Purple is a color that evokes feelings of royalty, spirituality, and creativity. It comes in a wide range of shades, from light lavenders to deep eggplants. But what exactly is the most popular shade of purple? There are a few ways we can determine the answer.
Examining Fashion and Home Décor Trends
One way to gauge the most popular shade of purple is to look at what’s trending in fashion and home décor. These industries often set the tone for what colors are in style.
In recent years, a mid-tone purple called lilac has become very popular. Pantone named Lilac Grey its Color of the Year for 2022. This soft, muted purple has been popping up across fashion and interior design. Brands likeClare Paint and Backdrop Paint have named similar hues like Thunder and Violetta top-selling paint colors.
Lavender is another lighter purple shade that has gained major popularity. Millennial pink and sage green exploded onto the scene a few years back, and now lavender is poised to become the defining color of the late 2010s and 2020s. Pastel purple is dominating everything from activewear like workout sets to home goods like laundry hampers and kitchenaid mixers.
While pale purple tones are trending, some richer jewel purple shades are still going strong. Pantone selected a bold Ultra Violet as its 2018 Color of the Year. Deep purple hues like amethyst, mulberry, and royal purple continue to have mass appeal. These shades evoke luxury and elegance.
Analyzing Statistics on Most Popular Purples
In addition to looking at fashion and design trends, we can turn to hard data on the most popular shades of purple from paint companies, designers, and color experts.
| Brand | Most Popular Purple |
|---|---|
| Behr | Gentle grape |
| Benjamin Moore | Wisteria |
| Clare | Thunder |
| Sherwin Williams | Sensuous |
| Valspar | Lavender fog |
This data shows lighter purples like wisteria, gentle grape, thunder, and lavender fog topping the most popular lists from major paint brands. Sensuous from Sherwin Williams is an outlier as a deeper romantic purple.
When looking beyond just paint to broader color popularity data, lighter purples still dominate. Pantone reports lilac and orchid as two of the hottest purple shades. Designers rank wisteria and lavender highly as well.
While pale shades have the edge currently, jewel tones like royal purple and amethyst remain iconic, versatile hues.
The Symbolism and Meaning Behind Purple Colors
The varying symbolism and meaning associated with different shades of purple may provide more insight into popular hues.
Lighter purples like lavender and lilac are linked to spring, femininity, and softness. Lavender has soothing, calming properties. Light purple connotes grace, elegance and nostalgia. Pastel purple rooms evoke a dreamy, romantic vibe.
Vivid purples like fuchsia and magenta are energizing “look-at-me” colors. These bright jewel tones feel magical, mystical and spiritual. Vibrant purple is associated with creativity, individuality, and magic.
Dark purples like eggplant and plum feel luxe and opulent. Deep purple conveys wealth, sophistication and ambition. Darker shades evoke intrigue, mystery and indulgence.
Blue-based purples like periwinkle and wisteria have a tranquil, serene vibe. These hues suggest wisdom, dignity, calmness, and stability.
This symbolism gives clues to the most universally appealing purple shades. Soft, feminine lavenders and lilacs rate high for their soothing, nostalgic properties. Vibrant jewel tones like fuchsia and royal purple have bold visual impact. Mid-tone purples like wisteria and thistle balance lightness and depth for wide versatility.
How Different Age Groups View Popular Purples
Generational differences may also affect what people see as the most popular shades of purple. Views on the most fashionable, stylish or aesthetically pleasing purples can shift across age groups.
For Baby Boomers, muted tones like mauve and wisteria may rate as popular for their classic, subtle elegance. Softer lavenders can appeal for their vintage, old-world charm.
Gen X may favor bold deep jewel tones that evoke luxury and status. Rich eggplant, amethyst and royal purple fit well with this demographic.
Millennials and Gen Z likely gravitate toward airy, ethereal purples like lilac and blush. Whimsical lavender and pink-tinged purple suit the playful, feminine tastes of younger groups.
Teens and kids may view bright, vibrant shades like electric purple and magenta as popular. These high-energy colors match the youthful exuberance of children.
So preference for lighter pastel purples versus deeper bold purples breaks down somewhat along generational lines. Older generations may sway toward more subtle, muted purple hues in comparison to youth who embrace vivid tones.
How Purple Is Used in Logos and Branding
Looking at how various shades of purple are employed in major company logos and branding provides more clues to popularity.
Light purples like lilac and orchid pop up in the logos for Slack, Lyft, Houzz and more. These companies aim for approachable, friendly branding, which lighter purples convey.
Brighter vivid purples like Yahoo’s signature color help brands stand out. Playful pops of bright purple inject energy and vibrance into company identities.
Darker eggplant and plum purples lend an air of luxury and sophistication. These deep shades are favored by high-end jewelry and cosmetics companies like Van Cleef & Arpels and Chanel.
Indigo purples have an edgier, artsier feel, as seen in Vice Media and ABC’s branding. These blue-based purples suggest creativity and intellect.
So lighter, more playful purples succeed for approachable branding, while bolder jewel tones portray luxury and vivid purples convey vibrance. Looking at logo design gives a micro view into the most strategically used shades.
How Purple Rates for Visual Appeal and Aesthetics
Some shades of purple have inherent qualities that make them more visually appealing than others. Color theory and visual design principles provide perspective.
Soft pastel purples are universally flattering. Lavender and lilac shades have a low visual intensity that pleases the eye. Light purples make calming, inviting palettes.
Vibrant purples pop against other colors, creating striking color schemes. These intense shades add excitement but can overwhelm in large doses.
Dark purples lend high contrast for bold graphics when paired with light and medium colors. Deep purples tend to recede, so they often serve best as accents.
Muted purples like mauve and thistle have a subtle, delicate beauty. These dusty tones work as neutrals in fashion, decor and design.
Softer pale and muted purples have a gentle, subtle beauty. Vibrant shades create impact as accents. Dark purples add drama in small doses. This nuance points to universally flattering mid-tone purples as most aesthetically popular.
Regional Differences in Favorite Shades of Purple
Preference for purple hues can vary by region, influenced by local culture and traditions. What’s trending or aesthetically pleasing in one area may differ elsewhere.
In Europe, blue-based cool purples like periwinkle suit more northerly climates. French tastes lean toward lavender and lilac shades. British tastes favor classic royal purple and heather tones.
In Asia, vivid purples and fuchsia suit Chinese and Indian style. Japanese tastes prefer muted wisteria and lilac shades evoking nature. In Thailand, deep jewel tones like amethyst reflect Buddhist culture.
In the Middle East, purple symbolizes wealth, royalty and luxury. Deep eggplant and plum shades nod to this opulence. Light purples also feel welcoming.
In the Americas, Latin American style embraces bold, vibrant purple. North Americans favor versatile mid-tones crossing fashion and design.
So cultural preferences and symbolic meanings of color can influence favorite local purple shades. But versatile mid-tone purples have wide international appeal.
Conclusion
In reviewing all these factors—from color trends to regional differences—a few shades stand out as universally popular purples. Soft, feminine lilac clearly leads for mass appeal. Inviting lavender and elegant wisteria also rate very high across demographics. For bolder shades, vibrant fuchsia and rich amethyst remain timeless favorite jewel tones. But across fashion, design, demographics and cultures, mid-tone purples seem to have the widest, most enduring popularity. Shades like lilac, orchid and wisteria balance lightness and depth for broad appeal across the board. So while personal taste dictates individual favorite shades, these nuanced mid-tones take the title for most popular purple colors overall.
