pillows. Teal goes well with this combination as well, so teal walls can be an interesting and dynamic choice as well.
If you want to go very bright and bold, you might consider lime green walls as a backdrop for deeper purple furniture. But this combination also looks nice in smaller doses. In a room that’s mostly white or gray, try incorporating a rug or wall hanging that includes a good amount of both purple and lime.
40. Soft Cocoa and Purple
Hex Codes: #987b71, #d9dbf1, #416165
Soft cocoa brown is often paired with baby blue. But it also looks nice with purple, and especially with quiet pastel lavender. Like many other shades of brown, soft cocoa is somewhat common in the world of furniture. You can easily create this combination by adding various lavender accents to a room with largely cocoa brown furniture.
For fans of patterns, this is an interesting pattern to choose as well. Look for rugs, wallpapers, or even curtains with purple and cocoa patterning; they go well in rooms that are largely white.
41. Cadmium Red and Purple
Hex Codes: #e30022, #5d2a42, #fcb1a6
If you know much about color theory, you probably already know that red and purple aren’t traditionally thought of as colors that go together. But in many cases, the two actually look very nice when combined. Since this combination is unusual, don’t be afraid to start small. If you have a room with red walls, try simply adding a purple rug or a rug with a few purple accents.
Another way to incorporate this combination is through art pieces. Try adding an art print (like a floral print) with both colors. This combination does well with another cooler color as a backdrop, so green, blue, or cool white walls are a great choice.
42. Bronze and Purple
Hex Codes: #c5832b, #351431, #775253
If you like the look of metallics with purple but find gold too over-the-top, bronze is a great option. This somewhat muted shade is ideal for furniture hardware, lamps, wall hangings, and picture frames. Its darker sheen looks great with dark aubergine purples.
Bronze accents look great in purple-walled rooms, and there’s no shortage of accents to choose from: bowls, candlesticks, wall hangings, and just about anything else you can think of will work.
43. Cool White and Purple
Hex Codes: #f4fdff, #663f46, #3c362a
Cool white is ideal for adding a crispness to any palette, and it really makes a statement against darker purples. But its cool nature also makes it a great complement to lavender and other pastel shades.
The cool white/pastel purple combination is an especially great one for a bedroom. You might consider adding a cool white bedspread to a room with pastel lavender walls (or even vice versa). If lavender isn’t quite your cup of tea, you might prefer a grayish, mauve-like purple instead. Either way, there are seemingly endless ways to combine cool white and purple, so don’t be afraid to take risks and get creative!
Colors That Go With Purple
Purple may not be the most commonly used color in interior design. But as you’ve seen, a surprising variety of hues actually pair nicely with various shades of purple. Whether you’re adding a fresh new wall color or simply adding a few pops of color to an existing palette, purple can transform any room!
What Colors Go With Purple? – Creating a Purple Color Palette
Renovating your house and wondering what colors go with purple? Purple is one of those colors that we don’t see often enough used in interior design color schemes. Whether it’s the fact that purple is associated with luxury, wealth, and spirituality, or whether it is seen as perplexing because we don’t see it often in nature, is a mystery. However, as with all colors, finding appropriate color combinations for purple makes it a much less daunting color to incorporate in an interior setting. Finding what colors go with purple is a much more manageable task when color theory is considered, which will be discussed throughout the article.
Table of Contents
- 1 The History and Meaning of Purple
- 2 Purple Color Combinations
- 2.1 Monochromatic Colors of Purple
- 2.2 Complementary Color of Purple
- 2.3 Triadic Colors of Purple
- 2.4 Analogous Colors of Purple
- 2.5 Split Complementary Colors of Purple
- 3.1 Purple and Orange
- 3.2 Purple and Yellow
- 3.3 Purple and Turquoise
- 3.4 Purple and Cream
- 3.5 Purple and Blue
- 3.6 Dusty Purple and Brown
- 4.1 What Are the Best Accent Colors for Purple?
- 4.2 What Colors Complement Purple?
- 4.3 What Is Purple’s Complementary Color?
- 4.4 What Is the Best Color Combination With Purple?
- 4.5 What Are Good Purple Color Schemes?
The History and Meaning of Purple
What colors go with purple? To address which colors work well when combined with purple and which don’t, it is important to consider the color psychology behind the color purple. This means that it is also vital to take note of the color psychology behind the colors that purple is made up of. It is a widely known fact that purple is a secondary color, together with orange and green. Pure purple pigment is created when equal parts of red and blue pigment are combined. The more red pigment is added to the mix, the warmer the purple will appear, and vice versa: if more blue pigment is added than red, the cooler the purple will appear. Red is known for its properties of stimulation, danger, and warmth, whereas blue is known for being the opposite of red: calming and cool.
Traditionally, purple is closely associated with royalty and spirituality. The reason for this is that purple was a scarce and expensive pigment to mix hundreds of years ago. Today still, purple is associated with luxuriousness, especially darker shades of purple.
