Decorating With Purple

When it comes to decor, purple is one of those colors I'm petrified of working with. I don't know if it's the fact that I wore a ton of purple as a kid and it reminds me of my days on the playground and in the lunchroom, but I freeze up every time I think about decorating with any sort of purple tone. Which is weird because I own three different pairs of purple shoes. Go figure.

Anyway, I was anxious to figure out the art of decorating with purple, especially in the bedroom, so I enlisted the help of my dear friend James Saavedra, my favorite Los Angeles-based interior designer. Not only did he completely erase my fears of purple, but he has me craving a bedroom makeover in every shade of violet imaginable.

"I am inspired by the use of color from distant lands where purple symbolically denotes royalty, spiritual awareness or even mourning," says James. Yet with purple, there's nothing to mourn about. After all, the color swept PANTONE's forecasting trend for both 2009 (sophisticated lavender was chosen) and 2010 (a brighter violet). High on everyone's radar, I asked James how to incorporate purple in the bedroom. Read on for his amazing tips!

1. LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT
Choose one shade of purple that you really love. There is nothing more comforting than waking up to a color that you truly adore. And this means that you must test your colors -- Yes, test, test and test some more until you find the perfect shade that suits you.

Rather than swatch your walls with 88 patches of purple, I use large pieces of white foam core as the basis for my swatches. I paint several pieces, or one large enough to divide into several pieces. This way, color swatches can be placed throughout the room without making a permanent commitment.

You have to live with the color for at least an entire day. What does the color look like in morning sunlight or when lit by lamps?

2. HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
Once you have selected your perfect shade, the next step is to determine how much of that shade you will be able to live with. Do you want to be enveloped in the shade by painting all four walls of your room, or do you just want to add accents throughout the space?

If you are timid or easily bored, consider using only accents that are easily replaced, such as pillows, throws and smaller pieces of furniture or art. Always remember to thread your color or some version of your color throughout the entire space.

3. CONSULT A COLOR WHEEL
For foolproof results, consult your color wheel. Using tried and true purple combinations will provide successful results. Your color wheel will show you three different ways to decorate with purple: monochromatic, complimentary or analogous.

Monochromatic is decorating using subtle variations of your shade. Use this approach with muted purples and silvery tones for a look that is softer and more sophisticated. For a complimentary look, combine purples with colors that are opposite on the color wheel -- yellow, yellow-greens and green. Of course, to decorate analogously, combine colors next to purple, such as warm oranges, red-oranges, blues and violets.

4. GO FOR FEELING
Purple can evoke a number of feelings, so consider the following guide when choosing your shade:

GLAM: For a glamorous look, use jeweled tones. You can temper bold, jewel tones with neutral backgrounds like white, ivory and gray. Or, choose to isolate the drama to just one, singular element like an eggplant headboard.

SOFT: Pair aubergine, dusty mauve and silvery grays to create a room that is calm and not overly feminine. Accent with ebony and hints of clear glass for a perfectly sophisticated look.

ENERGIZING: Infuse a worldly feel by mixing in vibrant spice colors and ethnic-inspired patterns like Suzani and Ikat.

ORGANIC: Try purple sage, classic lavender, sparkling amethyst, or deep eggplant for a natural, organic look inspired by nature. Incorporate earthy accessories like brooding purple orchids and amethyst votive holders to complete the aesthetic.

One last tip from James? "Don't forget to add a bit of sparkle or sheen. Purples work wonderfully with silvers, platinums, golds and blacks," he notes.

How's that for a crash course in Purple 101? Looks like I'll be dashing to Sherwin Williams -- it's time to bring some violet into my life!

For additional color inspiration, read more:
-One Color, Five Ways: Orange
-PANTONE Launches Color Application for iPhone