Picking the Color Purple
Get Ideas and Paint Picks for Our Most Majestic Hue
Purple is such an interesting color, not just in its appearance but also in its history and impact on popular culture. In our homes, purple can exude just as much adult elegance as it does childlike whimsy. It is also associated with royalty and spirituality. A recent survey found that most people name purple as their favorite color (and that includes me).
Maybe that's because purple has been glamorized over the years. From book and movie titles to popular logos and championship sports franchises, we are seeing both the word and the color purple more and more. So, in this Ideabook I decided to include inspirational spaces along with a few fun facts to celebrate all things purple.
Maybe that's because purple has been glamorized over the years. From book and movie titles to popular logos and championship sports franchises, we are seeing both the word and the color purple more and more. So, in this Ideabook I decided to include inspirational spaces along with a few fun facts to celebrate all things purple.
Gray Purple. This deep, muted gray is very serene and calming. Its gray undertones make it a great choice for contemporary spaces.
Paint Pick: Beguiling Mauve 6269 by Sherwin Williams
Paint Pick: Beguiling Mauve 6269 by Sherwin Williams
Periwinkle. Bluish purple has a majestic quality. Depending on the lighting, it can look blue or purple. It's definitely a color that makes you look twice.
Paint Pick: Dahlia 6816 by Sherwin Williams
Paint Pick: Dahlia 6816 by Sherwin Williams
Plum. Darker, reddish purples are warm and sophisticated. If you want to add a bit of coziness to your contemporary space, using this color is a lighthearted and unexpected way to do it.
Paint Pick: Vigorous Violet 6838 by Sherwin Williams
Paint Pick: Vigorous Violet 6838 by Sherwin Williams
Purple, gray and white is a very modern and sophisticated color scheme — perfect for an urban loft. Make your design more interesting by mixing patterns and textures.
Fun fact: Internet giant Yahoo! changed the color of its logo from red to purple in 2008.
Fun fact: Internet giant Yahoo! changed the color of its logo from red to purple in 2008.
Vibrant purples work well as accent colors. Just a small pop of this electric purple makes a big impact.
Paint Pick: Crocus Petal Purple 2071-40 by Benjamin Moore
Fun fact: The movie Purple Rain, starring recording artist Prince, debuted in 1984. The film grossed over $80 million and became a cult classic. In addition, the movie's soundtrack sold 20 millions copies worldwide.
Paint Pick: Crocus Petal Purple 2071-40 by Benjamin Moore
Fun fact: The movie Purple Rain, starring recording artist Prince, debuted in 1984. The film grossed over $80 million and became a cult classic. In addition, the movie's soundtrack sold 20 millions copies worldwide.
An easy way to add color to a space is with accent fabrics. Here, purple pillows and a throw immediately catch your eye.
Fun fact: The Color Purple, the movie, was released in 1985. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, the movie starred Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. The movie grossed $142 million worldwide and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Today, The Color Purple is a Broadway musical and it is currently on a national tour.
Fun fact: The Color Purple, the movie, was released in 1985. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, the movie starred Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. The movie grossed $142 million worldwide and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Today, The Color Purple is a Broadway musical and it is currently on a national tour.
In this dining room, a purple area rug anchors the space and adds a welcome splash of color.
Fun fact: Violets were cultivated by the ancient Greeks beginning in 500 BC. They believed these flowers symbolized love and fertility.
Fun fact: Violets were cultivated by the ancient Greeks beginning in 500 BC. They believed these flowers symbolized love and fertility.
Royal purple upholstery makes any chair look and feel like a throne.
Fun fact: Purple, the color and the name, originally came from a dye made from the glands of a tropical sea snail, the murex (purpura in Latin). Centuries ago, creating the dye was expensive and labor-intensive. Therefore, it became symbolic with wealth, royalty and power.
Fun fact: Purple, the color and the name, originally came from a dye made from the glands of a tropical sea snail, the murex (purpura in Latin). Centuries ago, creating the dye was expensive and labor-intensive. Therefore, it became symbolic with wealth, royalty and power.
I'm having serious chandelier envy here! A really fun way to inject purple (or any color) into your space is with stylish lighting fixtures — and why not double them up? The best things come in pairs.
Fun fact: In America, aubergine is used to describe a deep shade of purple, but in Europe aubergine is the name they use for a vegetable: eggplant.
More:
The Power of Purple
How to pick the right blue
How to pick the right gray
More color guides
Fun fact: In America, aubergine is used to describe a deep shade of purple, but in Europe aubergine is the name they use for a vegetable: eggplant.
More:
The Power of Purple
How to pick the right blue
How to pick the right gray
More color guides
Paint Pick: Kismet 6830 by Sherwin Williams
Fun fact: Freight company Federal Express uses a prominent shade of purple in their FedEx logos. This signifies a 'purple promise' that you will receive your package on-time, but using purple with orange (in their primary logo) also ensures that your package will stand out so you won't miss seeing it.