When it comes to nature, the color purple is not easy to come by, unlike colors such as green and blue. Purple does, however, appear in nature when considering expensive rocks such as amethysts and purple jade, flowers like lilac, lavender, jacarandas, and many more. Purple tends to be much scarcer when it comes to popular animals and insects.
It is perhaps our association with purple being scarce that results in the difficulty in making use of it as a color palette in interior design.
Purple Color Combinations
Purple color combinations can be found by making use of color theory in combination with the color wheel. It should be noted that each shade and hue have its own color code; therefore, different values of the below color theories will apply depending on the shade of purple you are using. In the examples below, a shade of purple will be made use of that is known as “true purple”. True purple is a very bright shade of purple that isn’t distinctively cool or warm in tone. The color theories that we will be looking at include complementary colors, split complementary colors, monochromatic colors, triadic colors, and analogous colors.
Monochromatic Colors of Purple
Any colors that sit along the line that is drawn from the actual color to the center of the color wheel can be considered monochromatic colors of that specific color. In most cases, this means that the hues of the colors remain the same, but the shades differ. Monochromatic color palettes work great in interior design, as they create a sense of rhythm and calm, while still staying true to a specific color scheme. This is a great option to make use of when you are set on only making use of one pop of color in a room, whatever the reason may be.
The purple color palette that ranges from light to dark purple below, is a great example of monochromatic colors.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color True Purple #A020F0 33, 87, 0, 6 160, 32, 240 Pastel Purple #BD68F2 22, 57, 0, 5 189, 104, 242 Deep Purple #4B0F70 33, 87, 0, 56 75, 15, 112 Complementary Color of Purple
The complementary color of purple is yellow because yellow sits directly opposite purple on the color wheel. Although these colors are seen as the most complementary of each other, don’t forget that they also contrast each other the most, which means that they should be combined as sparingly as possible when used in their most saturated hues.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color True Purple #A020F0 33, 87, 0, 6 160, 32, 240 Yellow #F0E800 0, 3, 100, 6 240, 232, 0 
Triadic Colors of Purple
Triadic colors form a perfect triangle on the color wheel with 60-degree angles. In the case of the example of purple used in the table below, orange and green are the triadic colors of purple. This color combination is very similar to split complementary colors, the only difference being that triadic color combinations tend to be a bit richer in their hues.
This combination works well when one color is highlighted throughout the interior, and the other two colors are introduced minimally, with the only goal being to enhance the main color, which in this instance would be purple.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color True Purple #A020F0 33, 87, 0, 6 160, 32, 240 Orange #F06F01 0, 54, 100, 6 240, 111, 1 Green #00F00E 100, 0, 94, 6 0, 240, 14 Analogous Colors of Purple
Analogous colors usually result in very fun and playful combinations, as they create a very satisfying rainbow effect. This color combination works well when you want to make use of a variety of colors, but still want to create a cohesive and visually aesthetic interior. Analogous colors tend to have the same undertones, whether they be cool or warm. In the case of the purple used below, its analogous colors lean more toward the cooler side.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Bright Pink #F814B4 0, 92, 27, 3 248, 20, 180 Pink-Purple #C311D9 10, 92, 0, 15 195, 17, 217 True Purple #A020F0 33, 87, 0, 6 160, 32, 240 Violet #5611D9 60, 92, 0, 15 86, 17, 217 Royal Blue #2414F8 85, 92, 0, 3 36, 20, 248 
Split Complementary Colors of Purple
Split complementary colors are positioned on either side of a color’s complementary color. Since yellow is the complementary color of purple, orange and green are purples split complementary colors, as these are the shades that sit on the right and left side of yellow on the color wheel.
When combined, this color palette creates an unexpected color combination, yet when the right hues are chosen, they could work very well in an interior setting.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color True Purple #A020F0 33, 87, 0, 6 160, 32, 240 Yellow/Orange #F0B60C 0, 24, 95, 6 240, 182, 12 Neon Green #32F013 79, 0, 92, 6 50, 240, 19 What Colors Go With Purple?
Taking the above color theories and color psychology into consideration, let’s have a look at a few color combinations with specific shades and hues. Be sure to play around with these pairings, and you will most certainly find a purple color combination that works well for almost any setting in an interior.
Purple and Orange
Purple and orange are considered to be a fun and modern color combination. Most shades of purple lean more towards the cool tones, which makes a rusted orange the perfect combination to offset the cool purple with some warmth in an interior.
