Is plum a cool or warm color?

Plum can be the basis for both formal and casual designs

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Plum is purple, but just a very red-purple. The color plum is a dignified color suitable for many formal occasions. The dark shades are the color of the fruit of the same name, while the lighter shades are less formal and more fun. Plum colors range from almost black to quite bright. Plum is a cool and warm color with its mix of blue and red, and it shares some of the meanings of both colors—mystery and nobility in particular.

The Meaning of the Color Plum

Lighter shades of plum carry the purple symbolism associated with the lighter shades of purple. It's a color that's less girly than pink and often seen in springtime. Some shades of plum include lavender, orchid or violet. 

Plum is known as:

  • A feminine color
  • A romantic color
  • A royal color
  • A springtime color
  • An Easter color

Using the Color Plum in Design Files

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Plum is a rich color that has become popular for use at formal weddings, particularly in combination with light and medium shades of gray. This sophisticated color palette is suitable for accompanying wedding invitations and programs, as well as for any formal occasion.

Green is opposite plum on the color wheel, so the two colors pair well for less formal projects. Plum also pairs well with yellowish or bluish greens and with beige. If you need a pop of contrast, add a bright orange or chartreuse to your design. While dark plum works well with medium grays, the lighter plums require a very light gray or light beige, possibly teamed with pale aqua, to not be overwhelmed.

A Selection of Plum Shades

When you are working on a design project that is destined to print in ink on paper, use CMYK formulations for plum colors in your page layout software or choose a Pantone solid color. When your design will be viewed on a computer monitor, use the RGB color mode.

Use Hex codes when you work with HTML, CSS or SVG. A selection of plum colors includes:

  • Plum: Hex #8e4585 | RGB 143,69,133 | CMYK 0,51,6,44
  • Pale Plum: Hex #8b668b | RGB 139,102,139 | CMYK 0,27,0,45
  • Medium Plum: Hex #8e4a72 | RGB 142,74,114 | CMYK 0,48,20,44
  • Dusty Plum: Hex #77395d | RGB 119,57,93 | CMYK 0,52,22,53
  • Dark Plum: Hex #651e38 | RGB 101,30,56 | CMYK 30,100,30,60
  • Dark Plum Blossom: Hex #461f33 | RGB 70,31,51 | CMYK 0,56,27,73
  • Light Plum: Hex #dda0dd | RGB 221,160,221, CMYK 0,28,0,13
  • Orchid: Hex #da70d6 | RGB 218,112,214 | CMYK 0,49,2,15

Using Pantone Colors for Shades of Plum

When you use plum in a one or two-color print design, choosing a Pantone spot color is an economical choice. A spot color can also be used in a full-color print project when the color match is critical.

The range of plus shades include:

  • Plum: Pantone Solid Coated 7656 C
  • Pale Plum: Pantone Solid Coated 7661 C
  • Medium Plum: Pantone Solid Coated 682 C 
  • Dusty Plum: Pantone Solid Coated 5125 C 
  • Dark Plum: Pantone Solid Coated 690 C 
  • Dark Plum Blossom: Pantone Solid Coated 7645 C 
  • Light Plum: Pantone Solid Coated 251 C 
  • Orchid: Pantone Solid Coated 252 C 

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A Plum Hair Colour, sandwiched between Red and Copper, is Coppers moodier cousin that isn’t here for its brightness or ferocity, instead, Plums high impact electric hues are enriched with out-of-this-world glossy pigments that act like a million miniature mirrors catching the perfect light with every movement. There’s nothing Natural-looking about these Hair Colour Shades and that is their beauty. If you’re looking for your next Hair Colour to be a statement, it’s time you were introduced to our Plum Hair Colours.

Is plum a cool or warm color?

What is a Plum Hair Colour?

Plums have the winiest looking tones of the family, drenching the Hair in full-bodied berried hues and a luxurious gloss. Their DNA is what makes them so interesting, composed of two pigments — rich, Warming Red and deep, indulging Cooling Violet — creating a Cool *and* Warm Hair Colour. Plum won't give you brightness or intense vibrancy but they will give you a high-impact light-reflective Shade with striking Plum Coloured Tones.

Why do I want a Plum Hair Colour?

For its intensity, full-bodied depth and potent Plum pigments. Plums saturating hues are like light magnets, giving your Hair the shine of a diamond and certain Shades like 4.56, 5.52 and 5.56 feature double pigment plumping powers, that will make your Hair look thicker and full of opulent hues.

Who does Plum suit?

Get inspired by these Plum Shades.

Is plum a cool or warm color?

4.56 Deep Plum Red

A Deep cherry Hair Colour with a luminous and potent purple aftertaste and high gloss finish.
Suits: Warm Skin tones.

Is plum a cool or warm color?

5.52 Deep Chocolate Plum

Supercharged Violet and Plum hues blend into a high-impact, high-shine deep berry Hair Colour.
Suits: Cool Skin tones.

Is plum a cool or warm color?

5.56 Intense Plum Red

An intense, super-rich Plum Red with dual pigments that reflect and absorb Light to create serious volume.
Suits: Warm Skin tones.

Is plum a cool or warm color?

6.5 Pure Plum

Plum. Pure, unfiltered, big-bodied, strikingly shiny Plum.
Suits: Warm Skin tones.

What undertone is plum?

Plum Shade is a deep, shaded, monarch purple with an indigo undertone.

What color category is plum?

As a quaternary color on the RYB color wheel, plum is an equal mix of the tertiary colors russet and slate.

Is plum a warm tone?

Plum is a cool and warm color with its mix of blue and red, and it shares some of the meanings of both colors—mystery and nobility in particular.

What skin tone does plum suit?

This shade falls right in between the cool and warm color spectrum and therefore looks gorgeous on people with olive toned skin. However, it also looks good on people who have cool and warm-toned skin. It pairs best with hazel eyes but also looks good on all other eye colors.