Using Colours Purple & Green in Home Decor & Art

Dark purple, amethyst, muted green & turquoise in interiors and paintings

If you already follow my art then you know that I absolutely love, love, love colour. Vibrant, bold colour is a key part of my paintings. It's funny really, I express all that love of colour through my work, yet the clothes I wear are far more muted and neutral. Hmmm! 

When it comes to home decor and interiors, I also find the use of colour exciting and expressive. I know that many of my art buyers and commission clients worry about colour in their homes, which colours go together, whether the art will fit in with the room scheme. It's worth pointing out, of course, that art doesn't ever have to fit with a room colour scheme. If you fall in love with the art, get it. But if you like coordinating colours then go with it. Choosing what you like is one of life's pleasures.

Anyway, I've decided to write some blog posts on colour scheme ideas for your home decoration. I may also include a little bit about the meaning or history of the selected colours. And, of course, I will also suggest one or two of my paintings that feature those colours, and/or would fit in with the decor scheme. It would be silly not to. 😂

So, first up, I would like to discuss pairing opulent jewel tone amethyst purple and with muted green. With added touches of deep purple and turquoise greens. Or analogously teaming them with blue. 

Historically, rich purple hues were only for royalty and aristocracy, due to the cost and difficulty of producing purple pigments. Once the colour became accessible to all in the 1800s, however, it began to be used for fashion and style. After World War I, it even became a symbol of freedom. An expression of extravagance in the 1920s in the face of so much hardship and grief. Nowadays, we use it freely in fashion, decor, marketing, branding, etc. 

Photo credits: Architectural Digest, Dulux, Elle Decor

Purple sits in between warm red and cool blue on the colour wheel, so depending on the specific hue of purple it can equally be either warm or cool. This means that different shades of purple can achieve different effects and feelings.

Darker, vibrant purples give a feel of opulence, drama and luxury. Perfect for bringing sophistication and glamour to your room. Use amethyst purple with muted green to create a dramatic dining room or an indulgent bedroom or even bathroom. Ensure that you have plenty of natural light or use good lighting effectively to lift the colours. Think deep purple furnishings and bright, bold turquoise accessories to bring the scheme together.

If you love these hues of purple and green, but don't wish to be so bold in your decor, then try using them as accent colours in furnishings instead. Sitting next to blue on the colour wheel, they become a trio of colours that work incredibly well together. Look how cool and calming they are in this bedroom with neutral decor.

Or how about a green and purple kitchen?

Purple is one of my favourite colours, and while green is not, the two work incredibly well together. Especially when I add some turquoise and teal with some blue and pink, such as with this triptych painting on canvas, 'Living Life'. 

"Living Life" by Jayne Leighton Herd

So recently I've been having fun working more often with purple, green and teal. For example, on this is a new abstract painting on clear plexiglass.

Or the deep purple and green of this abstract landscape painting with dramatic accents of turquoise.

I would love to know if you have used these colours in your home, or if you plan to? Let me know in the comments and show me a photo.