Nature’s Color Wisdom: Lessons on Lavender From the Great Outdoors

The color of the lavender fields in Provence, France; lilac bushes perfuming the summer night in the southern U.S.; and English gardens bursting with foxgloves — lavender is a color that evokes feelings of peace, serenity and even a bit of magic. Let’s explore this color through the lens of nature and find fresh ways of using it at home.

Lavender in nature. In the wild, lavender evokes serenity, peace, calm, spirituality and magic. It can be as cheerful as foxgloves in an English garden, as unexpected as the giant flower on an artichoke left to bloom or as simple as a basket of onions in a market stall.



Lavender and green. The most common color paired with lavender in nature is green — think of green foliage or green fields, dotted with lavender blooms. The green can be pale and silvery, like the foliage on a lavender plant, or vibrant chartreuse, like the stem of an allium.






Using lavender and green at home. Although in nature green tends to be the dominant color, with lavender playing a smaller part, in the home it is lavender that begs to take the starring role. In the photo above, soft lavender walls and accents with neutral furnishings are brought to life by a single, vibrant green painting.

You could also paint just one piece of furniture bright green, and keep everything else in a soothing lavender and neutral palette, as in this bedroom.


Lavender and wood. Outdoors, purple plants like lavender, violets and salvia look right at home tucked up against a weathered wood fence or shingled home.


The same effect can be achieved indoors by pairing pale lavender bedding and accents with milk-white walls and chunky raw wood beams. Notice this space also has a few green accents in the bedside table and pillows, echoing the hues that are usually seen together in the garden.


Lavender with rich purples. Deeper purple flowers look splendid sharing space in the same garden bed with paler lavender ones, especially when surrounded by natural elements like rocky outcroppings, weathered wood and bark.


Using lavender and rich purples at home. In the home, richer purples have a bold yet elegant feel, reminiscent of royalty. In a larger room, one piece of furniture in purple is probably all you need. Purple as a paint color can be quite dramatic — try it on an accent wall, line the back of a cupboard or bookcase, or paint the interior of a closet or laundry nook in the hue.


Warm or cool lavender. Soft lavender walls are easy to live with, but before you paint, you must decide if you prefer a cool lavender or a warmer tone. Cool lavender, like the one shown here, creates a centering, contemplative mood that works well in bedrooms and meditation rooms. Try putting this hue with silver, cool gray and crisp white.


Warm lavender that veers closer to pink, on the other hand, gives a more sociable (yet still peaceful) vibe, making it a good choice for entries and sitting rooms. This hue pairs nicely with warm grays, cream and fuchsia.

Tell us: How do you decorate with lavender at home? What are your favorite lavender paint colors?

More: Nature’s Color Wisdom: Lessons on Pink From the Great Outdoors

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