Decorating With Purple

From lavender to plum, the range of this color is as wide as its appeal.

Purple 101

There’s a reason purple is associated with royalty: In ancient times, the dye was extracted from mollusks and therefore insanely expensive. Now deep versions of the color still signal luxury, while softer takes are famously soothing (think yoga studio). New York City interior designer Jamie Drake, who has used a vast range of purples during his long career, says a powerful purple piece  “can add passion to a room” and will really pop when set against a complementary background color, like green. For a pulled-together look, repeat the purple elsewhere in the room. This makes the overall statement thoughtfully eclectic, rather than just eccentric.