Mauve, a unique hue with a rich history, balances feminine softness and vintage flair, ideal for versatile decor themes. Learn which colors complement this dusky purple to enhance your space with elegance and style.
From romantic cranberry to soothing dove gray, our top color recommendations will help you craft an inviting and chic atmosphere effortlessly.
Discover the perfect color pairings for mauve in our guide.
Mauve Color Meaning & History
Mauve is a pale shade of purple that also has hints of pink. There is a greige undertone to mauve, which gives it a dusky appearance, making it less feminine than other pale purple shades like lilac and lavender.
Mauve has an interesting history. It is named after the mallow flower, which is translated as ‘mauve’ in French. Through the 18th century, this color was known by both terms ‘mallow’ and ‘mauve,’ but mauve is the name that became more popular, and hence it is the name we know this color by now.
Mauve is known to be the first-ever color of a synthetic dye. It was created by accident in 1856 when a young chemist named Perkin was attempting to find a cure for malaria. While he did not succeed in curing malaria, he did stumble upon a residue in a mauve shade, which became the world’s first type of synthetic dye.
The dye was enormously successful in the clothing industry and led to a vast rise in mauve-colored garments being worn throughout the 1890s. This is now a decade that is referred to by historians as ‘the mauve decade’ due to the huge success of this color among the masses.
The color was subsequently known as ‘Perkin’s mauve’ after the inventor of the synthetic dye and is thought of among many as the color that transformed the world. Today, mauve is not the dominant color it once was, but it is still a popular shade, especially in women’s fashion and cosmetics.
Mauve has seen a recent rise in use as a color of hair dye, and it is also seeping its way into more mainstream home decor.
Colors that Go with Mauve
Cranberry
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Cranberry | #830f24 | cmyk(0%, 89%, 73%, 49%) | rgb(131, 15, 36) |
Cranberry is a rich shade of red that has purple undertones. It provides a sense of passion and romance alongside mauve, which makes this color pairing an ideal choice in a bedroom.
Choose mauve bed sheets and layer these with dark purple and cranberry pillows and throw blankets for a sumptuous and inviting look.
Mauve walls will also look great with cranberry accents, for example, a mauve hallway with a cranberry rug and some cranberry-colored dried flowers.
The image above shows a room where cranberry-colored curtains and a chair complement a mauve sofa, creating a stylish and warm aesthetic.
Dove Gray
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Dove Gray | #928984 | cmyk(0%, 6%, 10%, 43%) | rgb(146, 137, 132) |
For a modern twist on mauve, use it alongside dove gray. These two colors are at odds with each other in the type of atmosphere they create, so they’re a really nice choice for balancing out the mood. Dove gray can feel cold and boring by itself, but the addition of mauve adds a delicate and romantic touch.
Equally, if you find that a mauve color scheme is looking too feminine, then you can level this out by inserting elements of dove gray. These colors work well to create an elegant theme in a room. Consider using them with French-style furniture for an updated shabby chic style.
Mauve can also be a nice color pairing with dove gray to create a modern country cottage look. Pair dove gray walls with floral mauve bed sheets for a contemporary twist on a traditional style.
Here, the image showcases a bedroom with mauve walls which harmonize beautifully with the dove gray bedding and curtains, providing a tranquil and chic color scheme.
Olive Green
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Olive Green | #6e6e2e | cmyk(0%, 0%, 58%, 57%) | rgb(110, 110, 46) |
Purple and green are colors that clash when they are used too heavily, but a muted shade of mauve and olive green create a dusky and earthy vibe that will look elegant and understated.
Olive green is a trendy color in interior design right now, and mauve will make a nice complementary color by providing a pretty balance that is stylish yet unusual. Pair an olive green velvet sofa with cream cushions with mauve embellishments.
Mauve is also a very popular shade that is chosen as a color scheme for weddings. There has been an increase in mauve bridesmaid dresses and table centerpieces, which are contrasted with olive green foliage, showing how well these two shades work well together in classy and romantic settings.
Use these shades in a bedroom or in a formal living room with sumptuous fabrics such as silk and velvet for a grown-up, chic look.
