Yaros Paiting

Today’s post is brought to you by Carla Davis, owner and principal designer at Carla Davis Designs. The original is posted on her wonderful blog.

We commonly refer to the color that occurs between red and blue, purple.  Purple has long been associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, and ambition stemming from the fact that in ancient times, only the very rich could afford it. The 4th century B.C. historian, Theopompus, reported, “Purple for dyes fetched their weight in silver” at market.  Just as it did in ancient times, purple continues to convey wealth and extravagance. The fact that is is a very rare color in nature adds to its mystique and desirability.

But, use purple with caution.  No matter the intensity you choose, it is not a color that can be thrown into a room with a nonchalant attitude thinking that it will work with anything (like pale yellow).  The lighter hues of purple evoke romantic and nostalgic feelings.  Light purple is a good choice to add a feminine touch, and it works especially well in the design mix of children’s rooms.  I recommend that you use dark purple sparingly as it evokes intense emotions; not necessarily positive.  For a pleasant color marriage,  mix with shades of green.  Both light and dark shades of purple work nicely with the fresh, hopeful hues of green.

Some of my favorite accents to help you lend just the right  touch of purple to your spaces are show below.  Retail prices are shown.  Always contact Carla for a price quote and lead times on all fabrics, rugs, lighting and furniture.