Color Diary: The World of Purple

Filed under: Color, Design, etc, News & Trends

Purple is not just for little girls. And it's not just an accent color. What we learned about using this wedge of the color wheel at home.

I've always been obsessed with purple. I preferred it to girlie-pink when I was a kid, even as an aspiring fairy princess. In high school, when I was old enough to art-direct my own bedroom, I had my dad paint the walls a deep lavender to contrast my all-black IKEA bedroom set (this was in the 90s, when black furniture was somewhat the rage.)

I've always thought purple and its various hues, like violet, orchid and plum as The Thinking Girl's pink. But after a few years with a lavender sleep chamber, I felt I'd grown out of the entire purple wedge of the color wheel, and have since switched to pale blue for the accent walls in my apartment.

"Up until a few years ago, people thought of purple as kind of childish," says Lauren Nelson, an artist and interior designer based in Boston, Mass. "My clients would only consider it for their kids' rooms."

But let's remember that Tyrian purple dye was rare, expensive and highly coveted by ancient Romans, before it became the signature color among European monarchs. So, the color has a regal history, too.

It now seems that purple, in all its variations, is making a comeback in fashion and interiors.

"We're using it as a grounding color for rooms now, instead of just an accent color, like on a pillow or a throw," Nelson says.

Not sure if you're ready for pansy-purple walls or an aubergine sofa? New York City-based interior designer Kevin O'Shea offers the following insight on how he decorates with purple:
o. Combine purple with a pop of bright yellow. There is something harmonious and cheerful in the contrast.
o. You can also use purple in all-white environments. A dark purple cashmere throw on an all-white bed is a simple way to elevate the sense of richness and luxury in a room.
o. A purple lampshade on a vintage chrome or nickel lamp makes a bold statement in a living room that won't overwhelm.
O'Shea says that purple also "lends itself to unexpected applications," and suggests painting the inside of a closet with a soft violet for "an unexpected touch of luxury." Or, change the walls of a powder room to royal purple for a "jewel box" feel.

As for me, I'm poring over swatches of violet as I prepare to repaint my kitchen. I think it will look fantastic against the stainless steel organizers I already have on the walls.

And for extra inspiration, we've assembled some of our favorite new items in delicious shades of purple:

 

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