Lemon Yellow
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Lemon Green | #f1c349 | cmyk(0%, 19%, 70%, 5%) | rgb(241, 195, 73) |
Purple and yellow are contrasting and complementary colors as they are opposite each other on the color wheel. This is a pairing that can look very bold and intense, so for a color scheme that is easier on the eye, choose a muted shade of mauve and a soft lemon yellow.
This will make for an appealing, subtle contrast. These colors work especially well in country cottage-style bedrooms, for instance, a guest bedroom with a quilted comforter featuring patchwork mauve and lemon fabrics. These colors will look fresh and enlivened with pure white, such as a white painted wooden bed frame or white walls.
Avoid bright shades of yellow with mauve as it will overpower the pale purple color and can look sickly.
Mauve can be paired with deeper shades of yellow, such as golden honey yellow or mustard yellow. These will work to bring a more sophisticated edge to a mauve space, as opposed to lemon yellow, which has a more innocent, joyful feel.
Royal Blue
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Royal Blue | #024da0 | cmyk(99%, 52%, 0%, 37%) | rgb(2, 77, 160) |
Royal blue is a vibrant shade of blue that looks especially regal when used with mauve. Both of these colors are synonymous with royalty, so if you want to inspire a look of grandeur in a contemporary home, then these are a great choice.
To ensure a classy and elegant look is achieved, put a focus on plush fabrics and metallic accents. Velvet cushions or satin curtains will work well, while gold, copper, or bronze metals will add luxury and warmth to the design.
Use royal blue and mauve heavily for an all-encompassing luxe feel, for example, mauve walls with royal blue bedsheets and a variety of mauve, blue and gray cushions.
You can also use these colors to create a more casual style, and this will be reliant on using more natural fabrics such as cotton and choosing a neutral base color such as white. To achieve this, paint walls white and opt for a royal blue linen sofa with mauve cushions. The resulting look will be refined yet airy.
Eggplant Purple
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Eggplant Purple | #361e4c | cmyk(29%, 61%, 0%, 70%) | rgb(54, 30, 76) |
Different shades of the same color can work really well in interior design for layered looks. Eggplant is a much darker shade of mauve, but it has very similar tones.
These are both colors that fall under the heading of purple, and they both have dusky tones, which make them feel more earthy as opposed to bright and vibrant. So, mauve is a color that matches well with eggplant.
In the image, eggplant purple bedding complements the deeper mauve tones of the pillows and throw, set against a dark grey wall. The combination creates a rich, luxurious ambiance in the bedroom.
Cream
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Cream | #ebe1e1 | cmyk(0%, 4%, 4%, 8%) | rgb(235, 225, 225) |
If you want your mauve interior to be cute and charming, choose cream-colored walls with mauve accents. Mauve fresh bouquets or dried flowers in a stone-colored vase will look both elegant and dainty.
The mauve and cream color palette looks decidedly feminine but in a more mature and refined way, as opposed to being frilly and overtly girlish.
Here is a nursery with soft mauve walls, accented by cream furniture and textiles. The cream armchair with a cozy blanket and fluffy pillow contrasts warmly against the gentle mauve, creating a soothing and harmonious color scheme perfect for a calming baby’s room.
Blush Pink
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Blush Pink | #efb7c5 | cmyk(0%, 23%, 18%, 6%) | rgb(239, 183, 197) |
Mauve is a beautiful set of colors that work beautifully together with blush pink to create an elegant, feminine space. They are a wonderful choice for a nursery if you want to create a pretty space that is not too sickly sweet.
The dusky tones of both of these shades result in them being subtly feminine. This image shows an elegant interior with a blush pink tufted sofa that stands out against a mauve paneled wall. The subtle difference in shades between blush pink and mauve creates a layered, monochromatic look that’s rich in depth and sophistication.
Gold
| Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
| Mauve | #b180a2 | cmyk(0%, 28%, 8%, 31%) | rgb(177, 128, 162) | |
| Gold | #d2b0a6 | cmyk(0%, 16%, 21%, 18%) | rgb(210, 176, 166) |
As gold is a metallic version of yellow, it makes sense that this would be the metal finish of choice with mauve, as purple and yellow are contrasting colors.
In this image, a mauve sofa is complemented by a gold accent table, which introduces a warm, metallic contrast to the cooler mauve tones. The reflective nature of the gold adds a luxurious touch and pairs elegantly with the subdued mauve, creating a sophisticated and balanced aesthetic in the space.
