Periwinkle is a soft purple-blue color, like the shade you might see in the sky just after sunset or in certain spring flowers. The color gets its name from a small flower that blooms in this distinctive hue. When someone describes a room as having periwinkle walls, they mean a gentle blue with just enough purple mixed in to make it feel warm and calm rather than icy.

The word also refers to the actual flower itself: a low-growing plant with five-petaled blooms that often carpets shady gardens in early spring. These hardy little flowers spread quickly and stay green even in winter in many places.

Less commonly, periwinkle refers to a type of small sea snail found along rocky coastlines. These tiny spiral-shelled creatures cling to rocks in tide pools, and people in coastal regions sometimes gather them for food.

The color periwinkle sits in an interesting spot on the spectrum. It's not quite purple and not quite blue, which makes it perfect when you want something gentler than bright blue but more interesting than plain gray. Artists and designers often use periwinkle when they want a color that feels peaceful without being boring.