What Colors Make Lavender?
Purple and white make lavender. Use a blue-leaning purple — warm, red-heavy purples turn mauve instead when whitened.
Purple + White = Lavender
Purple
1 part
White
4 parts
Lavender
The direct route. Purple is a strong pigment, so add it into the white a little at a time.
Blue + Red + White = Lavender
Blue
2 parts
Red
1 part
White
6 parts
Lavender
Mixing your own purple first lets you keep it cool. Leaning blue is what gives true lavender rather than lilac.
Magenta + Blue + White = Lavender
Magenta
1 part
Blue
1 part
White
6 parts
Lavender
Magenta contains no yellow, so this stays the cleanest and least muddy of the three.
Adjusting your lavender
To lighten: Add more white for lilac and pale wisteria.
To darken: Add more purple for amethyst, or a touch of black for a deeper heather.
To mute or soften: Add a speck of yellow (purple’s complement) for a greyed, dried-lavender tone.
Mixing paint vs. mixing light
The recipes above describe subtractive mixing — how paint, ink and pigment behave. Each pigment absorbs part of the spectrum, so the more you add, the darker the mixture gets.
Screens work the opposite way, using additive mixing with red, green and blue light: the more you add, the brighter it gets. With light (RGB), lavender is high blue and red light with somewhat less green — a pale, whitened purple, e.g. #B69AD8.
Frequently asked about making lavender
What colors make lavender?
Purple and white make lavender. Use a blue-leaning purple — warm, red-heavy purples turn mauve instead when whitened.
What two colors make lavender?
Purple + White makes lavender. The direct route. Purple is a strong pigment, so add it into the white a little at a time.
How do you make lavender lighter or darker?
Add more white for lilac and pale wisteria. Add more purple for amethyst, or a touch of black for a deeper heather.
Is mixing lavender paint the same as mixing lavender light?
No. Paint mixes subtractively while light mixes additively. With light (RGB), lavender is high blue and red light with somewhat less green — a pale, whitened purple, e.g. #B69AD8.