Do you know colours can control our emotions? In fact, every primary and secondary colour we know is associated with our feelings. Red is associated with anger, green with jealousy and the common phrase “I am feeling blue” is no mystery to us, which indicates blue is related to sadness. Among all these beautiful colour spectrums, there is a colour that both are mysterious and calming. The Imperial purple, once associated with royalty, is a colour that has unique effects on our emotions.

Often termed as lavender or lilac, light purple is highly tranquil in nature. I personally feel this unique blend of red, blue and white contributes to its unique qualities. Red, being a warm tone, brings in the sense of happiness while blue, being a cool tone, contributes to its serene nature; white, with its neutral nature, makes this colour a perfect balance that can do wonders for our brains. But why do you need to calm yourself when you’re travelling? Well, we travel mainly for two reasons: work or a trip. Now, being outside of your known environment, there are many things that can trigger your stress, discomfort or even small arguments.

You can experience the magical effects of lavender even when you step outside of a peaceful surrounding. It doesn’t just trigger peace but also elevates creativity and inspires you, improving your connection with your brain. So, be it related to work or vacation, surrounding yourself with this colour will increase your productivity and help you experience the utmost benefits of your trip.

Light purple or lavender is best known for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. It will wash over you in such a gentle way it’s impossible not to feel at ease with your surroundings. I think we can all agree as students and professionals that stress is integrated into our brains, so to come back to a room or have a workplace which could regulate that would be a great choice. If you are into spiritual activities like meditation and yoga, having a room could immediately trigger a sense of peace in you, which makes lavender a great choice for such spaces.

The colour purple can help us embark on a spiritual journey of self-exploration and awareness. Stimulating our connections to ourselves allows us to access a deeper level of consciousness, makes us more self-aware, and sharpens our intuition.

Light Purple: An Exploration

At the higher level of the visible spectrum lies a soft hue- light purple- a beautiful blend of red, blue and white. This blend is malleable, which means when put together with other colours, it adds plenty of power and changes the vibe or feel of a certain art or surrounding.

Light purple excels when it comes to stress reduction; its gentle and soothing nature is known to calm an overactive mind and create a sense of tranquillity. This vibrant colour gives you a royal and elegant feeling when worn as well. Its ability to uplift and inspire can turn one’s day around. The psychological effect of soft purple can also elevate creativity and imagination, instigate compassion and empower your spiritual self. When it comes to the concept of psychology, light purple is considered a balanced and serene colour. I personally feel due to all these qualities it will make a great fit for art studios, design workshops, offices where creativity is a must and also meditation rooms.

However, the effect of every colour can vary from person to person since not everyone perceives a colour in the same way. Cultural and personal preferences can change how one feels the effects of any colour. Similarly, the effects of Purple and its various shades are also subjective.

All in all, soft purple has shown its power over time through its ability to transform our moods and psyches. Its calmness, uplifting feelings, and spiritually stimulating traits make it an amazing tool when creating relaxing environments that inspire others. Whether used through interior design or fashion choices, incorporating this beautiful colour back into your life could truly affect your emotional well-being!

Effects of Different Shades of Purple on Your Mood

Dark purple is rich and luxurious in nature, which gives a sophisticated vibe, while medium purple stimulates deeper thoughts. Pale purple, on the other hand, is tender and sensitive, giving off healing and calming vibes. Lavender connects you with yourself, which advocates the fact that different colours of purple have different effects on different individuals. I personally love this play of shades and tones of colour that can affect and trigger different emotions in individuals.

Royal purple, historically associated with nobility, promotes ambition and pride. Electric purple is bright and full of life! It energizes and inspires boldness.

Based on my research, the Munsell colour system looks at five primary colours based on their properties, within which we can see purple create balance- a psychological middle ground between stimulation and tranquillity. Based on this, I came to the conclusion that purple has the potential to have a harmonizing effect, which portrays equilibrium and stability. Purple itself is an extremely versatile colour. This means one can customize it in any way based on their needs, provided they have proper knowledge.

The Canada Hustle team talked to Ana Coddington, Lead Interior Designer at Archival Designs, on how light purple enhances mood and creativity. Here is what she said:

“Light purple, often recognized as lavender, has a remarkable ability to influence both mood and creativity due to its unique psychological effects. This color is inherently soothing, making it a powerful tool for creating environments that promote relaxation and stress relief.

When you incorporate light purple into your surroundings, it fosters a serene ambiance that can significantly enhance your emotional well-being and creative capacity.

