Mauve is a unique shade of purple, often described as "pink trying to be purple." Like violet and lavender, mauve takes its name from a flower. It became a revolutionary color in fashion and gained exceptional popularity in the 1890s, a period often referred to as the "Mauve Decade." In this post, we’ll explore the meaning of mauve, highlight the colors that complement it, and provide tips on how to easily incorporate this elegant hue into your designs.
You may also like: What is Nude Color: Meaning, Hex Code, Palettes, Symbolism and More
Reading Guide
Part 1: What Color is Mauve?
Mauve is a soft, muted shade that resides between violet and pink on the color spectrum. Often described as a pale purple, mauve carries a subtle grayish tone that gives it a vintage, elegant feel. It first gained popularity in the 19th century and remains a timeless favorite in fashion, interior design, and art due to its calming yet sophisticated appearance.
Part 2: Information about Mauve
1. Mauve Color Code
The hex code for mauve is #e0b0ff. In RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color format, mauve consists of 224 Red, 176 Green, and 255 Blue. The combination of these values creates its distinctive soft, purplish hue.
2. Color Conversion
| Hex | #e0b0ff | RGB | rgb(224, 176, 255) |
| RGB Percentages | rgb(88%, 69%, 100%) | HSL | hsl(276, 100%, 85%) |
| HSV | hsv(276, 31%, 100%) | LCH | 79, 45, 314 |
| LAB | 79, 32, -32 | LUV | 79, 20, -57 |
| XYZ | 64, 54, 102 | Closest Tailwind Color | purple-100 |
3. Color Variations
View this color variations of shades, tints, tones, hues and temperatures.
Shade 
Tint 
Tone 
Hue 
Temperature 
4. Mauve Color Palette
If you want to find colors that go with mauve color, check out the following color palettes and schemes identified by the color wheel.
| Complentary | Split-complementary |
|---|---|
| A complentary color scheme is a pairs of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. | A split-complementary scheme takes one base color and pairs it with the two colors adjacent to its complementary color. |
 |
 |
| Triadic | Analogous |
| A triadic color scheme involves three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. | An analogous color scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. |
 |
 |
| Monochromatic | Tetradic |
| A monochromatic scheme uses variations of the same hue. | A tetradic scheme involves two complementary pairs. |
 |
 |
Part 3: What Color Is Similar to Mauve Color?
Several colors share similarities with mauve, often carrying the same soft, grayish undertones.
- Lavender (#e6e6fa): Perhaps the closest cousin, though it leans slightly more toward blue. .
- Periwinkle (#ccccff): A purplish-blue shade, also closely aligns with the muted quality of mauve, though it incorporates more blue hues.
TThese similar colors can be used interchangeably in design schemes when looking for gentle, muted tones.
Part 4: What Color Goes With Mauve?
Mauve color is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a wide range of colors.
- Gray: A cool gray creates a sophisticated and modern look with mauve.
- Blue: A bold blue provides a dramatic contrast with mauve while still maintaining elegance.
- Olive Green: The earthy green adds depth and warmth next to the softness of mauve.
Part 5: What Does the Color Mauve Symbolize?
Mauve symbolizes tranquility, nostalgia, and femininity. Its soft and muted nature often evokes feelings of calm and introspection. In color psychology, mauve is associated with spirituality and reflection, much like other shades of purple. It can also carry an air of romanticism and sentimentality, often connected to vintage themes or old-world elegance. Depending on how it's used, mauve can represent everything from creativity to compassion, making it a meaningful and versatile color in design and fashion.
Part 6: Mauve Color vs Dusty Rose
Mauve and dusty rose are both soft, muted shades, but they differ in undertones and overall feel:
| Color | Hex | RGB | Description | Color shade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauve Color | #e0b0ff | (224, 176, 255) | A base of purple with hints of pink or gray |  |
| Dusty Rose | #dca1a1 | (220,161,161) | Primarily pink with warm, soft brown or beige undertones |  |
Part 7: [Bonus Tip] How to Add A Mauve Color Background to Any Image?
Adding a mauve background can give your image a sophisticated, tranquil look, perfect for social media, websites, or presentations. AI-based photo editors such as AVCLabs PhotoPro AI make it easy to seamlessly change or customize the background of an image with one-click background removal tool.
AVCLabs PhotoPro AI
- AI technology for Max. 400% lossless Enlargement
- Remove unwanted elements in the image.
- Replace any existing object with text prompts.
- Cut out and replace the image background easily.
- Colorize black-and-white photos in one click.
- Fix Blurry human face and bring back details.
- Auto color calibration and correction.
- Step 1 Launch the program and import a photo that you want to change background.
- Step 2 Click the Matting tool on the left menu bar. Use the object selection tool or foreground selection tool to choose the subject you want to isolate from the background. Click the Next button, and you will get an image with transparent background.
- Step 3Click on the Image tab and upload a picture containing mauve color as the new background. Click Apply to effect the change.
Conclusion
In this article, we've explored everything about mauve, including its meaning, color code, complementary hues, and symbolism. Additionally, we’ve shared how to easily add a mauve background to any image using tools like AVCLabs PhotoPro AI. With AVCLabs PhotoPro AI, you can achieve stunning mauve backgrounds with just one click.
