Periwinkle emerged as a distinctive color name in the English language during the 1920s. The gentle blend of blue and violet creates a uniquely calming and whimsical presence in both art and design, often symbolizing serenity, innocence, and creative inspiration. Modern designers frequently choose periwinkle to add a playful, dreamy quality to their work, while spiritual traditions have long connected its ethereal nature to meditation and inner peace. Contemporary spaces benefit from periwinkle's ability to create sophisticated yet welcoming environments, and research has shown its effectiveness in therapeutic settings.
Periwinkle's technical specifications vary across different color models. In the RGB color space, pure periwinkle consists of R: 204, G: 204, B: 240, creating its characteristic soft blue-violet tone. Web designers frequently use the hexadecimal code #CCCCF0 to achieve consistent periwinkle reproduction across digital platforms. For print applications, the CMYK values of C: 15%, M: 15%, Y: 0%, K: 6% ensure accurate color matching in physical media. The color maintains excellent visibility against both light and dark backgrounds, making it particularly versatile in user interface design.
Other related colors to periwinkle: