Color Feast: When to Use Purple in the Dining Room

Purple is an unusual color choice for a dining room — a room that is traditionally wrapped in warmer colors to stimulate our appetites. But I think since purple is so unexpected there, it ends up feeling exotic.

Deep purple is a bit tricky to work with, as it can make a space feel heavy and gloomy. It needs to be used strategically or sparingly, or requires other colors or elements in the room to add warmth or shimmer.

Below you'll find seven stunning examples of dining rooms resplendent in purple, along with examples of pretty purple hues to try in your own dining space.

Purple paint picks for dining rooms (clockwise from top left):

1. Little Grapette KM3082-1, Kelly-Moore Paints
2. Lavender Haze 344-3, Pittsburgh Paints
3. Marabou 29-4, Pratt & Lambert
4. Purpling Dawn 1001-6B, Valspar
5. Fire and Ice 1392, Benjamin Moore
6. Berry Syrup S-G-650, Behr
7. Dusty Plum 006-5, Mythic Paint
8. Mesmerize SW6544, Sherwin-Williams


Deep, cool purples can make a space feel dreary, especially in a room that doesn't get a lot of natural light. Take a tip from this gorgeous contemporary dining room: Use the color sparingly and pair it with light neutrals. Be sure to add some sparkle, whether via glass pendant lights or glass and metal decorative accessories; it'll make the purple look crisp and modern.


A muted purple, one that has a good amount of gray in it, reads as a neutral hue. It looks so sophisticated here with an assortment of other warm and cool neutrals. It's a neutral palette that is in no way dull.


This beautiful space with its palette of purple and bronze simply glows. The walls are clad in a hand-painted silk wall covering that is just stunning. With such a dramatic focal point, no further adornment on the walls is needed. The remaining furnishings pick up on the hint of bronze on the wall and make this purple-clad dining room anything but dreary.


Here is another gorgeous wall treatment in pretty purple. This shade of purple is a bit cooler, and is paired with taupe and chocolate brown. The palette is rich and sophisticated.


This airy space charms in lavender and white. For those who want a hint of fun color but prefer the space to remain light and neutral, look to lighter shades of purple with some gray in them. The gray neutralizes the color a bit, but you'll still get a hint of your chosen hue.


Layer on the lavenders, purples and berry hues for maximum drama. By mixing together various tints, tones and shades of one color, you get a colorful space that doesn't knock you over the head with a rainbow of colors.


Use color to define rooms in an open-concept living space. Try using one light neutral hue for the majority of the walls and ceilings in the open space, then indulge in a bold accent color — such as the rich eggplant used here — on a wall or a section of a wall. It's a great way to set off part of the space, such as the dining room.

Tell us: Are you pro purple in the dining room?

URL: Color Feast: When to Use Purple in the Dining Room http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21409.html