These 15 Purple Paint Colors Are Plum Perfect, According to Designers

Former NBA star turned entrepreneur Baron Davis, who has always been known for his impeccable sartorial style, famously said: “If you want to make a statement, wear purple.” Similarly, if you want to create impactful interiors, seek out purple paint colors—and don’t be shy.

Often associated with creativity, luxury, and wisdom, violet can make an unexpected backdrop in an office or study or delight as an accent on a bedroom ceiling. And purple hues in varying degrees of saturation can work just as well in a dining room or living space. Try pairing a deeper shade with a whisper of color, like pale lavender walls with aubergine details for trim, or vice versa.

But first, you’ll need to find the ideal tint for your project. Below, top interior designers tell us which purple paint colors are their favorites, why they love them, and how to use them for a space that sings.

Pelt by Farrow & Ball

“Farrow & Ball tends to have such a depth of color that adds to the complexity and interest of a space. Pelt is so unexpected—it’s such a great mix of purple and red that you can’t exactly figure it out. I like to use it as an element of surprise and delight. Typically, I’ve used it in small doses—bathrooms and powder rooms or in a concealed scullery that contrasts with the surrounding rooms.” —Bradley Odom

Hint of Violet by Benjamin Moore

“Purple is my favorite color. I love all shades, from deep aubergine to pale violet. When designing my primary bedroom, I wanted a purple that was elegant but also soft and welcoming. Benjamin Moores’s Hint of Violet was the perfect foundation to build out the rest of the room, playing with various shades of purple, from the rug to the drapery, upholstery, and trim. Purples feel regal and have a timeless quality that doesn’t age and is trendy. In many ways, purples with a cool gray hue transform into an unexpected neutral.” —Kendall Wilkinson

Mauve Blush by Benjamin Moore

“When it comes to purple, I love Benjamin Moore’s Hint of Violet and Mauve Blush. I’ve been using purple and lavender in our projects for years, as it’s pretty soft and calming. It gives off a serene and happy feeling and is perfect for home offices, bedrooms, and sitting rooms with lots of natural light. In one office space we designed, the light purple on the walls (Hint of Violet) contrasts nicely with the darker purple on the trim (Mauve Blush), [which allows] the light to bounce around and make the artwork shine. I love playing with contrasting and analogous colors when developing color stories. And I find purple pairs nicely with mustards, teals, and minty greens.” —Gideon Mendelson, Mendelson Group

Brinjal by Farrow & Ball

“I believe we’re returning to warm tones: golds, reds, purples, burnt umber—those really rich, warm tones that make you want to curl up in a room. This shade of aubergine, which Farrow & Ball calls Brinjal, has rich warm undertones and [envelops] this dining room, making you feel immediately cozy, comfortable, and jovial.” —Robin Gannon

“A healthy dose of aubergine undertones in a reddish paint leads to a richer, more sophisticated color. Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal does all that. I love how it makes even the newest rooms feel like they’ve been around for years.” —Ryann Swan

“In the spectrum of beautiful purple hues, I am currently obsessing on the richness of aubergines, specifically Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal. It evokes a sense of formality that, when used in touches, immediately elevates any space, creating a foundation for the eye that draws your attention to an object or area of importance. We are in the process of using Brinjal on wet bar cabinetry, but I could also see it drenching a fireplace mantel and millwork, used on a vintage dresser to bring it back to life, or painted on the ceiling of a powder room with a patterned wallpaper. I see aubergine shades working well alongside pale blushes, soft blues, and muted emerald greens.” —Ashley Macuga, Collected Interiors

Mighty Aphrodite by Benjamin Moore

“I selected Mighty Aphrodite from Benjamin Moore’s Classics collection for the walls of an office that I had several years ago [in the Flatiron District of Manhattan]. My window faced northeast, and I had wonderful light throughout the day. I selected this soft lavender shade that looked great with the sunny blue skies outside my window; the pantina greens of the prewar buildings all around me; and the soft, worn brown of the wood water tower across the street. It was the perfect color to round out the palette. I was hooked. Mighty Aphrodite even worked on cloudy days, as it was such a nuanced shade that it shape-shifted into a beautiful gray itself.” —Patti Carpenter, Carpenter + Company

Black Berry by Benjamin Moore

“The color purple is rich, royal, and smoldering. Benjamin Moore’s Black Berry is just the ticket for a dramatic wow factor. I love doing tone-on-tone—see how the sheen and elegance of the purple velvet chairs pop against this paint. I’ve used pearl gray accents to brighten the space. When using a color this deep and bold, make sure it is in a room with plenty of windows and natural light.” —Michele Plachter

