“Purple” probably ranks close to the top of controversial home décor colors, right up there with “pink,” and “black.". We put these color names in quotations because the right shade of any of these polarizing colors in the right context can be absolutely stunning — even when that space is shared by both genders. We’re on the verge of painting one wall in our living room a very deep, rich aubergine (the one on the far right down there) and since this decision was made jointly between a boy and a girl, we thought we’d write about how we came to settle on “purple” and ask for your best gender battles in home decorating...
The dingy, yellowy trim color in our living room is making our beautiful Silver Fox (Ben Moore) walls look purple — that’s how it all started. We’ve already tried a handful of small scale tweaks to fix the color harmony in the space to no avail so, last week, we drafted a list of possibilities to finally “fix” the room. The list included painting the trim a nice, crisp white (which would be a nightmare because there’s so much of it and we rent), repainting all the walls a less-purple gray (but we love the Silver Fox), or just going with the flow by painting one wall a deep, rich, manly purple (banking on the fact that a true purple would pull the Silver Fox back to gray).
Now, Kayla has been pushing for purple for a while now and Wes has (lovingly) rolled his eyes each time, promising “some day...some day...” So the fact that a purple wall is now not only a viable idea but also a mutual solution for our living room makes Kayla giddy with triumph and Wes nervous with hesitation. We decided so long as we call it “aubergine” and ended up with something as stunning as this image then we will both be completely happy. In addition to painting the one wall "Caponata" from Ben Moore's Affinity line, we will also be playing musical chairs with the FLOR tiles we already own, moving multi-colored Toy Poodle out and Stampede (cowhide-esque) in. The end result will actually be fairly similar to our inspiration picture!
While writing this we remembered that Patrick’s winning Bloomingdale's window, The Bachelor Party, is also a deep aubergine color and it’s definitely masculine. We'll keep you posted on the purple transformation...
So how about you? Any gender-based decorating struggles in your house?
top image from Flickr user brew ha ha
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What a tired commentary about gender relations.
Guess what? Boys can like purple (and pink) and girls can like blue.
Color is aesthetic, not biological. Sheesh.
My boyfriend and I had the purple debate. Our entrance hall in our apartment is now Deep Aubergine by CIL paints, and both of us genuinely love it. It's got an almost rockstar boldness to it that works for him, and I just find it dramatic and love that it symbolizes a big risk. Not everyone paints their walls that kind of colour.
Gender-Schmender.
As long as there aren't huge cabbage roses, frilly curtains, fringed lampshades and ditzy-doilies all over the place - I'm fine.
BTW - I worked in a store that had a similar shade of purple as your middle sample on the walls: I think Benjamin Moore called it "Raisin"
When we bought our house a few years ago, the living room was painted the color on the left... it worked pretty well with the previous owner's decor. Ours, not so well. I dubbed the room "Grape Ape's Fortress of Solitude" before finally repainting after settling in. Good to see it working for someone else...
I talked my boyfriend into allowing "purplish accents" in our brown and green living room--and in the end he agreed it looks great! :)
Ashley
rainycitystyle.blogspot.com
We painted the wall area above our fireplace a deep aubergine (Behr Interlude). It's lovely and works well with the other colors in the living room (Behr Butter Cookie and Desert Rose) and with our dark brown leather couch. We also have an armchair covered in a deep purplish pattern. I think the room is overall somewhat masculine.
You'd be surprised! Some men are just more hip and others are pretty conservative when it comes to wall colors, and yes, clothes! Luckily, my husband was fine with us having our bedroom wall in black rasberry and our bathroom in apple green with a pink curtain. ; ) As much as I love our crayola apartment now, the next time we paint, the colors will be more subtle.
I hope my husband like aubergine, because I'm painting our entry that color - the one in the inspiration photo. Like, maybe tomorrow.
I'm actually a little surprised purple is considered a girly color. It's the color of royalty, after all. That's been pretty darn male-dominated.
Now, lavender, I can see calling that a girly color.
Aubergine is a great color for dudes. Check this out:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/february-jumpstart-2009-entries/how-to-create-a-contemporary-color-accent-david-christinas-february-jumpstart-project-2009-076921
DF
purple is also the color of sizyrup.. so try telling 3 6 mafia purple is for girls.
My husband likes purple (willingly), which came as a total shock to me. He came to his own conclusion that 'aubergine' was completely girly.
I've always wanted a vintage purple couch. Yes, a purple couch. My boyfriend vetoed that, but he did allow dark purple curtains for our bedroom, yay!
I helped my brother paint this on three walls in his master bedroom when he was a bachelor. He also had a great frame for a mirror that had a gothic arch to it, and a couple lamps with amber glass in the shades.
When he became unbachelored, I think the new wife redecorated and painted the wall beige.
Just sayin'....
Yay, Silver Fox! It's my living room/tv room color and I LOVE it, but I have acres of trim in White Dove... I think the purple wall will indeed help make the Silver Fox read grey again, just go for one of the ones with more black.
Painted our dining room in Aubergine by California paints and it was awesome. Trim was Parsnip (to complete food theme).
Oh yay, more purple paint colors! I've been dying to paint my hallway aubergine or a black raspberry, but the only paint colors I've found have been European brands. We don't have those here in the boonies.
Edava, do you remember the name and brand of your black raspberry color?
I'm hoping for as much dimension as possible, so I'm wondering about using a hot pink base coat with a deep aubergine glaze over it (but not in the faux finish style--just to get the color depth). Anyone have experience with that?
As far as gender roles, I once told a store clerk that I had a teal wall in my living room, orange in my laundry room, and turquoise in my craft room. She gasped and said "Your husband lets you paint all those colors?" I'd rather be single forever than married to Mr. Vanilla!!!
edava 72 - jajajaja I like the 'crayola apartment' ... it's exactly how I see mine. I love it, but maybe the next one will be a little more subtle.
My apartment's colors grew on me. I had a whole different palette in mind when I moved in... but I must say i like the evolution.
I just painted 2 walls with a rich aubergine and, to my surprise, it's gorgeous. I'd originally wanted to decorate them with a wall decal, but now I think I'll leave it being auberginelishious... or something equally great. jejeje.
That aubergine shade on the wall in the photos (which wouldn't fly with a lot of Ohio men -- gee, I guess they're "the manliest" these days***) -- my sofa is that color.
*shame*
It's kind of hideous, getting on in years, and will, I hope, be replaced by something sensible and brownish.
*** Yes, that was a reference to the "manliness" survey that rated Ohio men at the top. I live in a football town where OSU stuff passes as "decor." It distresses my aesthetic sensibilities. ;)
My husband was initially doubtful about a "purple" living/dining room because he had visions of something with prancing pegasus unicorns and rainbows.
But I brought home cans of paint and mixed and painted big splotches on the wall until--pop!--we both agreed it was just the right shade. Despite the fact that it was only slightly grayer than the shade in the inspiration picture, he observed that it "isn't really that purple."
In other words, purple-lovers, I think you just need to wear people down until they acknowledge how right you are. :)
Trivia:
Did you know that color purple increases mental activity? (Sounds just right for guys, imho).
For this reason, it is not recommended for use in kindergatens (hypes up the kids) and any sort of mental institiution (known to increase severity of condition in most cases.)
I absolutely love purple! in my home: http://tigermania.tumblr.com/post/385041952/cats-and-moon-wall-decal-sticker