Complex lilac color very often causes difficulties in making combinations. In color, lilac refers to shades of the third order, therefore, for its combination, more nuances must be taken into account than with other color solutions. The combination of colors, in which lilac is the main one, can be bright or delicate, depending on the choice of additional shades.
What is lilac color?
The very name of the color already gives us an idea of its shade. The difficulty in identifying lilac lies in the fact that it is often confused with violet, with which they are really close "relatives". Their difference is in intensity. Like violet, lilac is a combination of red and blue, but the first is a little more in it than in a more saturated "fellow". To reduce the brightness, a third color is added to lilac - white. This makes it difficult and belongs to the group of the third order. Recall that all colors, depending on complexity, are divided into three groups:
- Simple are the primary colors that cannot be obtained by mixing (blue, red, yellow).
- Shades obtained by combining the two main (brown, orange, purple). They are called second-order colors.
- Complex tones obtained by combining 3 or more colors (lilac, salmon, blue-green, yellow-orange). These are third-order colors.
The most difficult to combine are the colors of the third group. Therefore, combining lilac with other colors is not an easy coloristic task.
Lilac shades and their names
Distinguishing the coloristic nuances of an untrained person is not easy. Lilac shades can differ in several ways:
- In intensity . The degree of brightness allows you to highlight such shades as pale lilac, light lilac, lilac, bright lilac, dark lilac.
- By warmth . Traditionally, lilac, like purple, is a cold color. However, the volume of the red tone can bring it closer to warm. On this basis, shades such as periwinkle (cold, light shade), wisteria (warm, light), orchid color (medium warm) are distinguished.
- According to the prevailing tone . Dominant color is also a classification feature. In lilac two main ones (red and blue) can prevail, they can have different degrees of severity. This leads to the appearance of such shades as pink-lilac, blue-lilac, lavender, amethyst. Gray, beige can be mixed into the lilac color, then you can talk about such shades as gray-lilac, beige-lilac.
Lilac perception
Any combination of colors, lilac is no exception, causes a person various sensations, emotions and associations. Complex shades tend to cause ambiguous feelings and associations. Traditionally, lilac color is associated with tenderness, peace and tranquility. He leaves almost no one indifferent; he is either very much loved or completely rejected. The balance of red and blue in lilac evokes harmonious balanced emotions in its perception. The presence of white tone enhances the sense of coherence. Interestingly, the combination of lilac with other colors can give it additional features. The so-called color reflex can make it warmer or colder, which affects its perception.
Color wheel combinations
To simplify the procedure for selecting color combinations, I. Itten, based on many years of research, created a color wheel. In it, tones are distributed in a spectral sequence. Inside the circle is a triangle of basic colors: yellow, red and blue. The second tier is a hexagon formed by shades obtained by mixing the primary colors: purple, green, orange. The outer tier, the circle, is formed by 12 tones that pass one into another. It is these shades that make up the spectrum. All colors are in a regular relationship. They may be:
- Related . These are shades located next to each other. There are four groups of related colors: yellow-green, red-blue, yellow-red, blue-green.
- Contrasting . These are colors that are opposite each other in the color wheel. For example, lilac and yellow will be contrasting with each other.
- Complementary . Such colors are determined using a triangle, the sharp top of which will be the main color, the other two vertices indicate adjacent colors that enhance the basic hue. For example, in relation to red-violet, yellow and green will be complementary.
Related and monochrome combinations
Similar and monochrome palettes are some of the most difficult to combine, since the colors in the combination must be combined in warmth and tonality. A monochrome combination will be colors within the same cell in the color wheel, varying in degree of intensity. For example, light lilac color can be combined with dark lilac or bleached pastel lilac. Such combinations look very stylish and harmonious, they are pleasing to the eye. But when combining them, you need to carefully calibrate the shade, since a combination of warm and cold tones can create a feeling of motley and sloppy. A combination of lilac and white colors will also be a kind of monochrome palette. Cold white perfectly emphasizes the sophistication and tenderness of lilac. Related colors in relation to lilac will be pink and purple and blue, when choosing them, you need to carefully verify the tonality. The selection of similar combinations is based on a combination of two or three nearby tones. For example, pink, salmon, light blue-violet and light blue are suitable for lilac.
Complementary Separate Combinations
Separately complementary combination of colors can be simple and effective. The lilac color will become expressive and spectacular with companions such as lemon yellow and turquoise green. The choice of saturated colors allows you to create a very expressive palette, but if you focus on less intense tones, you can get a gentle and sophisticated composition.
Contrast combinations
The most striking and expressive are contrasting combinations. Their main charm is that they most fully emphasize and reinforce each other. Contrasts are best distinguished by our eye. They can be built on:
- Tone . In this case, the combination of yellow and lilac, i.e. colors that are arranged in a circle opposite each other.
- Saturation . In this case, the colors are selected as part of the stretch of one tone. In this case, the contrast will be dark lavender and pale lilac.
- Warmth . You can create compositions from warm and cold shades, although here you will need a great color flair and a trained eye to avoid the lurid combinations. The cold amethyst contrasting companion will be purple-lilac.
Sophisticated color schemes
The combination of shades of the third order allows you to create intricate combinations that are revealed upon careful examination. Usually a nuanced combination of colors - lilac and aquamarine, lilac and salmon - looks unusual and can be difficult to read. But this makes them so expressive. Complex color solutions can also include:
- a combination of yellow lemon and dark orchid;
- a combination of bright emerald and rich lilac;
- contrast of turquoise and amethyst.
These are the main nuances that you should pay attention to when combining colors.