What Colors Go With Lavender — 9 Pairings That Turn This Sweet Shade Into a Surprisingly Modern Scheme

Working out what colors go with lavender feels like it would be a struggle. Even when compared to other shades of purple, the saccharine hue seems too soft or too polarizing to have much range. You’ll be surprised to learn, then, that this pretty pastel is much more versatile than you may realize.

Similar to finding colors that go with purple, it’s best to venture beyond the basics of beige, black and white — although these palettes certainly work, too. When speaking with designers on the topic, we were delighted to discover that some of the best parings for lavender are bold and energetic shades such as canary yellow or pops of red.

As it turns out, it’s much easier to incorporate this soft pastel into your home without it looking childish or sickly-sweet. Below, we’ve worked out what colors go with lavender and suggested nine pairings to try at home.

What color looks best with lavender?

Before we dive in, a few notes on using lavender in your interiors scheme. Made up of a mix of red, blue and white, lavender is calm, soothing and surprisingly warm — making it perfect for bedrooms, living spaces and kitchens.

‘Lavender is known for being a calming color that represents tranquility,’ says Californian-based designer Sarah Rosenhaus. ‘The key is to mix in colors and textures that enhance the soothing qualities of the color and draw out its subtle warmth. I wouldn’t avoid any particular color with lavender, but I would be cautious of using hues that are too bright or primary. Instead, opt for rich earth and jewel tones that enhance the quietness of lavender.’

‘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 color expert and Farrow & Ball ambassador, Patrick O’Donnell. ‘But just err on the side of caution and get the tone right as it can be on the chilly side.’

1. LAVENDER AND RED

TikTok's viral 'unexpected red' theory introduced us to the notion that actually all colors go with red, so why not lavender? Well, if this living room scheme by Danish paint brand File Under Pop is anything to go by, the colors certainly complement one another.

Sitting close to one another on the color wheel, red and lavender go together in theory, but in practice, it's probably best done with small pops of both shades. It's a bold pairing, but when done well, it can be a beautiful one.

2. LAVENDER AND GOLD

Whether it's a gilded frame or golden-toned timbers, this one makes for the most romantic of pairings. Reminiscent of classic regency-inspired interiors, it has a soft feminine touch that can also easily be modernized.

In the bedroom scheme shown above, interior designer Colleen Simonds has perfectly paired a barely-there lavender paint color with warm golden hues, through the timber frame, bamboo curtain, gilded gold mirror and brass floor lamp.

3. LAVENDER AND DARK BLUE

Purple and blue are analogous colors, meaning they sit next to each other on the color wheel, helping this pairing lend itself to a calm, subtle scheme. Using lavender with a darker blue creates a gentle but effective tonal contrast, and allows whichever is the accent color to pop.

'This is a wonderful way to bring in tonal play without being too literal,' says Sarah Rosenhaus. 'The richness of navy paired with lavender creates a sophisticated mood.'

Because it's not too stimulating, lavender and blue is an ideal palette for a bedroom or living room, where you're looking to unwind. In the scheme shown above, Maryland interior designer Stephanie Bradshaw pairs the duo with gray, and because of their tonal similarities, lavender actually shares many of the same colors that go with gray, making these three colors a truly beautiful combination.

4. LAVENDER AND ORANGE

This pairing makes use of the idea of contrasting hues in color theory: the idea that a deep or bold color from one part of the wheel can be used with a lighter, more subtle shade from another part for an effective scheme. As shown in the above space by Australian architectural practice Hindley & Co, the effect can be striking.

‘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. ‘It’s also great for dining rooms to create a welcoming environment and stimulate conversation.’

5. LAVENDER AND WHITE

Thanks to its 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 how it's used, it can evoke an Art Deco or Hollywood regency vibe yet still feel fresh and alive.’

But need the right shade of white to make this duo work. ‘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!' says Patrick O'Donnell. 'Something like our delicate 'Peignoir', a pale-ish lavender/gray colour with muted qualities, would look wonderfully simple teamed with 'Strong White' on your trim and ceiling.’

For a cooler, more contemporary scheme, you'll need to choose your lavender wisely too. ‘Lavender is a perfect addition for clients who want a gentle “pop” of color in a more neutral environment,’ says Ashley Macuga of San Carlos design studio Collected Interiors. ‘One of the challenges using lavender is making sure that it doesn’t present too "nursery" in adult spaces. One of our favorite lavenders is Sherwin William’s Imagine, which has a very gray base, ensuring that it looks charming but still sophisticated.’

6. LAVENDER AND BEIGE

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, it's a natural duo that provides a twist on a classic 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 shown above, designed by Luke Ferran 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.

7. LAVENDER AND YELLOW

For the more color-confident, lavender and yellow is a particularly interesting pairing. It's also, it seems, a controversial one — not all of the designers we spoke to agreed on it. ‘I find it challenging to pair lavender with vibrant warm colors like red and yellow,' says Lisa Frantz. 'I tend to avoid them — unless I'm using lavender for a children's space and just want a snappy explosion of colors!’

Still, there are ways to make this combination work if you enjoy the energetic vibe it brings. In the above scheme by the San Francisco-based interior designer Kevin Sawyers, a personal 'color theory' makes it work. ‘One of my go-to approaches for color combinations is a clean color with a dirty color,’ he explains. ‘One color should be clear and have no black or gray in it, whereas the other should be slightly muted or muddy. Here, the lavender is clean and the yellow is muted, leaning toward a mustard/gold/ochre.’

‘I love pairing lavender with just about any color, but it works particularly well with yellow as they're opposite each other on the color wheel,’ adds Kentucky-based interior designer Bethany Adams. ‘I always like to match the intensity of the hues, however.' She points to a project where she paired deep lavender walls of a bedroom with a strong, monochromatic yellow canvas — a scheme that feels ultra contemporary and unexpected.

8. LAVENDER AND GREEN

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 similarly lighter hue.

‘Lavender and green are on the same side of the color wheel,’ explains Lisa Frantz. ‘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.

9. LAVENDER AND PINK

If lavender and pink feels too sickly-sweet, don't scroll away just yet — there are ways to make this scheme feel sophisticated rather than childish. ‘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.’

In the bedroom scheme above by Pennsylvania-based designer Rasheeda Gray, lavender walls and pastel pinks are tempered by rust-colored curtains and a gray-blue ottoman that grounds the scheme.

‘Selecting the right shade depends on the feeling you want to give the space,’ Rasheeda explains. 'In this bedroom, the soft rosy-pink makes the space feel warm and cozy, but it doesn't overstimulate your senses despite its pastel appearance. It is a shade that can be mixed with other colors easily without drawing too much attention away from it —especially colors like lavender.’

DOES LAVENDER GO WITH SILVER OR GOLD BEST?

So, you've found your perfect color pairing with lavender — but what about your finishes? Mixing in metals can prove one of the trickiest parts of a lavender-based scheme.

‘I would opt for metals that have patina and character and a bit of warmth,’ says Sarah Rosenhaus. ‘Think copper, unfinished brass, bronze and verdigris. Lavender is already quite cool, so I would shy away from any metals that lean toward silver, chrome, or stainless tones.’

If you do prefer metals on the cooler side, consider nickel as a compromise. ‘When pairing lavender with a metal, we love using polished nickel,’ says Ashley Macuga. ‘The warmer undertones offset lavender’s natural coolness, adding more of a layered depth to the design.’