Bobby Meyer
Like colors that go with purple in general, the best pairings for lavender go far beyond beige, black and white – though of course, these palettes work too. Thanks to its mix of red, blue and white, lavender is calm, soothing and warm – perfect for bedrooms, kitchens and living spaces.
‘Lavender is known for being a calming color that represents tranquility,’ says Californian interior designer Sarah Rosenhaus (opens in new tab).
‘The spectrum of lavender from the lightest blush to darker, bluer-toned purple is a broad family and used wisely can be an interesting alternative to pinks and blues,’ adds Patrick O'Donnell, color expert and Farrow & Ball (opens in new tab) ambassador. Using lavender with a deeper blue creates a gentle but effective tonal contrast and allows whichever is the accent color to pop. Because it's not too stimulating, lavender and blue makes for a great palette in a living room or bedroom, where you're largely looking to unwind.
In the TV room scheme by Maryland interior designer Stephanie Bradshaw (opens in new tab) above, she pairs the duo with gray. Because of their tonal similarities, lavender actually shares many of the same colors that go with gray – making this trio a versatile and effective combination.
‘When orange is mixed with warm lavender, it infuses a burst of cheerful optimism into an otherwise tranquil space,’ says New York-based interior designer Lisa Frantz (opens in new tab).
Finding colors that go with beige isn't always as easy as it seems, but thanks to lavender's balance of warm and cold undertones, this is a natural duo that acts as a twist on a neutral scheme. ‘It’s a tick-up from a traditional neutral color combo, where the lavender becomes the star and creates a subtle play of warm vs. cool against the beige,’ says Sarah Rosenhaus. In the bedroom above, designed by Luke Ferran (opens in new tab) of New York design studio Kevin O'Sullivan, layers of purple through the cushions and bed base allow the light lavender walls, along with the beige headboard and the wood panelling, to play a role as a neutral – a clever way to twist this color on its head.
Thanks to its lightness and subtlety, lavender makes for a gentle but effective pairing with white – as the above scheme by Hindley & Co shows. ‘Lavender and white with bits of black is a favorite color combination of mine,’ says Lisa Frantz. ‘Depending on the strength of lavender, at the paler end, opt for cleaner whiter shades to partner with – nothing too drab as this could look dirty rather than empathetic!'
‘Lavender is a perfect addition for clients who want a gentle “pop” of color in a more neutral environment,’ says Ashley Macuga (opens in new tab) of San Carlos design studio Collected Interiors.
One of our favorite lavenders is Sherwin William’s Imagine (opens in new tab), which has a very gray base, ensuring that it looks charming but still sophisticated.’ ‘I find it challenging to pair lavender with vibrant warm colors like red and yellow,' says Lisa Frantz.
In the above scheme by the San Francisco-based interior designer Kevin Sawyers (opens in new tab), he uses a color theory of his own to make it work. She points to a Chicago project in which she paired the deep lavender walls of a bedroom with a strong, monochromatic yellow canvas – a scheme that feels ultra contemporary and unexpected. Purple is a great choice if you're looking for colors that go with green, so it follows that lavender can offer a softer twist on this duo.
Whereas deep aubergines and plums look dramatic paired with earthy or gem-like green shades, lavender finds a comfortable match in a lighter hue.
‘Lavender works best when used with soft pastel greens – it’s a great color combo for bedrooms to create calming respite.’ Of course, interior design is about bending the rules as much as following them, and we've also seen examples of pink-tinged lavender paired with more vibrant green shades – it's a particularly interesting combination in a kitchen.
‘This is a very youthful color combination, perfect if you are looking to create a sophisticated space with levity,’ says Sarah Rosenhaus. ‘Alternatively, we love to keep things tonal and gravitate to a combo of lavender, mauve and aubergine,’ says Sarah Rosenhaus. 'In this bedroom, for example, the soft rosy pink makes the space feel warm and cozy, but it doesn't overstimulate your senses despite its pastel appearance.
