25 Purple Color Combos to Inspire Your Next Design
Posted on April 13, 2024 | Updated on June 11, 2024
Are you looking for purple color combos? We’ve got you covered whether you want something moody, electric, or soft. Here are 25 inspiring combinations you can use in your next design.
1. Petunia Planter Combo
Have you ever seen a planter of blooming petunias? Making red and purple work can be tricky, but it’s possible. Blending a bold pink-hued red with subtle purples can make your project visually striking, drawing the viewer’s attention.
2. Spiral Galaxy Combo
These rich, pink-hued purples are a spiral galaxy of color. The mix of dark and light shades can help to balance your design without being overwhelming. As purple color combos go, this one is particularly fun and vibrant rather than serious and sophisticated.
3. Purple Cream Combo
Neutrals are almost always a fantastic go-to when you’re unsure what to pair with your color of choice. Tinted brown and off-white are ideal for purple color combos because they balance out the intensity of the unique shade.
4. Ferris Wheel Combo
This color combo is inspired by Ferris wheel lights. It’s fun but invokes feelings of tranquility. As you can tell, it would be monochromatic if it weren’t for the off-white hue at the end. This look is intentional — it’s subtle enough to be visually appealing but still draws the viewer’s gaze.
5. Springtime Blooms Combo
This palette is reminiscent of springtime blooms filled with pollen. Since subconscious color associations enhance the meaning of your design, it’s one of the best purple color combos to use for nature-related projects.
6. Paint Palette Combo
A mix of purple, aqua, yellow, and tan is reminiscent of a messy paint palette. Somehow, it works. The balance of cool and warm colors in the same tone makes everything feel cohesive. This unique combination would definitely catch the viewer’s attention.
7. Baby’s Room Combo
This whimsical color combo is delicate and bright, like something you’d find in a baby’s room or on modern packaging. While pastel colors are noticeably pale, they have enough personality to be attention-catching. You could do almost anything with this combination.
8. Blueberry Pie Combo
This color combo is reminiscent of a fresh blueberry pie. While the first two colors are bold and dark, the second two are light and airy — ideal for a project where contrast is key. It’d be easy to work them into a design since they’re not likely to overwhelm each other.
9. Lavender Field Combo
A lavender field inspired this color combo. It uses pale, muted colors to convey a sense of calm, sophistication, and trustworthiness. If you’re creating something related to nature or wellness, it will elevate your design.
10. Deep Sea Jellyfish Combo
A deep sea jellyfish is the inspiration for this mellow color combo. The muted shades evoke tranquility and serenity, which is ideal for projects where subconscious associations are crucial. You can use it to inspire relaxation and trust in your viewers.
11. Morning Sunrise Combo
Bright purple, tan, pink, and salmon are reminiscent of an early-morning sunrise. Since research shows unique colors can increase brand recognition by 80%, you should consider using this familiar color combo. It’ll leave a lasting impression and could inspire loyalty.
12. Fallen Petals Combo
These muted colors might remind viewers of fallen petals. As purple color combos go, this one is about as pale as you can get without making your design feel washed out. It’s ideal for projects where color is important but comes second to the focal point.
13. Nighttime Thunderstorm Combo
This monochromatic color combo is inspired by a nighttime thunderstorm. Since exclusively using cool colors makes directing viewers’ attention easier, it’s ideal for websites, brochures, and menus. Any variation in hue would be immediately noticeable.
14. Glittering Amethyst Combo
Deep purples and reds bring to mind a glittering amethyst. This color combo represents luxury and lavishness because these shades are rarely found together in nature. In the past, only the wealthy could afford to wear such intense purples.
15. Neon Lights Combo
This neon-light-inspired palette is one of the most whimsical purple color combos on this list. It’s bright, cheery, and exciting — ideal for modern designs. You can use it to appeal to younger audiences or make something seem more fun.
16. PB&J Sandwich Combo
This color combo might cause a craving for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Naturally, the grape-colored purple goes well with the various shades of tan. Since neutrals take up most of the palette, it isn’t visually overwhelming.
17. Purple Orchid Combo
Light, slightly muted hues like these evoke calm and mindfulness. These striking purple and sage green shades are reminiscent of an orchid, so they inspire strong subconscious associations with nature.
18. Purple Dreams Combo
Monochromatic purple color combos are always a joy to use but can be finicky. Each of these colors has a slight blue, red, or white tint, making them distinct. Since they vary in brightness, layering them in a design would be straightforward.
19. Floating Lilypad Combo
A blue-hued purple and striking blue greens are reminiscent of a lilypad on water. These colors are generally associated with calm and nature, making this cool color palette ideal for projects where wellness or the environment takes center stage.
20. Modern Design Combo
This combination dulls fun colors to appear more professional. You could use it to establish a subconscious connection in the viewer’s mind, inspiring them to associate your design with sophistication, trust, and prosperity — ideal for projects in finance or security-related fields.
21. Mountain Sunset Combo
When you tint purples and reds with blue, they get along much better. This color combo is reminiscent of a mountain sunset — it’s cool, visually striking, and peaceful. A palette like this is ideal when the colors are secondary to text, graphics, or images.
22. Spring Basket Combo
Does this color combo remind you of Easter baskets and bunny-shaped chocolates? These soft pastels aren’t visually striking — and almost seem to blend into each other — but they’re still distinct. They’re ideal for a springtime design.
23. Energy Drink Combo
Yellow and purple are complementary, so they’re immediately noticeable when paired in a design. These energetic, bright colors are ideal for designs catering to a younger audience. They’d be particularly eye-catching in a logo or an email.
24. Fruit Bowl Combo
The pale purples, oranges, and reds in this color combo might remind you of a fruit bowl. It’s half warm and half cool, making for visually intriguing designs. These colors are interchangeable for the base and accents because they have the same tint.
25. Downtown Lights Combo
As purple color combos go, this is one of the most electric. Since around 85% of people decide to buy something based on color alone, this eye-catching combination is ideal for packaging and logos. No matter where you use it, you’ll definitely draw attention.
Have Fun Designing With These Purple Color Combos
At least one of these 25 purple color combos is sure to inspire your next design. No matter what mood you’re in, you have tons of options to choose from. Have fun experimenting with these palettes in your upcoming projects.
About The Author
Cooper Adwin is the Assistant Editor of Designerly Magazine. With several years of experience as a social media manager for a design company, Cooper particularly enjoys focusing on social and design news and topics that help brands create a seamless social media presence. Outside of Designerly, you can find Cooper playing D&D with friends or curled up with his cat and a good book.