This pairing works best if purple is used as the main color with pops of rusted orange, which can be included in the furniture and décor.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Purple #916D9F 9, 31, 0, 38 145, 109, 159 Rusted Orange #AB5C2B 0, 46, 75, 33 171, 92, 43 Purple and Yellow
Yellow is one of the colors that go with purple, simply because yellow is purple’s complementary color when referring to the color wheel. When the correct shade is chosen for these two colors, they can easily transform any room into an interior design masterpiece. Because these colors are both very rich and attention-grabbing, it is best to use darker and/or muted tones. A very deep, dark purple pairs well with pops of muted pastel yellows. For a moody yet cheerful interior, make use of this color combination in the living room or the bedroom.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Purple #432B67 35, 58, 0, 60 67, 43, 103 Yellow #FCD080 0, 17, 49, 1 252, 208, 128 
Purple and Turquoise
This combination works well with their dark hues as well as their light pastel hues. Dark, velvety purple creates a very dramatic ambiance when paired with elements that are rendered in very dark turquoise. The darker version of this color combination works well in an intimate living room setting or a bedroom.
Used in its pastel variations, a calming environment is created which can work well for the nursery.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Pastel Purple #BE95CF 8, 28, 0, 19 190, 149, 207 Deep Purple #46223F 0, 51, 10, 73 70, 34, 63 Dark Turquoise #01453D 99, 0, 12, 73 1, 69, 61 Light Turquoise #B8FEEC 28, 0, 7, 0 184, 254, 536 Purple and Cream
A very light shade of purple that borders on pink, screams calmness and femininity, and works particularly well when combined with cream or off-white. This color combination works well when the neutral cream is used as the backdrop with pops of light purple. This specific color scheme is great for a bedroom where a feminine and soft mood is desired.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Light Purple #DAB6E0 3, 19, 0, 12 218, 182, 224 Cream #FFF0E7 0, 6, 9, 0 255, 240, 231 
Purple and Blue
Blue is one of those colors that go with purple without really having to put much thought and resources into it. Combining the richness and luxury of purple with the energy and vitality of blue makes for a spectacular color combination. When working with colors on the cooler end of the spectrum, be sure to pair colors with the same undertones. It would, for example, not be wise to pair a warm purple with a cool blue.
To brighten a roof filled with such rich colors, be sure to implement some greenery in the form of indoor plants.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Purple #5F2BA5 42, 74, 0, 35 95, 43, 165 Blue #016589 99, 26, 0, 46 1, 101, 137 Dusty Purple and Brown
A purple color palette can be overwhelming, but there are certainly options to make purple a bit more palatable. If you are set on incorporating purple in an interior, but you don’t want the color to be the main focus, or you are going for more of a natural color palette, then this color combination is the perfect solution. The purple shade below is a great shade for your walls. The dark brown can easily be introduced through rustic wood furniture pieces, which is a perfect contrast against the contemporary dusty purple.
Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Color Dusty Purple #735D74 1, 20, 0, 55 115, 39, 116 Brown #6E4924 0, 34, 67, 57 110, 73, 36 
Hopefully, you now have enough knowledge of the color purple to realize that there are endless color combinations that work exceptionally well with purple, depending on its shade and hue Whether you want to incorporate a sense of royalty that purple so easily evokes, or you relate to the spiritual background of purple, it is worth considering to incorporate into your home for a unique color palette that is a great conversation starter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Accent Colors for Purple?
What are the best accent colors for purple? The best accent colors for purple depend heavily on the shade of purple you are trying to match. If you are working with a cool-undertone purple, pair it with brown, cream, blue, or turquoise. Whereas warm purple looks great when combined with orange or yellow.
What Colors Complement Purple?
When it comes to color theory, the complementary color of purple is yellow. However, aside from yellow, there are many other colors that complement purple, depending on the shade and hue of the purple in question. Among these complimenting colors are orange, blue, yellow, brown, turquoise, and cream or off-white.
What Is Purple’s Complementary Color?
What is purple’s complementary color? Depending on the exact shade of purple, the color that sits directly opposite purple on the color wheel is usually some shade of yellow. Although yellow does complement purple when used cleverly in interior design, it can be very straining on the eyes when used in its most saturated shades.
What Is the Best Color Combination With Purple?
What is the best color combination with purple? There are many colors that pair well with purple, depending on the specific shade of purple. According to color theory, yellow complements purple the best, as it sits directly opposite purple on the color wheel. If you are using a bright shade of purple, complement it with a lighter, toned-down shade of yellow, and vice versa.
What Are Good Purple Color Schemes?
What are good purple color schemes? Colors that work well together when paired with purple are orange, yellow, green, blue, and cream. Purple analogous colors also create very striking purple color schemes, especially when it ranges from maroon all the way through to violet, and even blue.
Kylie Deyzel is an interior designer and sustainability enthusiast from Cape Town, South Africa. She has a passion for writing and educating others on various interior design topics. Her favorite interior design topics include interior design theory, interior design history, and most of all: sustainable interior design.
She received her B-tech degree in interior design from the University of Johannesburg in 2018 and has worked at various interior design firms since and had a few of her own freelance interior design clients under her company name binnekant.