Ravishing Reds, Pinks and Purples for Fall 2012
Whether you love a fine wine color or go cuckoo for berry, this season's runways are offering some hues for your home to savor
Lush reds, deep wine shades and pretty berry hues are popular this season on fashion runways and for home furnishings and decor. If your home needs a fresh look, consider using one of these gorgeous shades via wall paint, finish materials, furnishings or accessories, to perk things up and get you through the long winter.
Red Interiors
Don't be afraid to rev up a powder room with a bold color on the walls. Rooms that we spend small amounts of time in can be decorated in a more daring way. This intense red hue makes the room glow from within so that it catches the eye even from outside the space.
Don't be afraid to rev up a powder room with a bold color on the walls. Rooms that we spend small amounts of time in can be decorated in a more daring way. This intense red hue makes the room glow from within so that it catches the eye even from outside the space.
This room shows off one gorgeous, lush red hue. But red can be tricky to get right, so if you want it for a wall color, pick a few shades you like and paint samples onto 2- or 4-foot-square pieces of drywall. That way you can move the samples around the different areas of the room at different times of the day to pick the winning color.
It takes at least two coats — if not more — to get full coverage with red paint. If you're painting a deep red color, have your paint retailer add red pigment to the primer, if you are using one. The primer will end up a pink shade, but it's enough to give you better coverage and perhaps keep you down to only one or two coats of your chosen red.
As an appetite-stimulating color, red is a great hue for kitchen cabinets. The remaining materials and furnishings here are a nice mix of light and dark neutral colors, creating pleasing balance with this intense red.
Use red to the same effect in your dining room. This deep wine-colored shade feels rich and warm, making the space cozy and inviting. Your dinner guests will want to linger for hours.
Berry-Colored Interiors
Berry hues, such as this fun raspberry color, are great updates to a classic red. This raspberry works well with the dark wood tones, the light ceiling and adjacent wall color, and the other touches of raspberry in the room.
Berry hues, such as this fun raspberry color, are great updates to a classic red. This raspberry works well with the dark wood tones, the light ceiling and adjacent wall color, and the other touches of raspberry in the room.
Purple Interiors
Raspberry moves into purple territory here. I love this hue paired with gray. These two colors work well in bedrooms, as both are reported to be stress-reducing hues that can lower blood pressure. This would also be a great palette for a bedroom in a hot, sunny climate. Using these colors will give you a cool, relaxing retreat.
Raspberry moves into purple territory here. I love this hue paired with gray. These two colors work well in bedrooms, as both are reported to be stress-reducing hues that can lower blood pressure. This would also be a great palette for a bedroom in a hot, sunny climate. Using these colors will give you a cool, relaxing retreat.
More purple and gray here, though this wall color veers toward navy blue or black. We tend to associate dark wall colors such as this with quiet, protective spaces. It's another beautiful palette for a restful space.
Purple Exteriors
Don't overlook the exterior of your home as a place to inject a little color. I think berry and purple work best as exterior accent colors, to help call attention to charming and interesting architectural details.
Don't overlook the exterior of your home as a place to inject a little color. I think berry and purple work best as exterior accent colors, to help call attention to charming and interesting architectural details.
Updated Louis Chair, Red
Red Accessories
This modern take on a classic chair style would be the perfect piece to bridge the gap in a room that has a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings.
This modern take on a classic chair style would be the perfect piece to bridge the gap in a room that has a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings.
Godmorgon/Odensvik Sink Cabinet
Due to its compact size and reasonable price tag, this lavatory and cabinet are ideal for a powder room or a child's or teen's bathroom. The bold red hue of the cabinet ups the fabulous factor.
Marimekko Unikko Red Full/Queen Duvet Cover
Looking for a quick and easy way to introduce vibrant red and berry hues to your bedroom? Add it through bedding, like this duvet cover from Crate & Barrel.
Tropical Decorative Accents
If you have a bold red accent wall in your living room, consider picking up that hue in another part of the room via accessories such as this faux coral from Z Gallerie.
Encore Convertible Sofa
I'm a big fan of multitasking furniture, and this convertible sofa in hot red works perfectly in a living room or guest room.
Threshold 16-Piece Cambridge Dinnerware
We tend to cook more in the fall and winter; consider adding some pizzazz to your dining table via red dinnerware.
Brasa Pendant Lamp
This modern pendant fixture in deep red would look fantastic over a kitchen table or in a set of three over a peninsula or an island.
Wilson Industrial Pendant
If you prefer a more industrial vintage look, these pendants from Pottery Barn are a charming option.
Fleur de Lys Double Old-Fashioned Glasses
Berry-Colored Accessories
Speaking of charm, this double old-fashioned glass from World Market with its touch of purple-pink would be the perfect vessel for fall and winter celebratory libations.
Speaking of charm, this double old-fashioned glass from World Market with its touch of purple-pink would be the perfect vessel for fall and winter celebratory libations.
Ombré Cougar Rug
Feeling leery about bold colors on your walls? Consider putting them on your floor instead via a fun rug, such as this one from CB2.
Purple Bobina Stool
Purple Accessories
This stool is another versatile piece of furniture, this time in a gorgeous eggplant purple. You could use this as a base to display a favorite object, as an occasional table or even for extra seating in a pinch.
This stool is another versatile piece of furniture, this time in a gorgeous eggplant purple. You could use this as a base to display a favorite object, as an occasional table or even for extra seating in a pinch.
Everyday Glasses
This pretty purple stemware would look great displayed on open shelves in a kitchen or bar.
Bolu Rug
If you host a lot of parties where red wine gets spilled (or you're just clumsy, like me) this deep purple rug from West Elm could be the perfect floor covering.
Tell us: What's your favorite shade of red, pink or purple? How have you used it in your home?
Tell us: What's your favorite shade of red, pink or purple? How have you used it in your home?
Examples of the gorgeous red and berry hues showing up on the runways, from left to right: Plum Preserves 121-6 (Mythic Paint), Velvet Red 3-17 (Pratt & Lambert), Bold Sangria GLR28 (Glidden), Cut Ruby 1009-4 (Valspar) and Fabulous Grape SW6293 (Sherwin-Williams).