Purples reign supreme in interiors this season, and reflecting a variety of rich warm shades from plum through to rich berry colours will ensure rooms look grand all winter.
By Gabrielle Fagan
Chill winds and storms may be nature's signs that winter's arrived but in our homes the first sign is the return of the rich, berry shades to the decor palette.
It's not really surprising that a 'home harvest' of sumptuous purples, plums, aubergines and berry reds is a perennial favourite because the colours give an instant injection of warmth, glamour and luxury.
And this season there are several ways of using this strawberry-through-to-blackberry palette.
You can plump for decadence with deep, dark purple teamed with black and shimmering silver and glass accessories, or mix fruity shades with crisp pistachio greens, teals and cool neutrals.
Alternatively, simply flirt with lilacs and pinks for a feminine feel which is particularly effective in a bedroom.
"Every home is unique but every so often a trend emerges that people simply cannot resist dabbling with. This season that trend is purple," says Dave Alves, managing director for HomeSense.
"Part of purple's appeal is its adaptability - it can inject an air of playfulness through a bright berry shade, or be used in an understated way as a peaceful lilac or relaxing aubergine."
Create a winning winter recipe for cosy rooms by following the interior experts' advice on picking plums and the best berry-beautiful homeware.
:: Berry beautiful rooms
House Beautiful Style Editor, Charlotte Boyd says: "Using purple in a decorating scheme doesn't have to mean creating a dark, gothic style look, quite the opposite in fact.
"In it's richer tones, such as aubergine and grape, it is a wonderfully warm and nurturing colour perfect for creating a cosy living room."
She suggests choosing tactile velvets in those deep hues to upholster a sofa or to give a new look to an old armchair, sourced from companies such as Linwood, which has a great selection of both patterned and plain velvets.
Laura Ashley, who also offer a re-upholstery service, has embraced the shades from rich pinks to mauve.
Graham & Brown's new Essence range of papers can make a statement without overwhelming a room. Patterns are inspired by natural shapes, such as flowers and leaves, and one features a gorgeous damson and gold combination. Papers cost £30 a roll.
Designer Jeff Banks features a glorious purple in his new Ports of Call paint collection for Focus. Check out Strut, a regal purple shade, £19.99 for 2.5 litres from nationwide branches of Focus.
Chic buy: Fresco Vision Wallcovering in Plum, £7.98 for 10m at B&Q.
:: Plum lines
"Purple shades are hugely popular in furniture at present partly because in difficult economic times people opt for colours which never go out of fashion and are practical to live with," says Ian Bisatt, design director at Multiyork.
He says a sofa, or single chair, upholstered in a bold purple print design will enliven a neutral-coloured living area and provide an eye-catching block of colour.
Most of the high street stores have caught the passion for berry shades. Marks & Spencer's has opted for Kerala velvet upholstery in deep fuschia pink on a striking Love Seat, £949 and stool, £349.
While connoisseurs of style know they'll never be disappointed at Heal's which is always bang-on-trend with its superb designer homeware. A streamlined Antoinette sofa, which can be upholstered in regal purple velvet, has a hefty price tag £1,795 but is a stunner.
Chic buy: British Home Stores grand-looking Roxy three-seater sofa, in plum, £999.
:: Purple passion
Purple is perfect for bedrooms as it's more grown up than pink, and not as cold as blue.
Charlotte Boyd recommends lighter shades of purple such as violet and amethyst as perfect colours for a pretty bedroom.
"These shades are going to be a key trend for Spring 2010. Choose a delicate floral or damask wallpaper and combine with fresh white bed linen and French antique style painted furniture," she suggests.
Ranges such as Villa Nova's Foxley collection of papers and fabrics could suit this look as they're available in a very soft mauve.
Her tip: "If you want to add an accent colour try soft catkin green, it will freshen up the whole scheme and give it a more contemporary feel."
If you prefer strong, deep shades, Dave Alves, from HomeSense, advises that playing with textures can ensure the shade doesn't overwhelm a room which should be restful rather than dramatic.
"Raw silk cushions scattered on a bed or on a bedside chair can conjure a luxurious feel and purple velvet always looks indulgent. Soft cashmere throws in pale violet could be a good choice for the less colour-confident and be an easy way to step into the world of purple."
Next has a stunning black and purple Waterlily bedset, from £45, with a co-ordinating Plum Taffeta throw from £50, and complementing cushions from £12.
Equally striking is Julian Macdonald's Adriana purple bedding set, embellished with jewels, starting from £45 at Debenhams.
Chic buy: A purple quilted throw, £19.99 from Tu Home at Sainbury's.
:: Bargain berry buys
Fionnuala Johnston, Design Coordinator at B&Q says: "Purple is a good colour to use as it works so well with many other colours. Tonally it is great with reds and browns and opulent and jewel-like when combined with other rich colours."
Her suggestion: Try a variety of shades in accessories - splashes of violet, hues of tasty grape, through to damson or aubergine. Alternatively, if you have a purple scheme, contrast with vases or lampshades in zingy shades of green or teal.
Dunelm Mill's homeware at pocket money prices is on trend with pink to plum items. Just a couple worth considering are a fuschia Lydia floral fabric, £11.99 a metre, and a purple plum Beau cushion, £4.99.
Laura Ashley's lighting collection glows with lamps, shades and chandeliers featuring berry rich shades. I particularly like the Estelle Cranberry beaded pendant light, £50.
Or get some sparkle for less with a lamp, £9.99 from Sainsbury's Tu Home range, which has a purple jewelled based and deep mauve shade.
Cushions in purple or rich pink hues are plentiful from stores such as Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley, and B&Q, while La Redoute has keyed into the trend for patriotic homeware with a purple-hued Union Jack cushion, £11.
Next has an impressive collection of cushions in interesting fabrics and textures, and a Bohemia rug, from £80, decorated with flowers in colours from the purple spectrum.
Small touches in other areas of the house will unify the look, and you could clear up the clutter in style by popping CDs or other collections into compact purple storage cases, from £1.50 from QS, or make a splash with the colour in a bathroom with purple towels, from £2, from Julian Macdonald's Star range at Debenhams.
It's not too early to start preparing for Christmas - look out for a wide range of purple tree decorations - and create a seasonal focal point that could be displayed on a coffee table. Fill a deep purple contemporary glass bowl, £25, from John Lewis, with purple or mauve baubles.
Chic Buy: Plum and raspberry glass tea light containers and candle holders displayed on surfaces are an inexpensive but hugely effective way to 'get the look'. Marks & Spencer's collection starts from only £5.
:: Purple sources
Laura Ashley: 0871 231 2301/www.lauraashley.com
B&Q: www.diy.com
Debenhams 08445 616161 www.debenhams.com
Dunelm Mill 08451 656 565 www.dunelm-mill.com
Focus: 0800 436 436/www.focusdiy.co.uk
Graham & Brown: 0800 328 8452/www.grahambrown.com
Heals: 08700 240 780/www.heals.co.uk
HomeSense: www.homesense.com
John Lewis 08456 049 049 www.johnlewis.com
Marks & Spencer: 0845 603 1603/www.marksandspencer.com
Multiyork: 0800 040 7171/www.multiyork.co.uk
La Redoute 08448 422 222 www.laredoute.co.uk
Next: 08448 448 000/www.next.com
Tu Home at Sainsbury's 0800 636 262 www.sainsbury's.co.uk
QS 08449 020 020 www.qsgroup.co.uk
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