Want to add some drama to your decor? Here are the best purple paint colors to infuse your home with luxury and creativity!
Purple isn’t a popular paint color, and I’m not even going to try to pretend that it is. Neutrals, and even blues and greens, are far more favored.
But if you’re drawn to purple, there’s no other color like it.
Think about the history of purple. For centuries (centuries!), it’s been the color of royalty and religion, symbolizing power, wealth, and luxury.
Love it or hate it, there’s no doubt about it – purple has an undeniable magnetic pull.
If you’re tired of the ever-popular grays, beiges, and greiges, and want a shade that’s a little less neutral than navy, consider adding an exotic pop of color to your home!
Nope, I’m not talking about green or sage green; I’m talking about purple.
I know, I know. Purple (also called lavender or violet) is too royal or too childish, or too feminine. It won’t look good in a house, right? Wrong!
Purple is unapologetically bold yet also feels uplifting and cheery.
If you haven’t found my series of paint posts until now, you’ll love this resource. From “the best of” lists in various color families to detailed reviews of specific shades, you’ll find everything you need to assist in making confident color choices that will delight you.
Today I’m showing you the best interior decorator-recommended purple shades for homes. Whether you want something light and barely there or something deep, bold, and dramatic, you’ll find that perfect shade on this list.
Best Purple Paint Colors FAQs
What is the color psychology of purple?
Purple blends red’s fiery energy with blue’s calm stability to create a color family that represents dignity, creativity, peace, mystery, and luxury.
Are purple, lavender, and violet the same?
All of these colors are variations within the purple color family. Purple refers to any shade that’s a blend of red and blue. Violet sits on the bluer end of the purple spectrum, and lavender is created by adding white to purple or violet to lighten it up.
Is purple warm or cool?
Actually, it can be either warm or cool. Since purple is a blend of blue and red, the level of warmth of any shade of purple will depend on which end of the spectrum (red or blue) that shade leans.
Where can I use purple paint colors?
Although purple isn’t as popular as your favorite neutral, it’s surprisingly versatile! There are several places you can use it, including:
– Kids’ rooms
– Nurseries
– Bedrooms
– Bathrooms
– Kitchens
– Home offices
– Living rooms
– Laundry rooms
– Cabinets (kitchens and vanities)
– Accent walls
– Interior doors
– Exterior doors
Bohemian, traditional, eclectic, transitional, and contemporary-style homes will highlight purple paint colors the best.
And to move you quickly from paint zero to hero, I have a great, free resource for you. Grab a copy of 5 Massive Paint Mistakes to Avoid…because when all else fails, as long as you stay away from these 5 cardinal painting sins, you’re probably doing A-OK!
Undertones in Purple Paint Colors
What are undertones? They are the slight nuances that make one shade distinct from another. Another term you need to know is “overtone,” which is the basic color you see (ex: gray or blue).
For example, the hint of pink you see when looking at greige paint is an undertone.
Most paint hues can have different undertones, and purple is no exception. Besides blue and red (which MAKE purple), you may occasionally notice a flash of gray or brown in various shades of purple.
Take advantage of peel-and-stick swatches to thoroughly test each shade and ensure you won’t get any surprisingly unpleasant undertones!
If undertones make your head hurt, you’re not alone! Grab your free copy of 5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Purple Paint Lighting Considerations
Are you wondering how lighting impacts paint’s appearance? Let’s shine the “light” on the topic and see how purple looks in different lighting exposures.
- North-facing light – the cool, shadowing light in north-facing rooms makes colors look their darkest. Purple shades will lean into their blue tones in these rooms.
- South-facing light – the warm lighting throughout the day in south-facing rooms makes purple shades appear lighter, brighter, and redder.
- West-facing light – west-facing rooms have shadowy lighting in the morning and warmer exposure later in the day. Purple shades will look bluer in the morning and redder as the day goes on.
- East-facing light – east-facing rooms face the opposite sequence of events. I always recommend picking your color based on how it looks at the time of day you plan to use the room!
More Colors To Consider
When considering color pairings, purples work best with white, yellow, gray, orange, green, brown, and black.
Purple is a dramatic and bold color, so it’s understandably not the best choice for everyone or every home’s color scheme.
If you want to add a bit of color that isn’t quite so exotic or daring, you may prefer these gorgeous alternatives.
- Olympus White (Sherwin Williams) – a light off-white with gray and blue undertones.
- Lazy Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a mid-to-light gray with strong blue undertones.
- Naval (Sherwin Williams) – a deep, rich, true navy blue.
- First Light (Benjamin Moore) – a light, cheery pink.
- Stonington Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a mid-toned gray with green undertones.
- Evergreen Fog (Sherwin Williams) – a rich mid-tone, muted green.
Are you already feeling a little lost? Let me help you get back on track. Grab a free copy of my guide to help you avoid the same paint color picking mistakes most people always make!
The 13 Best Purple Paint Colors
This list features a range of different shades, from soft violet and pastel purples, to bright purple paint colors in order to showcase what purple can do!
Each color on this list of luxurious purple paint choices includes a brief description and a real-life image to show how it can look. I have linked any colors that have published paint color reviews so you can click through for more detailed information.
Sheen note: Picking the right color is only winning the battle, not the war. Remember to pick the right paint finish, or sheen, also! Read up on what you need to know about picking the perfect paint sheen.
1. Benjamin Moore Lavender Ice
Lavender Ice (2069-60) is one of the lighter options on this list (LRV of 66.54).
The Zhush uses this light and airy lilac beautifully and employs deeper purple and green accents to draw the eye away from the wall paint.
2. Benjamin Moore Dreamy Cloud
Going for the subtle approach? Put Dreamy Cloud (2117-70) on your short list of possibilities! This pale violet (LRV 76) is a barely-there shade with a hint of gray, so it won’t look too feminine. It’s one of the best light purple paint colors for anyone who wants to avoid the bold and dramatic look.
This bathroom from Mandarina Studio is lovely and brilliantly highlights the hint of color this dusky lavender provides with small pops of bold purple.
3. Sherwin Williams Silver Peony
Silver Peony (SW 6547) is a light, airy, warm violet with an LRV of 68.
Reminiscent of Ben Moore’s Dreamy Cloud, this bedroom from City Farmhouse looks chic without being over the top or too feminine.
4. Benjamin Moore Spring Lilac
Spring Lilac (#1388) is a playful soft purple with an LRV of 62.89 and an energetic vibe.
Felt So Cute created this lavender room for her daughter, and the final result is SO. MUCH. FUN!
5. Behr Classy Plum
I am in love with the use of Classy Plum (N570-4) in this laundry room from Houseful of Handmade! With an LRV of 22, you might think this purple would be too rich and saturated.
However, the gray undertones mute the purple and give it a lovely soft quality, making it one of my favorite purple paint colors.
6. Sherwin Williams Potentially Purple
Potentially Purple (SW 6821) is a light (but not pale) purple with an LRV of 62.
It’s one of those purple paint colors that adds a fun little pop of color that’s not too bold and can wash out in bright natural light, as you can see in these images from @markergirlhome.
7. Sherwin Williams Magical
Want something with a little more body? Check out Magical (SW 6829).
Its LRV of 46 means it has that magical (ha!) quality where it can hold its own even in bright light, as @pamelahopedesigns shows us. Notice the shift in color between the light and the shadows! (Photo credit: @juliesoefer).
8. Sherwin Williams Brave Purple
As opposed to Magical, which leans slightly to the red and warm end of the purple spectrum, Brave Purple (SW 6823) leans cooler and more blue.
It’s deeper, too, with an LRV of 29, to deliver the chic and luxurious look you see in this image from Company KD LLC via Houzz.
9. Benjamin Moore Shadow
Shadow (2117-30) is a deep lilac-gray that lends a soft yet bold look to any room. It’s one of those saturated purple shades that looks great all over a room (even the ceiling!), as From House to Home demonstrates.
With an LRV of 9.3, it’s deep, so make sure to use it in a room with enough natural light.
10. Benjamin Moore Kalamata
Oooo, Kalamata (AF-630) is a rich and gorgeous purple with red undertones along with a dose of gray to give it a muted look. It’s one of my favorite dark purple paint colors.
The Honeycomb Home wasn’t afraid to use this deep shade (LRV 11) to give this tranquil bedroom retreat a spa-like feel!
11. Sherwin Williams Mature Grape
Mature Grape (SW 6286) is one of the deepest shades on this list and personally reminds me of deep mulberry. With an LRV of 7, I recommend being selective about where you use it, although there’s no question it’s one of the best purple paint colors.
Follow @carynstaalcustompaint’s example and create a purple wall as an accent – if you’re a lover of rich purples, you won’t be disappointed!
12. Benjamin Moore Grape Juice
This rich and full-bodied shade may bring to mind your favorite vino as you look at this room from Eclectic Twist.
Grape Juice (2074-10) is a deep shade with an LRV of 6.73 and a go-to for colorful, eclectic decor! I’m loving this glam, darker purple on the feature wall in this bold living room. Dramatic colors like this one can create such a warm feeling in a smaller space (or a bigger one, at that).
13. Benjamin Moore Passion Plum
Although Passion Plum (2073-30) is slightly lighter than Grape Juice with an LRV of 11.83, it looks much deeper in this image.
Although it’s named for the plum fruit, it reads more like a deeper eggplant to me. No matter which food you think this shade resembles, the plum hues on the beadboard accent wall in this bedroom from @rivertownhomes make it one stunning room.
14. Sherwin Williams Expressive Plum
You don’t need to love purple to love Expressive Plum (SW 6263). As the 2014 Sherwin Williams Color of the Year, this deep, muted shade has gray and brown undertones to make it look wonderfully neutral with a hint of purple.
Doesn’t this nursery from Chris Loves Julia just make you say, “WOW?” The daring purple walls make this room feel unique…and a royal purple is perfect for a new addition sure to be treated like royalty. This is SUCH a great color purple.
That draws this collection of popular purple paint colors to a close. I hope you feel inspired to use one of these colors to add some dramatic sophistication to your home!
And if any of these are colors you’re seriously considering, remember paint-sampling is better than ending up paint-sorry!
Actual paint colors on your wall will always look and behave differently than they do on a screen. I highly recommend these peel and stick samples because they are inexpensive, re-usable and re-positionable…
Pin this paint post for later! And if you use any of these paint shades, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, beige walls who’s the boss at home? Grab my free guide to help you sidestep the mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
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