English Violet
DEFD03 · #413E56 · LRV 6 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Liberty Blue1
- 2English Violet6
- 3Blue Nova17
- 4Gothic Purple24
What Color Is English Violet, Really?
English Violet reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DEFD03 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for English Violet
English Violet earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
How Lighting Changes English Violet
At LRV 6, English Violet is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its blue undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about English Violet are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DEFD03 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Majestic PurpleSW 6545 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.8 | 5 | Color page → |
| Behr | Artistic LicenseMQ5-39 · Behr | 1.4 | 5 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Plum Royale2070-20 · Benjamin Moore | 3.0 | 6 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Emperor8003-48G · Valspar | 2.5 | 6 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Victory BluePPG1165-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.9 | 5 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Victory BluePPG1165-7 · Glidden | 3.9 | 5 | Color page → |
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
The nearest shades to English Violet within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #413E56 in HSL space. Pair English Violet with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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