Colour is one of the most important aspects of home design. The physical and psychological effects of colour have fascinated scientists and designers alike for centuries. Numerous studies have proven that colour can have a significant impact on your psychological state as well as producing physical responses such as an elevated heartbeat or heavy breathing.
For instance, red is the colour said to produce the strongest physiological response. It is associated with passion, aggression, confidence and love. Looking at the colour red for extended periods of time can stimulate these emotions as well as induce the physical effects mentioned earlier. Because of this, red is associated with attention to detail and bursts of activity – so many style their homes to take full advantage.
How to match colours
Finding the right colour combination for your interior is a task that rewards creativity and artistic vision. If you already have one colour in mind, there are a few different approaches you can take to find the perfect match.
The most common colour matching practice is to consult the colour wheel and choose two colours (or tones) which are fairly close together. This usually means separating warm and cool colours. Combinations that use this approach will typically group similar colours such as red, orange and yellow together, or do the same with cool colours like blue, green and purple.
Combinations chosen like this are easy to look at and create a calming environment. The overall effect will be a more structured space because no one colour appears out of place or stands out above the rest.
The other approach is to take from opposite ends of the colour wheel and create a high contrast combination. Some great examples of this include blue and gold, yellow and pink, or purple and orange. This creates an eccentric, dramatic feel which is sure to make certain aspects of your room pop.
Both of these options can produce some truly breathtaking home interiors. Keep the colour wheel in mind when making your decisions and try to make every choice deliberate.
What goes with purple?
Well, that is something of a trick question. There are so many different purples in the world. Different shades of purple can appear like entirely different colours when swapped out in an interior colour scheme. Here is a list of the absolute best shades and combinations, covering everything from colours that go with purple clothes to colours that match with purple homes.
Colours that go well with purple colour palettes: The best shades and combinations for bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms
8. Brown and purple colour combination
Purple is often seen as a youthful colour. Contrasting a deep purple with a more sensible colour like brown creates a mature and sophisticated aesthetic. The plum purple used in this living room becomes dark and moody when offset by rustic brown furniture.
7. Blue and purple
Blue is one of the most popular combinations for basically any shade of purple. Given that the two colours are so close on the colour wheel, blue and purple match tonally and often seem to blend together. This creates a washing effect over the room that mixes the fun and creativity of purple with the thoughtful calm of blue. It doesn’t have to just be paint either – consider combining blue and purple in your everyday dress, artworks, or even lights like the room above.
6. Aubergine and cream
Aubergine is the colour after which the (commonly called) eggplant was named – and for good reason. The rich, earthiness of this purple often seems as though the paint itself were made from the crushed vegetable. Aubergine colour schemes have a sense of sophistication and dramatic elegance. The most common pairing of aubergine is cream and lavender, which have a softening effect.
5. Blue green purple palette
For a look that just drips extravagance, consider combining green blue and purple. These colours are reminiscent of the peaco*ck’s tail, speaking to a sense of chic wild beauty. This living room builds an atmosphere of opulence and drama.
4. Orchid, red and white
Orchid purple is a bright and vibrant colour that is perfect for a splash of life. Orchid purple is perhaps one of the boldest purple shades, so styling it can be difficult. Often it is contrasted with a cool cream to prevent the room from becoming overwhelmed with colour. A mature grey and deep red accents can help to drive this aesthetic home.
3. Burgundy and red
After reading the above combination, you may be wondering: do red and purple go together? Well, the answer is: sometimes.
Red is not typically a purple complementary colour given that it is quite warm while purple is somewhere in between. Red is also usually very bold, while purple is calming. However, deeper shades of purple like burgundy have enough red to make the contrast feel deliberate and powerful. The home office above shows how purple curtains can offset a deep red wall to build a creative space.
2. Lilac, cream and gold
Lilac is a gorgeous shade of purple with a slight pinkish hue. Like pink, lilac is versatile and can tone with many different colours. For a soft, cozy effect, consider matching lilac with cream, light blue and gold.
1. Lavender and … well, everything
When it comes to colours that compliment purple, lavender is perhaps the easiest shade to style. Lavender colour schemes practically create themselves. Bedthreads regularly styles their pastel lavender sheets with warm browns, creams, golds and whites – as well as more purple of course. Pale lavender can also go with pastel blues, oranges, deep reds and even happy yellows. There is practically no end to the versatility of lavender: try styling it against your favourite colour now.
