In springtime, the forest floors in Europe are overtaken by the color periwinkle blue when the blue and purple periwinkle flowers bloom. Regal, romantic, and rejuvenating as a color, periwinkle blue is a popular shade in art, nature and clothes. There are several great colors that go with periwinkle including some unexpected periwinkle color combinations like periwinkle and yellow or periwinkle and orange. Or, go the serene route with this lavender blue by pairing periwinkle and sage green or periwinkle and navy blue. There are so many different color schemes that go with periwinkle.
What Color is Periwinkle?
Periwinkle blue derives its name from the flower of the same name, common periwinkle. also known as vinca minor. In the USA, periwinkle plants are also called creeping myrtle, an evergreen trailing groundcover, that is considered a common invader species in New England.
The lesser periwinkle herb is used in herbal remedies.
The Color Periwinkle Blue
The colour periwinkle is part of the wider purple family and in the subset of violet.
The complex relationship between blue and red gives the color Periwinkle blue so much depth. Moreover, the versatility of periwinkle color combinations derives from its even balance between cool and warm colors. This pastel popular is a popular color for a reason.
The periwinkle blue color is slightly brighter than a pale lavender but with more blue tones than lilac. It comes across more clearly than mauve’s muted tone, but subtler than the vibrancy of amethyst.
How periwinkle fits into the violet family
Periwinkle vs. Lavender
Pretty periwinkle is often referred to as lavender-blue which can be a confusing term. A lavender color is essentially a pale purple, with a balance of blue-red, and white combined.
Periwinkle blue on the other hand has more blue shining through even while staying in the purple family.
In the debate between periwinkle vs. lavender, the choice comes down whether you want it to be more blue or more purple.
Periwinkle Color Code
The Periwinkle color code is #CCCCFF. For true periwinkle, the hex color code is #8f99fb. In the RGB color code periwinkle is 80% red, 80% green and 100% blue which combine to create a pastel purple.
One of the periwinkle shades is the Pantone color of 2022 called Very Peri, a new color that is specially formulated to convey the feeling of the year’s energy.
Very Peri is the Pantone color of the year for 2022.
Periwinkle Color Palette
Monochromatic colors are different shades of the same color ranging from darker to lighter shades. Technically, you get different shades of periwinkle by adding black to a color. A monochromatic color scheme for periwinkle can get as dark as deep purply blue.
Other useful elements of color theory that you can try include analogous colors, complementary colors, split complementary colors and triad colors.
Analogous colors are near other on the color wheel and provide a visually soothing color scheme.
Color palettes that go well with the color Periwinkle
Complementary colors go together because they are on the opposite each other on the color wheel. A complementary color scheme has a high contrast and catches a viewer’s attention. The complementary color for periwinkle is yellow.
Split complementary colors are the two colors on the opposite side of the complementary color (i.e., the one right across from periwinkle on the color wheel). The split complementary colors for periwinkle are pale peach and mint green. The use of contrasting colors makes a mauve color palette pop.
A triadic palette are three colors evenly spaced out on the color spectrum. In the case of periwinkle, a triadic palette is created with a pale red and a mint green with the pale purple hue that is periwinkle.
You get tints of periwinkle by adding white to the color making a light periwinkle and tones of periwinkle by adding grey to the color to get darker versions.
Pantone played around with periwinkle blue to create Very Peri
25 Colors That Go With Periwinkle Blue
The color periwinkle blue is often seen in Impressionist art. For example, Renoir painted a portrait of Monet’s wife wearing a periwinkle blue dress, Monet himself used periwinkle blue in his famous paintings of lily ponds and Degas had different subjects wearing the color periwinkle blue.
This pretty color goes well with a variety of color schemes making it an excellent choice for many uses.
Periwinkle and navy blue really create an elegant color combination
Periwinkle and Navy Blue
This color combination has quickly gained popularity with the rise of cottage core, especially as a wedding color scheme.
Periwinkle and navy blue complement each other as they draw from the same muted pallet, working together in harmony for an elegant finish.
One of the best colors that go with periwinkle, navy blue acts to anchors the romance and ethereal quality of periwinkle blue.
Colors in the Indigo family go well with Periwinkle (Image credit: Baked Tile Co)
Orange and Periwinkle
Orange and periwinkle are almost opposing each other on the color wheel making for a striking color combination.
When they are combined in patterns it becomes reminiscent of vintage elements from the 70s, funky but not outlandish. It works best with rich ochre hues, such as a terracotta orange, pumpkin orange or rusty orange.
Periwinkle and orange is a warm and cold juxtaposition that can lend just enough of a contrast to breath life into a space without becoming overwhelming. Let one or the other of the colors shine and just to add subtle hints throughout the space with the secondary color.
Periwinkle and Pink
The periwinkle and pink color combination served as another character in the 2006 film, Marie Antoinette. Dusty pink and periwinkle was seen in everything from the dresses to the cakes, and the lavish Versailles interior.
Although it might not be historically accurate, the periwinkle color combination with pink conveys the playfulness and opulence of the period. Periwinkle blue and a dusty rose pink convey girlishness, naïveté and romance in a delicate balance.
A darker version of periwinkle contrasts beautifully with a soft pink.
For a dreamy periwinkle and pink wedding color combination, pick soft colors of pink like blush pink and periwinkle. If you prefer your pinks to have a slight orange tint, choose a trendy color like coral peach or a fresh color like apricot pink or salmon pink.
Periwinkle blue butterfly napkin ring on a mauve napkin with white plate
Periwinkle and Purple
Periwinkle and purple is another great periwinkle color combination that relies periwinkle’s relation to the color purple. Consider violet, purple or lilac to go with periwinkle or a contrast with pinky/purple fuchsia and periwinkle.
Periwinkle works well with the violet family of colors.
Periwinkle and Green
Periwinkle goes with many different shades of green. Think back to periwinkle flowering on a forest green carpet in the woods.
Since yellow is a true complementary color of periwinkle blue, check out green-yellow shades such as mint green.
Periwinkle’s aesthetic colors go well with the cottage core trend (image credit: Perkins and Morley)
Mint green and periwinkle is another playful combination, alluding to spring and aquatic themes. It is often used in the mermaid aesthetic, but together they are also adored for their calming effect and restorative properties.
Carrying on with the aquatic colors, consider seafoam green and periwinkle for a fresh look.
Lighter greens like periwinkle and a eucalyptus green or a sage green create a soft and romantic color combination.
The combination of periwinkle and sage green is much more down-to-earth, highlighting the grey undertones in periwinkle.
Sage is a dusty green and together with periwinkle blue they have become commonplace amongst interior design elements.
Periwinkle and sage green is a versatile combination that works well with earthy browns, blushes or nudes, and white. In nature, we often see these together in flowers like wild Teasel that have dusty green stems.
The slivery blue-purple of the Teasel wildflower set in foliage.
Use the colours affinity for green and blue, and consider turquoise blue and periwinkle.
Periwinkle and yellow
As a derivative of purple, periwinkle and yellow are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. They are complementary colors and together are a powerful periwinkle color combination.
Wisteria and daffodils, lavender and dahlias, yellow and periwinkle pansies. These floral combinations are striking and exciting.
Individual vibrant colors amongst of periwinkle blue and yellow flowers evoke springtime and freshness,
Consider pairing periwinkle with shades of mustard yellow for a more rustic look or periwinkle and lemon yellow for a contemporary look. For something truly striking you can consider adding chartreuse highlights to make a bold statement.
Look to artist Mark Rothko for inspiration on how periwinkle blue can be combined with yellows to convey emotion.
Periwinkle and gold
Periwinkle is a great color that latches on to the yellow hues in gold to truly bring it to life. Gold lends a bohemian flair to periwinkle. For example, consider Periwinkle and gold for a calming periwinkle bedroom with gold metallic finishes on lamps, cabinet hardware, and dusty gold velvet accents.
This periwinkle color palette creates a calming bedroom color scheme. (Image credit: Avalana Design)
Periwinkle and Silver
Periwinkle and silver is another great periwinkle color combination relying on the cool blue undertones of the color periwinkle.
Along with silver, go further on the grey spectrum and try something like periwinkle and pewter grey for a sophisticated contemporary look.
Blues and greys always look good together.
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Like periwinkle blue color? Here are 25 colors that go well with periwinkle blue. A periwinkle color palette can include such diverse options as a periwinkle blue and yellow color scheme or a periwinkle and coral color scheme. Of these 25 periwinkle color scheme color palettes, one color scheme with periwinkle is sure to be your favorite! A periwinkle blue color scheme is great for many things, including wedding color inspiration and interior design inspiration.
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