14 Lavender Color Decorating Ideas to Add a Royal Touch to Any Room
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Would you paint your kitchen purple? What about your living room or primary bath? If the thought leaves you totally perplexed, take a look at these 14 lavender color decorating ideas from design pros. As they show, purple’s lighter hue—hex code e6e6fa, if you’re into color codes—is at home in just about any room. “It doesn’t feel girly if paired with the right colors,” says Jessica Davis of Atlanta-based interior design studio Atelier Davis and hardware brand Nest Studio. “Lavender backsplash tile in a kitchen? Sign me up! Lavender ceiling in a bedroom. Yes, please!”
Not only does lavender work, it also makes a room feel more luxurious, says interior designer and Behr paint ambassador Cara Newhart, who points to the historical significance of color meanings. “The color of royalty in the ancient world, purple adds a dimension of richness and sophistication, and lavender is a perfect way to embody this in a softer and more subtle way compared to highly pigmented or more true-tone purple,” she says.
To get more insight on how to make lavender work, we talked to design pros around the country.
What are the lavender colors that interior designers love?
Maggie Griffin of Maggie Griffin Design in Gainesville, Georgia, likes Whisper Violet by Benjamin Moore because “it has a mostly gray tone with a touch of lavender,” while Sarah Tract of New York City–based Sarah Tract Interiors says her go-to shade is Cake Shop by Backdrop. “It feels light and airy, but also bright and fun!” she says. Purple Cream by Benjamin Moore is a favorite for Stephanie Mahaney of Stephanie Rae Interiors in Jupiter, Florida. Though she points out that she generally likes to mix 50% white paint in with colors for walls—though she goes for a higher saturation when painting trim and millwork.
What other colors go well with lavender?
“Muted green and soft white looks beautiful with lavender,” Mahaney says. “I also love a little orange with lavender if you’re feeling a bit more risky!” And Tract reiterates that you don’t have to stick with pastels. “The colors that go best with lavender are navy, tangerine, and emerald,” she says. For a color combo that’s totally unexpected, Griffin says to pair the lilac-like shade with red.
Beyond paint, how can you work lavender into a space?
“Lavender is such a fun color. Think plush velvet cushions, textured throws, wallpaper with a cool print, or even a statement rug,” says Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs in Los Angeles. “For a more subtle touch, lavender-colored glassware or ceramic vases can add just the right amount of color. I also like seeing lavender in artwork—whether it’s a bold abstract piece or a delicate floral print, it adds a soft yet striking visual pop.” And don’t rule out actual florals. When in season, Janine Carendi MacMurray of Area Interior Design in New York City includes lavender flowers in arrangements to bring a natural and fragrant touch to the space. “Around my kitchen, I dry lavender once a year and it brings fragrance and color,” she says.
Photo: Courtesy of Annie Sloan1/14Coat your kitchen in a lavender color palette
“Treat lilac as a new fresh neutral color and use it as you would any other neutral, and you won’t go wrong. It’s a color that works in both traditional country homes and sleek contemporary spaces,” says paint creator Annie Sloan. “If you are afraid of lilac, introduce it with soft furnishings or lampshades.” In this purple yet still understated kitchen, Sloan painted the walls Antoinette, which is actually a pinkish shade, but looks light purple alongside the more saturated cupboards. Those are painted a mix of Aubusson Blue and Emperor’s Silk Chalk Paint.
Photo: Elliot Fuerniss2/14Add lavender tints with textiles
Here, Davis proves that if you pick pale purple, you don’t have to make it the only color in the space. Lavender lends itself well to mixing with bold hues. “I love lavender with brown and with baby blue and red,” she says. And beyond paint colors, she’s a fan of working the shade into a room through drapes, pillows, and wallpaper.
Photo: Reid Rolls3/14Pick a purple that pops
Next to bold colors, lavender plays the neutral, but when combined with beige, this purple really pops. In this room, designed by Tract, a playful shade of lavender is the right color for a fun mirror. And the overall effect is to add a punch of personality to a serene space.
Photo: Courtesy of BEHR4/14Go for a gray alternative
Looking for a gray alternative? Look no further than light lavender, especially a cool-toned lavender blue. “I love White Lavender from Behr as an alternative to gray,” Newhart, who’s a fan of using it in a sun-soaked space, says. “Lavender pairs well with warm wood tones to add some grounding elements to the otherwise airy and playful shade.” It also pairs well with the paint color Rusty Gate by Behr, seen in this breakfast nook on the bench.
