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The 12 Best Purple Paint Colors for Your Home, According to Designers
Every home needs a little splash of this powerful color.
No color commands a room quite like purple. Whether it’s a dreamy lilac or a sexy lacquered plum, the gutsy color makes a daring statement that is not for the weak at heart. It's fitting that purple has been associated with royalty and ambition—the shade holds so much power.
People often shy away from using such a personality-packed color in their homes. Though, designers and experts will tell you that as trends move to the bolder side of the color wheel, there may be no better time to turn to purple paint. The beauty of the color is its versatility—you can find a shade that perfectly suits your home. Finding that perfect tone can be tricky, but that’s where the experts come in to save the day. Here, 13 of the nation’s top designers reveal the best purple paint colors to use. One of these is bound to become your new go-to!
"Spring Iris 1402 by Benjamin Moore is my all-time favorite purple paint color. It’s soft and sweet like candy, and pairs beautifully with almost every shade of green, and I also love it with coral pink. Spring Iris never overwhelms and always feels classic and fresh." —Liz Caan, Liz Caan & Co.
Designer Gray Walker has a wide range of favorites when it comes to purple paint colors. "[My favorite] light lavender with a touch of gray is Benjamin Moore's Lavender Mist or Misty Lilac. For a bolder expression, try Benjamin Moore's Black Raspberry or Mystical Grape. My advice is to always buy a quart of the color first and paint it on the wall to see it in all types of lighting before making your final choice." —Gray Walker, Gray Walker Interiors
"Purple is hard to get right—my current favorite is Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal. I love this dark, plummy color done in studies and smaller rooms with interesting millwork details. If done on all trim and walls in mixed sheens (eggshell on walls, satin or semi-gloss on trim and millwork) it creates such a dramatic and enveloping space. I love pairing this tone with dustier pale blues for a fresh contrast." —Erin Gates, Erin Gates Design
"My favorite purple paint color is Farrow & Ball's Brinjal. It's not too light and not too dark. I like that it goes to the redder side of purple as opposed to blue, which makes it warm and inviting. A library painted this color would be stunning." —Leslie Banke, Leslie Banker Interiors
"Pale lavender and mauve are often overlooked as colors for interiors, but they can be so magical. Depending on the depth and direction you go, they can be incredibly sophisticated. I have used Benjamin Moore’s Abalone and White Heaven for both bedrooms and dining rooms; Abalone is a beautiful light grey with a hint of mauve, while White Heaven has cooler lilac undertones. Both paint colors pair beautifully with natural woods and creamy whites." —Amy Sklar, Amy Sklar Design
Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Webster Avenue
"This purple color is a nice calming hue for a soft, sophisticated style in a space. It's a great color for the walls and can make a room feel like a comforting cocoon. I like using this on the walls in a flat or low-sheen finish to give that warm feeling." —Linda Hayslett, LH.Design
"A moody, rich eggplant purple is Farrow & Ball’s Pelt, which I used in a bright, sunny Beverly Hills dining room. It’s deep and complex, like a fruit-forward wine. I loved using a dark color like this on walls to allow the mix in the room to pop against a bold backdrop, especially in a room filled with natural light." —Jeff Andrews, Jeff Andrews Design
"I love Farrow & Ball's 'Pelt'–it’s a luxurious deep aubergine that would make any smaller space feel like a cozy jewel box." —Anne Hepfer, author of MOOD.
"Benjamin Moore's Kasbah is an ideal purple color—it has enough gray and brown in it to be saturated yet organic. It has a deep earthy feel, so it pairs well with veiny marbles, rich woods, and plush textures. It's an ideal backdrop for a dramatic primary bathroom or a cozy living room with a faded Oushak rug, shearling sofa, and cozy wool chairs." —Wendy Labrum, Wendy Labrum Interiors
"I love the rich, mysterious Dark Purple by Benjamin Moore. It's the perfect hue to add a bit of drama and glamour to any room and pairs perfectly with brass finishes and sumptuous fabrics like silk and velvet." —Molly Torres Portnof, DATE Interiors
"Lately, I’ve been loving Benjamin Moore’s Dark Walnut. It’s so deep and saturated that it really offers a complex version of ‘purple’ that you don’t tend to see. We recently used it in a client’s closed pantry—when the doors open it offers such a moment of surprise and delight." —Bradley Odom, Bradley Odom Interiors
“I love the richness of Clare Paint's Prince. Paired with aged brass hardware, I see this deep purple as millwork in a pantry or mudroom. This direction is a sure way to dazzle your guests and create instant drama in your home.” —Jennifer Hunter, Jennifer Hunter Design
"I was born Cathy Purple and I grew up in a home with a purple front door, which was a bold statement in the community. My advice is that if you’re going to step into purple, then step into it with a powerful selection! Don’t try to disguise purple. Benjamin Moore’s Mauve Bauhaus is perfect for a playful bathroom or laundry room, in a bedroom, or even used on a ceiling to create whimsy." —Cathy Purple Cherry, Purple Cherry Architects
"I love Peignoir by Farrow & Ball, which is a very subtle gray-lavender. It’s romantic and soft. The perfect backdrop for strong colors like black or brown and softening antiques or enhancing an architectural element" —Meredith Ellis, Meredith Ellis Design
Sarah DiMarco is the Assistant Editor at VERANDA, covering all things art, design, and travel, and she also manages social media for the brand.
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