Purple—you either love it or hate it, and those who love it really love it. I can’t say I am a fan of the color. However, looking back, I find that I’ve designed many purple interiors for my clients. While it is not my first choice of color to work with, purple does work well in interiors. It can be a surprising detail that takes center stage in a room or masquerades as a neutral, serving as an interesting foil to other colors while fading into the background. If you must use purple in your home, you should be educated on how to best apply it. 

 

In this Interior Design Glossary entry, I share my love-hate relationship with the color purple, as well as its history, many shades, and uses in home interiors. 

 

My Experience Using Purple in Interiors 

I have a complicated relationship with the color purple. Ok, I am not a fan of it. If you asked me outright to list the colors I like to work with, purple would not make the top of the list…or come anywhere near the page. However, if you look at the design work that my team and I have put out over the years, purple and other similar shades are certainly represented.  

I design for my clients, not myself. And folks out there love purple—some reach a level close to cult-like fanaticism about the hue, splashing purple on everything they own. When applied correctly, shades of purple can work well in a home and inspire a sense of regality, creativity, and whimsy. But why are folks so drawn to purple? Let’s go back and look at the history.  

 

A Brief History of the Color Purple

Purple is one of the rarest colors in the world and is actually the most difficult color for the human eye to distinguish, adding to its sense of mystery and allure. Because of its scarcity, purple has been associated with royalty since ancient times. 

The first purple dye was created during the Bronze Age. Known as Tyrian purple, it was made from the mucus of snails. This long, arduous process resulted in very limited quantities of dye, but of course, the royals had to have it. 

 

The royal purple tradition continued. During the Elizabethan Era, only royals were allowed to wear the color. This went as far as passing laws that designated which colors different classes were allowed access to. 

 

In 1856, English chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally created a synthetic purple compound while attempting to synthesize quinine, an anti-malaria drug. The compound could be used to dye fabrics, and the exclusive color purple became much more readily available to the masses. 

 

Today, purple still holds royal associations, but it is donned by a much larger audience. Many folks associate purple interiors with a sense of refinement or whimsical creativity, depending on the shade. 

What Makes Purple, Purple? 

No longer relying on snail mucus dye, purple is a simple combination of blue and red color pigments. Blue is a pretty universally loved color, and most purple shades tend to lean on the bluer side, so maybe that’s why so many folks are jumping on the purple bandwagon. I am not a big fan of blue either, so that’s not helping anything. 

 

Of course, purple is much more complicated than equal parts blue and red. Shades range from light pastel lavender all the way to dark and brooding merlot. Each conveys an entirely different mood and atmosphere in interiors. 

 

The Many Shades of Purple

If I can ask one thing, it is that you stay away from using pure purple in your home. It feels much too elementary. There are many shades of purple to explore. Here are just a few. 

• Amethyst

• Aubergine

• Grape

• Heliotrope

• Indigo

• Iris

• Lavender

• Lilac

• Magenta

• Mauve

• Merlot

• Mulberry

• Pastel Purple

• Plum

• Royal Purple

• Tyrian Purple

• Violet

Watch Out for the Purple Cult 

Purple is a color with an almost cult-like following of people who love it. People who enjoy blue or green or yellow are satisfied with small doses of the hue. But people who love purple are simply mad about it. They wear it. They talk about it. They sometimes cover their home with it in tile and fabrics.

To some extent, they define themselves based on their love of purple. What other color has that level of dedication and fanaticism? Pink could come close, as figures like Elle Woods come to mind. However, I think purple has pink beat. 

 

The love of purple might be on the rise. Mauve and lilac and plum are all making comebacks in interiors, which I can attest to because many of my clients come to me with purple design ideas they’re dying to explore. 

 

Ways to Use Purple in Your Home (If You Must) 

If you must decorate with purple, do it well. 

Purple as a Foil to Other Colors

Purple works well as a foil to other colors, meaning it pairs interestingly with shades like brown or green to give them a richer, more vibrant feel. Think of purple as a shadow that can recede into the background and function almost as a neutral color. 

Purple as Creative Inspiration 

The emerging field of neuroaesthetics shows that our interiors greatly impact how we feel and function throughout the day. The color psychology of purple is interesting in that it combines the serenity of blue with the energy of red. This balance works well in creative spaces to foster thought and spark the imagination. 

Purple as an Exterior Accent Color 

I like to take purple out of the home and use it in exterior spaces like the porch or patio. Lavender patio upholstery naturally ties into the evening sky at sunset when it is full of different shades of purple. While I am not the biggest fan of the color, it does work much better outdoors than any shade of red or blue. 

Purple as a Spectrum 

When we think of purple, we tend to go straight to the royal purple shade. I would avoid this altogether unless you simply must declare your love for purple. Explore the purple spectrum. Dark shades like merlot complement well with mahogany and charcoal for a moody feel, while soft lilac pairs nicely with white walls and sage accents for a peaceful English country look. 

Purple Pleasers 

While I don’t share the same passion for the shade as purple fanatics, I can’t argue with its successes in interiors. While I refuse to be indoctrinated into the purple cult, I will give credit where credit is due. Purple, you win this round. 

 

So purple, if you please…