Your Own Colors: 3 Ways to Work With Purple

Purple. Few colors cause such visceral reactions. Either you love purple and must surround yourself with it or you also dislike it. And I would say that most of us, whether they prefer purple or not, are fearful of using this color.

If performed correctly, however, purple can imbue a space with much-needed color and a level of abundance couple different colors can reach. It is sometimes a good balance against warmer, brighter colors and, in the perfect shade, can even play the role of a neutral.

The key is to use purple in just the right tone and amount, and with other colors that play the its normal depth. Inside this ideabook, we’ll focus on the deeper tones of purple, such as plum, amethyst and eggplant. (By the way, did you know that purple perish was initially created using the mucus of a particular sea snail? I’d no idea.)

Here are 3 special combinations that really work. Which one can you see using on your home?

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

1. Deep purple with wood tones. Purple adds depth and playfulness to a room with warm timber tones. In this clean and modern kitchen, the formality of the marble countertops and backsplash contrast the softness of the timber. The plum wall enclosing the fridge plays between the marble and timber, maintaining this entire space from becoming too serious.

A color like Benjamin Moore’s Kalamata AF-630 pairs perfectly with natural wood tones.

Lindy Donnelly

Deep brown wood tones are paired with soft creams and a happy version of purple in this comfy seating nook. When pairing purple together with all the deeper wood tones, consider a shade that’s a bit warmer and lighter.

Amoroso Design

Purple drapery conveys a dark tone around this ultra-sophisticated living room, and can be a beautiful accent against the stone-colored sectional and light gray walls.

CWB Architects

2. Fiery orange and trendy purple. In what is otherwise a neutral area, bright splashes of orange and purple play each other to get a classically playful theme. The patterns and colors in the ottoman and area rug also play to the African masks expertly displayed on the far wall.

Harrell Remodeling, Inc..

I simply adore the notion of painting this wall in the end of a hallway a dark purple to make it recede even further. It seems as if it is a mile off. Throw on a flame-orange painting, and you’ve got a true destination spot in your home.

Try Pratt & Lambert Black Plum (31-18) to get a very dramatic accent wall.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

While this area is formal in structure, the color mix keeps it from taking itself too seriously. Traditionally shaped furniture is upholstered in playful orange and purple. The darker orange carpet anchors the area.

Chris Snook

The purple seen rug at the middle of the orange area retains this room on the playful side. While mix is certainly daring, it is not out of reach for somebody willing to take a risk.

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel

3. Deep purple and silver. Back to the elegant side of purple we go. This conventional sitting area facilities around the wall remedy: a perfect mixture of soft purple tones and metallic silver. The black-and-plum upholstered seat and deep purple drapery throw have sufficient dark tones to rip it out and create a really sophisticated room.

Angela Todd Designs, Portland, OR

This chamber with a fellow Portland designer showcases exactly what purple could be paired with the ideal silver tones and dark wood tones. A beautiful heathered purple and silver-striped wall covering generates the drama. Throw a little splash of spring green in the mixture, and this master bedroom is just one sophisticated room.

Try Sherwin Williams Blackberry (SW7577) to get a similar purple tone.

Amoroso Design

Even deep purple can be utilised to create a really glamorous area. This Hollywood-inspired salon, complete with tufted chaise, acrylic pub and elaborate moldings, is ready for its time in the spotlight. Glitz from the polished chrome accents and big standing mirror takes this room to the very best.

For a deep purple that’s not too severe, try Pratt & Lambert Ombre (31-20).

Can you dare to use purple? Show us your photos under!

More manners with purple:
Your Colors: Reconsider Princely Purple
Inspired by Nature: Purple and Green
Picking the Color Purple

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About the Author

Sherarcon