The crocuses, hyacinths and bluebells are starting to come into bloom in their beautiful shades of purple and indigo. A highly versatile colour, purple can sometimes be overlooked in favour of classic blue and neutral hues, but purple makes a stunning accent colour, and with Pantone’s colour of 2018 being ultra violet, we’re seeing designers inspired to use it more and more. Here are some examples of the ways in which we’ve used purple, and succeeded in bringing out the beauty of this colour.
Above: Triptych Stem in Teal, Indigo and Citron. With Teal and Citron both on the edge of green in the colour spectrum, the addition of Indigo balances out the combination effortlessly.
A Pear Drop Chandelier in this elegant living room holds pendant lights in Aubergine, Slate Grey and Smoked Olive. The designer has kept the colours in this room neutral, with dusky lilacs and pale olive green walls allowing the Aubergine to stand out, adding a touch of sophistication.
The bold combination of red and purple creates a daring partnership with these Caravaggio pendants. Both colours have regal connotations and can create a striking look. The vivacity of the two can sometimes be overpowering, but the muted dark blue backdrop and subtler Aubergine pendant break the tension between the brighter Purple and Garnet Red shades.
The combination of purple and yellow is frequently found in nature, appearing in flowers like irises and pansies, so it’s not a surprise that these two are named as ‘complimentary colours’. This room gives plenty of breathing space to this palette, with its white walls allowing the purple and yellow pendant lights to stand out. Pictured here: a Canary Acid Drop, and an Indigo and Slate Grey Round. Bedcover by Bluebell Gray.