Winter Gray by Benjamin Moore

“Lighter lavender hues like Hint of Violet and Winter Gray by Benjamin Moore are quiet and calm with more blue and gray in their coloration. I can see these in kids’ rooms, dining rooms, and even porch ceilings for an unexpected take. I recently told my team that I’m excited to try lavender and orange in a space together. There’s something about purple in interesting tones that feels calming and regal—established.” —Dan Mazzarini, BHDM Design and Archive by Dan Mazzarini

Kasbah by Benjamin Moore

“Benjamin Moore’s Kasbah is a wonderful and versatile paint color that is a great choice to enhance a space, particularly a bedroom. Its unique blend of purple, gray, and brown creates an exquisite hue that strikes a perfect balance between saturation and natural warmth. What truly sets Kasbah apart is its ability to exude a deep, earthy essence, effortlessly harmonizing with a range of materials and textural elements…. The color’s muted undertones allow it to seamlessly interact with various decor styles, making it an ideal backdrop for both modern and transitional [rooms].” —Nina Magon

Ponder by Sherwin-Williams

“I am obsessed with Sherwin-Williams’s Ponder and its ability to transform into just the right purple shade for any space—it can easily go from sweet to elegant. Purple stands out for its gentle and calming qualities and can evoke feelings of relaxation and mindfulness but also be enchanting and refined. The bedroom is an ideal place to incorporate this tone, as it fosters a serene retreat for unwinding, but it’s not the only space where purple makes sense. In an open living/dining room, we’ve painted all the walls this soft purple to evoke tranquility while screaming sophistication. The color is the perfect backdrop for layering additional hues without feeling too heavy.” —Lisa Shaffer, Lisa & Leroy

Muskoka Dusk by Benjamin Moore

“What makes Muskoka Dusk by Benjamin Moore so special is its ability to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. The soft purple hues are soothing to the eye, while the dusty rose undertones add a touch of warmth and sophistication. Muskoka Dusk would be a beautiful choice for a girl’s bedroom to create a calming vibe, perfect for a good night’s sleep. You could accessorize with pops of pink or lavender to add some personality to the space…. This purple hue can also brighten up a mudroom or laundry room to help offset the harshness of these often drab spaces. We would pair it with some white or gray accents to create a clean, modern look.” —Heather Lucas, Lucas Browning Design

Tamarind by C2 Paint

“We love C2’s Tamarind—it’s the perfect purple for a sultry, moody living space. C2’s colors are nuanced, there’s a richness and depth that is very soulful and romantic. Pair Tamarind with lighter, more whimsical window coverings, high in texture, and contemporary metallics.” —Alexis Tompkins and Leann Conquer, Chroma

Plum Haze by Sydney Harbour

“My favorite shade as of late is Sydney Harbour’s Plum Haze. It’s a beautiful purple that leans slightly more red than blue, which is a big part of the appeal for me. It introduces warmth into a space in a subtle and unconventional way, and it’s a go-to when I’m conceptualizing a room that wants to go a bit moodier. Aubergine never fails to bring the drama. I love it applied to paneled walls, clawfoot tubs—you name it.” —Tess Twiehaus, Tess Interiors

Pinch of Spice by Benjamin Moore

“Benjamin Moore’s Pinch of Spice is a sophisticated warm plum/purple that is almost suede-like. We’ve customized wallpaper to match this shade, and the results are spectacular! Sometimes you have to push the clients to embrace these bold options, and in this case the client was over the moon with the end results.” —Plachter

Carnelian by Sherwin-Williams

“I love to use a muddier version of purple, which allows for more range and depth of color. Carnelian is a really special violet version of purple because it has more of a dusty, rich tone that leans towards the brown direction, as opposed to [the] often used lavender tones of purples. It can provide a backdrop for a space in a noncolor way, where it honestly could be confused for a neutral. It’s a great choice for cabinets or built-ins or wall trim details.” —Lee Crowder, Taylor Morrison

Elephant Breath by Farrow & Ball

“For a more grown up approach to purple we love the subtle purple undertone on Farrow & Ball’s Elephant Breath. While technically more of a cream, it has a note of lilac that allows for a more rich depth to the color.” —Swan

APPLY NOW

Be a part of AD’s list of approved design experts.