Portola Paints · Purple Paint Colors
Portola Paints Purple Paint Colors
all 2, sorted honestly
Every purple in the Portola Paints deck — 2 colors, LRV 9 down to 4 — grouped by undertone and depth.
All 2 Portola Paints purple paint colors
Grouped by undertone (warm → cool)Hex values are display approximations from Portola Paints's published swatch tools — not guaranteed to match a physical sample under controlled lighting. Order a brand-direct sample before specifying.
Both ship direct from portolapaints.com, and a sample is worth ordering before committing a room — colors this dark and close in value can be hard to tell apart on a screen, and the gap between them is easier to see on an actual wall under your own lighting.
Either color can be color-matched at a paint counter and mixed into another brand's paint if you want the hue at a different price point or in a sheen Portola doesn't offer. The match reproduces the color, not the depth a Roman Clay finish adds to it.
Portola Paints Purples by Room
Each room page shows purple picks from every US brand side by side — Portola Paints included — so you can compare in context.
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See Any of These Purples on Your Own Walls
Upload one photo of your room and try every purple on this page — before you buy a sample.
TRY THE VISUALIZERMore on Portola Paints purple paint colors
Portola's Two Purples: Dancing Shoes and Future Legend
Purple is one of Portola's smallest families, with two colors that both sit deep in the LRV scale. Dancing Shoes (LRV 4) is the darker of the two, a deep plum that borders on black — dramatic and moody rather than a bright, saturated violet. Future Legend (LRV 9) sits a shade lighter, a deep mauve-purple with a bit more visible color than Dancing Shoes.
Both are grounded, low-light colors rather than playful or bright ones, which fits the character of Portola's deck overall — the brand doesn't stock loud jewel-tone purples, just these two deep, moody options built to work as a dramatic accent rather than a whole-room statement.
Where Dancing Shoes and Future Legend Work
Both colors sit under LRV 10, so they absorb most of the light in a room and work best as a contained, deliberate surface — a powder room, a dining room, a study, or a single accent wall — rather than spread across a large, light-dependent space. Dancing Shoes leans darkest and most dramatic; Future Legend is marginally lighter and shows a touch more of its purple undertone in good light.
Both pair naturally with Portola's blacks and deep browns for a cohesive, moody scheme, and both read as sophisticated rather than playful — closer to eggplant or aubergine than a bright violet.
Dancing Shoes and Future Legend in Roman Clay and Flat Acrylic
In New Standard flat acrylic, both colors go on as a deep, even wash — dramatic and straightforward. Ordered as Roman Clay, the troweled layers add real depth to these already dark colors, so a wall in Dancing Shoes or Future Legend picks up subtle shadow and movement rather than sitting as one flat, dark plane.
Lime Wash is less typical here; its chalky, mottled look tends to show up more clearly on paler and mid-tone colors than on something this dark and saturated, so flat acrylic or Roman Clay are the more common choices for this pair.
The Questions Everyone Asks
How many purple paint colors does Portola offer?
Two: Dancing Shoes (LRV 4), a very dark plum that borders on black, and Future Legend (LRV 9), a slightly lighter deep mauve-purple. Both are grounded, moody colors rather than bright violets, in line with the earthy, low-saturation character of Portola's broader deck.
What's the difference between Dancing Shoes and Future Legend?
Dancing Shoes is darker at LRV 4 and reads almost like a near-black plum. Future Legend is a touch lighter at LRV 9 and shows a bit more visible purple, especially in good light. Both work as a moody accent rather than a bright color statement.
Are these purples good for a whole room or just an accent?
Best used as an accent. Both sit under LRV 10, so they absorb most of the light that hits them and can make a large room feel heavy if used everywhere. A powder room, dining room, study, or single accent wall lets their depth register without overwhelming the space.
Do Dancing Shoes and Future Legend work as Roman Clay?
Yes. The troweled layers of Roman Clay add real shadow and movement to these already dark colors, so a wall reads as textured stone rather than a flat, dark plane. Lime Wash is less common for this pair, since its chalky look tends to show more clearly on lighter colors.
Can I match these purples into another brand's paint?
Yes. Both colors can be color-matched at a paint counter and mixed into another brand's flat paint if you want a different price point or sheen. The match captures the color; it won't reproduce the added depth a Roman Clay finish gives the same color.
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