Purple Bedroom Tips and Decorating Ideas

Purple seems to stir up strong emotions: people either love it or they hate it. Because of that, it’s not one of the most common colors used to decorate the master bedroom—many people only think of it as appropriate for a child’s bedroom or an over-the-top feminine flouncy space. And that’s a shame, because actually, when done right, purple can be quite sophisticated and contemporary in the master bedroom and just as appealing to men as to women.

If you love all things purple, give the bedrooms shown here a look. You’re sure to find some inspiration for your own room, whether you go all-out with purple, or merely use it as an accent.

Although some purple-lovers choose to play it safe with a pastel tint of the dramatic hue on their bedroom walls, you shouldn’t be afraid to use a rich, deep purple. The high-contrast palette—dark purple, bright blue, and white—creates a soothing yet contemporary look. And don’t think that dark walls are only for brightly-lit bedrooms; actually, dark walls are perfect for a dimly-lit room as the saturated color holds its own regardless of light intensity.

Take purple's intensity down a notch or two, and you get a soothing color that is far more interesting than plain neutrals and yet not too loud or brash. As a cool color, purple has a naturally calming vibe and is well suited to the bedroom. The softest purple can tint the walls, while the lovely purple bed, window treatments, bench, and accent pillows are soft and romantic.

If you truly love purple, then throw caution to the wind and go all out. Why not even paint your ceiling purple? By limiting the palette to mostly purple and white, with just a little bit of accent color in the smaller furnishings, the overall vibe is fresh and light, not overwhelming. This is a great way to combine lots of patterns no matter what your color scheme.

If you still think of purple as childish or only suitable for an overly dramatic space, combine bold purple walls with sleek and contemporary furniture. Try to avoid any unnecessary clutter or fuss, provide just the smallest touch of an accent color, and voila! You receive a sophisticated, contemporary bedroom that is definitely for grownups.

Combine muted shades of purple with touches of metallic shine, and you end up with a glamorous bedroom that looks expensive and sophisticated, not gaudy or overdone. Mirrored nightstands and a beautiful silver sunburst mirror add plenty of shine. The quiet purple of the headboard, simple throw pillows, and quiet color scheme keep the room luxe, not busy.

Sometimes, a little bit of purple is just enough. The touches of purple in the bedding and throw pillows add a dash of interest to an otherwise neutral palette and is absolutely perfect. You could spice up any palette of neutrals, a white bedroom, or a gray space in the same way.

When you combine milky, pastel tints of blue and purple, you create a tranquil, soothing vibe that works well with many decorating themes from casual to contemporary. The cool colors of blue, green, and purple are known for their relaxing properties. But when working with muted colors of equal intensity, don't forget to add a little contrast—such as decorative pillows with a fun pattern—to keep the room from becoming too monotonous or boring.

If your bedroom is very small, or you want to set up a guest bedroom in a small space, think purple. Clean white walls and window treatments visually open the space, while the shaggy rug and ottomans add plenty of texture. But it's the limited palette—basically just white, purple, and gray—that really help make this small space look cozy, not cramped.

Purple can make a statement, so try an oversize purple upholstered bed paired with stunning inlaid bedside dressers, a zebra bench, and lilac walls and ceiling.

Article updated by Michelle Ullman