Get the Look for Less: Pretty Purples

Copy this purple and gray living space without breaking the bank!

Purple is particularly popular this season, but people are often afraid of purple: They worry that it's a big commitment or that they'll tire of it quickly However, when properly place, purple accents can be timeless.

The key to avoiding a "here today, gone tomorrow" decorating situation is to neutralize the color. You can make purple less overbearing by pairing it with natural and neutral hues to bring down the color volume to a level livable for you on the day-today.

First, choose the right shade of purple. In this living room , the purple is a muted shade of purple-gray, with a slightly water-washed feel. The intensity is softened but the beauty of the color is still there. The neutral tones like the sofa and curtain panels help keep the room in balance.

Next, bring in some wood and natural elements such as baskets, bonsai, bowls, and natural woven shades. These natural elements bring pompous purple down to earth.

The natural and neutral elements do such a good job of tempering the purple that the space even manages to use a few super luxe gold accessories without being flashy or overbearing! Below you'll find product suggestions for how to get the look for less:

Above: Hand-Tufted Purple Wool Rug, $286, Overstock.com; Vintage Wood Bowl, $39, $39, Pottery Barn; Crystal Spheres Table Lamp, $180, ShopTableLamps.com.

Above: Tempo Velvet Pillow, $37, Crate & Barrel; Juniper Bonsai, $30, Bonsai Boy; Logan Baskets, $30 to $49, Pottery Barn; Genuine Gold Leaf Gilded Ivory Candles, $43.50 for a set of two, Overstock.com.