In interior design, light purple is celebrated for its versatility and its ability to create a peaceful atmosphere. Using lavender hues in spaces like bedrooms, living rooms, or creative studios can make these areas feel more tranquil and inviting.

For example, painting a bedroom wall in light purple can create a restful environment conducive to sleep and relaxation, while adding lavender accents in a home office or studio can help reduce stress and foster a calm mindset, which is essential for creative thinking and problem-solving.

From a fashion perspective, wearing light purple can have a subtle yet profound impact on your mood and self-perception. This color is often associated with grace and elegance, which can enhance your confidence and overall sense of well-being.

It’s a color that can make you feel more composed and poised, contributing to a more positive outlook and increased creative inspiration.

In the context of art, light purple can be a powerful element in your palette. It can add depth and a sense of calm to your artwork, enhancing its emotional resonance and aesthetic appeal.

Artists often use light purple to create a sense of harmony and balance in their compositions, which can make the artwork more engaging and inspiring to viewers.

Many people find that integrating light purple into their environments leads to noticeable improvements in their mood and creativity.

For instance, a designer might use light purple cushions and drapes in a living room to create a space that feels both calm and inspiring, encouraging relaxation and creative thinking.

Similarly, an artist may find that painting a portion of their studio wall in lavender helps them feel more centered and focused, leading to more productive and imaginative work sessions.”

Unique Aspects of Light Purple

Rebecca Purple has an emotional back story; it symbolizes remembrance and awareness. If used often, it can make people empathetic.

Light Purple, or as I prefer to call it, lavender, is associated with serenity, relaxation and overall peace. I feel using this colour in places where tranquillity and stress relief are desired will prove to be of great help. In this busy and stressful generation where peace is so difficult to achieve but is desired by everyone, I think using this colourful solution will show significant positive results.

Tyrian Purple, one of my favourite shades of purple, has an interesting historical reference associated with royalty. Psychologically, it can give off an air of exclusivity and power because it’s often associated with royalty and used as a symbol of wealth, so if you’re trying to add luxury or mystique to a room, then Tyrian Purple would be a great choice.

Lilac, on the other hand, is also associated with calmness. Similar to lavender, it is known to promote tranquillity and relaxation. This, again, in my opinion, is a great option when one needs to release stress.

Violet and Amethyst, have you ever been on a spiritual journey or know someone who has been practicing spirituality? If you do, you will find these people interacting with Violet or talking about amethyst, as one promotes introspection and self-reflection while the other one has healing properties, respectively. Amethyst is also known for providing protection. I personally love the amethyst stone; it can work as an amazing piece of jewelry with its unique colour and elegant aura.

The Use of Light Purple

When used as a hint of creativity, light purple won’t cause any sensory overload, so don’t worry about that. It’ll spark some interest while adding depth to what you’re designing without overpowering it too much. Mystique is a quality you’ll see in this shade, which makes it suitable for areas where inspiration needs to come from creativity.

If I dive in deeper Light purple signifies different meaning in different cultures. In Western culture, purple has long been associated with royalty. It was expensive during Ancient Rome because it was rare so only the elite could afford it. In Christianity, it can be seen as a symbol of penance and humility.

In China, Japan, and Hinduism, there are other religious associations associated with it. In Japan, light purple means someone’s nobility and elegance. In Chinese cultures, it means spirituality and immortality, whereas in Hinduism, it represents power and piety.

Again, people associate colours with their feelings and experiences, so it is important to remember that even with cultural, psychological, or spiritual relevance, one can like or dislike this colour based on their personal experiences and learnings.

We interviewed Peter Martinez, a Stylist and Fashion Director at Leather Skin Shop, on this. Here is what he had to say:

“Light purple is one of those hues that lifts my mood, and just looking at a lavender blouse can get the inspiration flowing. There’s a playfulness to it too, a touch of joy that makes you want to experiment.

A well-placed piece in light purple can add a touch of sophistication and mystery, perfect for those days when you want to feel both put-together and intriguing.

I once had a client who felt her wardrobe had become a sea of black and grey, reflecting her general feeling of being uninspired. We decided to incorporate some light purple into her look.

We started small, with a lavender silk scarf that added a pop of color to her usual black blazer. 

The difference was incredible! The light purple seemed to spark something within her. She began experimenting with bolder color combinations and even started sketching outfit ideas again.

It was a total transformation. Light purple, for her, became a symbol of that newfound creativity and joy.”

Creating Balance with light purple

Something most people seem to agree on is that light purple is calming and pairs well with colours like white, cyan, brown, or light blue to make the chill effect even stronger.

