Feb.

22

Color Magic: Purple

Steven Gambrel

I’m probably a bit bias when it comes to the color purple because the deep rich hue was a prominent color at my winter wedding many years ago. In fact, since grade school, when I first realized that if I mixed blue and red it created purple, I’ve been a huge fan. So, of course, I was pleased to discover that the color purple represents not only royalty and nobility, but also ambition and wealth, and people who are passionate about purple tend to be strong-willed and successful.

Pantone 262

Like every color on the spectrum, there are varying shades of purple, but I still prefer the richness of a deeper shade similar to this Pantone swatch #262 which was used to gorgeous and dramatic effect in the bar at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, DC below.

St. Regis Hotel, Washington, DC

Purple is the color thought to be favored by Leonardo da Vinci and Cleopatra as well, so it appears I am in great historic company. And did you know that the highest honor given to our most brave and heroic soldiers of war is called the purple heart?

Unknown

When used in interior spaces, the color purple has a very strong vibrancy, so experts advise using purple as an accent color in accessories like pillows, throws, and art work. Purple is fantastic in rooms used for meditation or where the ultimate goal is to relax. You can also add purple flowers to a space for calming energy or try burning a lavender scented candle to increase the relaxation quotient after a particularly stressful day.

Amanda Nisbet

Children love purple and it’s a fabulous color to use in their rooms because it enhances their imagination and creativity. Entrepreneurs should also consider pops of purple in their offices too. And as the following images prove, purple is beautiful in combination with gold, silver, or even basic white and if you’re really daring, try painting an entire wall in a shade of purple for a bit of the unexpected as several designers did below.

Ai Cadelach Hotel, Italy