2007 Color Forecast: Purple reigns

By Kara Cox -- Home Accents Today, 4/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Purple is kicking things up a notch in 2007 casting its magic on a range of colors from pink to red to brown for an earthier, but dreamy look. While new shades like lilac, lavender and purpled grays emerge in the lighter hues, the darker shades seem to be garnering more attention as they gain strength for the coming year.

"Purple has a lot of influence on the palette for 2007, a lot of violet blues in both dark and paler versions," said Chow of the Color Association of the U.S. "These dreamy, moody colors are more complex, they're not easily described. It shows the consumer's increasing sophistication.

"We're seeing a lot of purpled browns, purpled blues because they have a sense of nostalgia," Chow said. "We're seeing a lot of new designers who are doing reproductions from the turn of the century in fresh shades so with the vintage referencing, the browns are taking on a purple cast."

"Coral is the springboard for 2007, it's getting purpled to a red lilac for the new color of 2007," said Stein. "Lavenders are more important than ever, it's really lilac, hibiscus, the pinked-purples are what's coming up."

"Pink which has already backed off is reformulating itself into rosy hues," said Lamb of the Trend Curve. "It's leaning close to mauve on the blue side. Pinks are reaching to purples and purples are reaching to pinks. For '07, purples will come forward on the red side. We'll have some pale purples but mid-values are ready to flourish along with very deep, almost burgundy red-cast purples."

Art Evolution's Chrysanthemum Square framed wall decor uses sharp lime and soft yellow to add a modern slant to a purple wash ground. eLink 502

The Amethyst bedding from Feathersounds by Eastern Accents combines muted hues of purple with gray-cast undertones. eLink 720

A soft lilac dupioni silk shade tops the crystal Comete table lamp from Cindy Ciskowski. eLink 721