The power of purple

08 Mar 2023

With Paint it Purple upon us, you can buy any 60 mL purple Resene testpot at your local Resene owned ColorShop and $1 will be donated to Epilepsy New Zealand to help raise funds and awareness for those in need. In light of this, we thought we would give you some ideas for painting it purple at home, so you can brighten up your interiors, while also supporting a good cause.

Resene Whimsical is a pastel lilac, a fanciful dreamy colour. Try Resene Whimsical with chilled whites, velvet mauves or fuchsia pinks, such as Resene Poured Milk, Resene Memory Lane or Resene Smitten. Wall painted in Resene Whimsical and large pot in Resene Excalibur. Sofa from Contempa, coffee table, wool throw and vase from Citta, rug from Nodi Rugs, cushion from James Dunlop Textiles, artwork from Amber Armitage, book from Father Rabbit. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Melanie Jenkins. 

Purple is a versatile colour that can be both warm and cool, depending on the shade you choose. The lighter shades of lavenders and lilacs, like Resene Biloba Flower or Resene Fog, can create a soft and serene ambiance in a bedroom, bathroom or living room.

When choosing a shade of purple, consider the other colours in the room and how they will complement or contrast with the purple walls. For example, white or light-coloured furniture can help balance a bold purple wall, while gold or brass accents can add warmth and richness to the space. Try painting a photo frame or vase in Resene Gold Dust metallic paint for a sophisticated touch to the room.

Immersed in amethyst with walls and a shelf in Resene Couture, floor and an old oil can in Resene Pioneer Red, side table in Resene Stetson, bookends in Resene Ringo, candlestick in Resene Entourage and plant pot and corbel in Resene Dawn Chorus. 

Indigo shades tend to ooze luxury and elegance. If you’re after a colour that will give your interiors a regal feel, reminiscent of Renaissance Italy, try a shade like Resene Seance, a mesmeric deep purple. This is a colour that looks fabulous in dim evening candlelight, however if you’re using it as a feature wall, try pairing it with a white like Resene Alabaster, or a lighter misty purple like Resene I Do. For vases, ornaments and other small décor, try a minty green-blue like Resene Scandal or bright peacock green like Resene Niagara - greens and purples have always been great friends!

Some of the many shades of Resene purple. Background in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt with A4 drawdown paint swatches in (from top to bottom) Resene Jimmy Dean, Resene Zulu, Resene Matakana, Resene Ghost and Resene In The Mauve and painted vessels in (clockwise from top right) Resene Ghost, Resene Jimmy Dean, Resene In The Mauve and Resene Matakana. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Melanie Jenkins.

If you’re new to the world of purple, view A4 drawdown paint swatches of purples in the colour library at your local Resene ColorShop to get a better feel for how the colours will look then buy testpots of your favourites to try out at home.

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some photos by emailing [email protected].

Published: 08 Mar 2023