Photo: Isabel Parra5/14Infuse a kid’s room with fun
“Lavender is a gentle color—when the lavender paint has a brown base—but can bring a bright pop of color and create a fun space for kids,” MacMurray says. “It’s a surprisingly calm shade for one that gives an effective punch of color.” For smaller pops, consider incorporating lilac into a stenciled design in a kid’s room. Elephants on the Wall makes easy-to-follow paint-by-number templates, and the brand’s Paisley Wall Mural would look especially eye-catching in lavender and gray.
Photo: Lauren Taylor6/14Create a sophisticated lavender look
Not only for kids’ rooms, light purple also works in more mature spaces, like a primary bedroom. “Lavender is all about tranquility and calm,” Hayslett says. “It has this magical ability to make a room feel serene yet sophisticated. It’s like a gentle hug for your space—soothing, but with enough personality to keep things interesting.”
Photo: Ellen Renee7/14Liven up a living room
Mimi Meacham of Marian Louise Designs in Houston likes lavender in rugs, drapery, window shades, and even furniture—making it a great color for living rooms. The shade evokes “zen and relaxation with a hint of levity,” she says. As for pairing, Meachem likes to mix light purple with deep chocolates, crisp whites, mint tones, and caramel colors.
Photo: Brian Bieder8/14Use lilac to create calm
Soothing, serene, and tranquil are descriptors that came up often when we asked design pros about the color lavender, and Griffin agrees. “Bedrooms feel extra dreamy when painted in lavender,” she says, adding that a touch of lavender on the bedding is a great place to add this soft color. And as far as complementary shades go, Griffin likes soft greens and even tones of coral.
Photo: Read McKendree9/14Pair purple and green
Speaking of green and coral, Jeanne Barber of Camden Grace Interiors in West Hartford, Connecticut, concurs. “Corals, grass greens, and cool-toned blues all complement lavender beautifully,” she says. “In this femme office we incorporated splashes of lavender in the Schumacher Thistle wall covering that adorns the ceiling. The Rebecca Atwood Marconi fabric on the Roman shades also has splashes of lavender, mixed with blush and coral.”
Photo: Heather Talbert10/14Make a main bathroom moody
The purple shown here, which is more of a plum than a periwinkle, offers up even more proof that lavender isn’t reserved for Easter eggs and children’s rooms. “We like lavender that isn’t too sweet and feels a little moody and organic,” says Wendy Labrum of Wendy Labrum Interiors in Chicago. “It should set a beautiful serene mood and evoke natural colors from flowers and sunsets. Natural linen tones, dark charcoal, and ivory accent lavender nicely.”
Photo: Courtesy of Valspar11/14Balance out a bold blue
Not only is this an unexpected color combination, it also features in an unexpected place—a garage. “Many people think of lavender in the context of very feminine or youthful spaces. While the color certainly plays well in those environments, there are many ways to use it in modern, elevated contexts,” says Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. Kim says this purple color, Lavender Escape by Valspar, “is a true lavender with a cool undertone, helping balance out bolder and brighter colors throughout a space.” The bold blue is Encore, Valspar’s 2025 Color of the Year.
Photo: Christopher Stark12/14Mix lavender mediums
“Lavender can be something small to serve as an accent or a highlight in a room. However, it’s even nicer to have it take a larger role such as tile, accent furniture, or window treatments,” says AD PRO Directory member Clara Jung of Berkeley-based Banner Day Interiors. In this bathroom designed by Jung, the color takes center stage, appearing in complementary shades in both the tile and wallpaper.
Photo: Meghan Beierle-O'Brien13/14Deck out a regal dining room
About the color of the moment, AD PRO Directory member Patrick Ediger of Los Angeles–based Patrick Ediger Interior Design says, “It’s particularly stunning in bedrooms and dining rooms, where you want to create an inviting sense of subtle luxury. The soft, sultry tones of lavender can instantly elevate a space, giving it a sense of intimacy and refinement.”
Photo: Kris Tamburello14/14Look to lavender upholstery
“For this project, we used a lavender fabric for a tufted, custom headboard going edge-to-edge on the wall, creating a cozy and chic feel,” says Brittany Farinas of House of One Interior Design in Miami. “The triptych mural provides a soft and calming accent to the space, making the room feel very grounded.” Beyond custom upholstery, Farinas recommends enhancing a space with lavender pillows, vases, and candles.