As I discussed earlier, light purple radiates a calming aura; based on its significance, here are a few places where this colour will be an ideal choice:

1. Bedrooms: If you want your bedroom to feel peaceful, then give this colour a shot! It’ll make your bedroom calm down so much that falling asleep becomes more accessible than ever before!
2. Meditation/yoga rooms: The calming qualities of this shade will help individuals find inner peace and focus so they can get better at their practice!
3. Spas/wellness centers: Do you know how good you feel when leaving these places? That’s because they usually use this colour! It makes you feel at peace and heal emotionally.
4. Creative spaces: To get your gears moving, just paint the room purple. If you’re a writer or an artist, then trust me, it’ll do wonders for your inspiration levels.

Again I cannot fixate on it enough how important it is to keep in mind how light purple can have a different effect depending on how someone feels about it culturally and personally. But when used correctly, it can bring some much-needed balance into any space while also making you feel relaxed enough to sleep like a baby or make you feel creative enough to finish that novel if that’s more of your thing.

Besides being a calming colour, light purple can also create a sense of femininity and elegance. If you use the pale shade of light purple in certain areas of your design, it can influence emotions and reactions that attract people’s attention.

Light Purple and Its Psychological Responses

Suppose we watch nature up close flowers like lavender and lilac, which are naturally obtained shades of light purple. Sitting near these will give you a sense of tranquillity and peace.

It’s a fun and refreshing colour to be around. To be completely honest, walking through fields with shades of connects instantly builds a connection between nature and you as if a fresh gust of spring is rushing your way.

Curiosity sparks too. You’ve probably stood and stared at the petals on lilacs thinking how amazing they look. These little moments with nature and colour just sweep you away from the day-to-day stressful life.

Adam Chahl, an interior design specialist with Vancouver Home Search, shared his views on the light purple color’s connection with mood and creativity. Here is what he said:

“Light purple, often associated with serenity, wisdom, and spiritual insight, has a subtle yet profound impact on mood and creativity in various creative fields.

As an interior design specialist, my experience with this color reveals its dual ability to calm the mind and stimulate creative thinking.

In the realm of interior design, light purple is frequently used to create a restful yet inspiring environment. For instance, in a recent project, a client’s home office was transformed using light purple hues on the walls and accents.

This choice was intentional; the color not only brightened the room but also provided a tranquil backdrop that enhanced the client’s focus and creative output.

The gentle yet uplifting nature of light purple can significantly reduce stress levels, making it an excellent choice for spaces dedicated to innovation and deep thinking.

Fashion designers and stylists also leverage light purple to evoke creativity and elegance. A designer I collaborated with used light purple in a spring collection to convey freshness and originality, resonating particularly well during the fashion week presentations.

The color’s versatility was evident as it appealed to a broad audience by blending vibrancy with a sense of calm, proving its efficacy in boosting mood and sparking creative ideas.

In the visual arts, light purple can be transformative. A visual artist friend frequently incorporates various shades of purple into her paintings to evoke a sense of mysticism and depth.

She mentions that light purple invites viewers into a contemplative space, enhancing their engagement with the artwork and fostering a deeper emotional connection, which in turn stimulates a creative dialogue between the artist and the audience.

Lighting designers have a unique perspective on color, especially when it comes to influencing mood and creativity through ambient lighting. One notable example involved using light purple LED lighting strips in a multimedia art installation.

The lighting altered the space’s mood, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves in a more introspective and imaginative state, effectively enhancing the overall creative experience.

From a branding perspective, incorporating light purple can significantly affect consumer perception and creativity in marketing strategies.

As a brand strategist, using light purple in a product’s branding or an advertising campaign can differentiate the brand as innovative and insightful, which not only attracts creative professionals but also appeals to a wider audience looking for freshness in a sea of sameness.”

Unwinding the Mysteries of Light Purple

To be fair, completely understanding and unwinding the mysteries of light purple is not possible. There is definitely something spiritual and magical about this colour which can only be felt. It almost feels as if Mother Nature added some enchantment to this colour that can heal you in so many mysterious ways. Whether we realize it or not, we get the most peace when we connect with ourselves and to our roots with Mother Nature. So, next time you plan a trip, do not forget to have a piece of this amazing and mysterious colour in your bag pack; who knows when your soul feels like reconnecting with its origin, or you need a little moment of peace in this chaotic world or perhaps an immediate inflow of inspiring ideas for your project!

Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on May 12, 2024 by Saket