Ease into a dramatic palette.

If drenching a room in bold hues is a big departure from the rest of the room’s decor, ease into the aesthetic by peppering the adjacent hallway with hints of what lies beyond. This foyer’s plum upholstered chair complements the predominantly purple palette in the adjacent dining room.

See more purple rooms in our photo gallery.

Give a simple cabinet punch with purple.

Make over an inexpensive cabinet by outfitting it with a fresh coat of plum paint. Adding purple paisley wallpaper backing and gold hardware creates visual interest.

Create a rich, luxurious tabletop.

Set the scene with purple dishes and matte gold flatware. The dark, metallic dinnerware pops against linens in cool grey and lilac. A cornucopia of plums, purple kale and grapes makes a perfect centrepiece.

Go for an all out purple theme.

For a dramatic, saturated look, paint the trim, walls and mantel in the same deep plum-skin purple. Choose furniture in similarly dark shades, like these two-toned velvet armchairs, inky side table and plum-laced area rug. Muted golds and smoky glass accessories reference the warmer colours of a plum’s flesh.

See more purple rooms in our photo gallery.

Envelop a space in purple.

Extending the pure purple from the wall to the drapes creates a sumptuous cocooning effect. Incorporate a grey linen chaise by layering it with solid and striped plum velvet pillows and paint a paper shade in a complementary soft grey.

Accessorize with shades of plum and brown.

In lieu of fresh flowers, use a vase filled with dried leaves and seed pods for an autumn look. Plum smoked glass and rich wood accessories round out the vignette.

Refinished chairs, a trestle-style dining table and a dramatic-yet-affordable overhead light give this dining room real style.

Stacey Smithers, the H&H Style Editor who helped with this redesign, suggested the deep plum transitional wall as an unexpected touch. For a similar look, try Benjamin Moore’s Nightfall (CC-38).

Get tips on making a photo art wall, like the one pictured.

Choose bright tones for upholstery.

Timeless Louis XV-style chairs are painted white and upholstered in a fun mauve hue. Modern bird print fabrics in the same tone pull together the new-yet-old look.

Find more new traditional decorating ideas in our photo gallery.

Use bold colours for a room infused with attitude.

For a space that truly dazzles, choose a sofa in a pattern packed with personality. For more punch, a splashy wall colour, like this dark fuchsia hue, is a bold statement that is sure to make the room memorable. Accents in similar jewel tones — such as the purple velvet pillow and sapphire rug — complement the strong paint colour.

Find more inspiration in our gallery of Purple Rooms, plus more Rooms With Jewel Tones.

An amethyst-hued rug and pillows and gold accents add rich colour and glamour to this space.

Purple mohair, velvet and satin accents contrast beautifully against a moleskin-brown sofa and drapes. A simple coffee table and side table keep the look classic.

A well upholstered sofa and a rough-hewn salvaged wood table add character to this design.

Light lavender painted walls make for a fresh, feminine backdrop to neutral coloured furnishings. Black and white photography pops against this soft hue.

A dramatic medallion print wallpaper adds drama to a fireplace wall.

This wonderfully eclectic salon-style living room comes alive with a black-painted mantel and burnt-orange velvet chairs. Modern touches, like the gold table lamp and collection of blue vases, keep the look from feeling too fussy.

A large wicker sofa and chair sit on a beautifully patterned floor rug in tones of gold and chartreuse in this New Byzantine living room.

Luxurious elements such as a large silk pendant light, intricately carved table lamps, a dramatic, oversized mirror, velvet cushions in a deep violet and an inlaid side table all work together to create a luxurious, well-travelled style.

Pinks and browns create a soft yet chic look.

A pleasing palette is created in this modern condo living room with throw pillows in fresh colours, large floral artwork in similar tones and a lilac-grey sofa.

A refined sofa, chair and side table let fabric and colour take centre stage in this room.

Framed Donghia fabric becomes artwork, adding instant drama to this living space. The occasional chair was a curbside find; new legs and upholstery in a fuchsia damask print give it a trendy new life.

To watch Michael Penney and Joel Bray demonstrate framing fabric, watch Styling Tricks: Instant Art.

See our photo gallery for more fast decorating fixes.

Refined furniture and a complementary palette tames an audacious combination of patterns.

In this living room design, oversized, painted stripes visually raise the ceiling without looking busy. The large, playful floor lamp lends a fresh, fun perspective. A lively range of purple and brown hues, combined with a mixture of striped and floral patterns, also adds a lighthearted note.

For more lighting options, see our Statement Lighting photo gallery.

Mauve hues create welcoming appeal and up the glam factor in this bedroom.

A mix of lilac, purple and white in layers of pattern create a look that’s fresh and exotic. A pretty block-print coverlet and paisley pillows draw the eye, while gold star patterned wallpaper on the ceiling adds whimsy. The bed frame is outlined in glossy black to help anchor the room’s soft colours.

See more colour drenched rooms in our photo gallery.

Simple bedding and table lamps let purple-grey walls and wood floors take the spotlight in this design.

In this small condo bedroom, a maple platform bed smartly incorporates two built-in side tables.

A sophisticated blend of muted, rich colours creates a sumptuous look.

Chocolate brown and purple velvet pillows, a mossy green coverlet and a purple organic leaf carpet evoke a luxe effect. The mauve floral and vine wallpaper adds old-fashioned elegance.

See more colour drenched rooms in our photo gallery.

A fireplace takes bedroom glamour and comfort to a new level.

The subtle layering of pattern and texture keeps this principal bedroom’s lavender accents from feeling too feminine.

Watch an Online TV tour of this home. Plus, see more Barbara Purdy Designs in our photo gallery.

Add interest to small spaces with colour and pattern.

Wallpaper and a large silver pouf are not usual fare for a principal bathroom, but here they prove that sophistication and fun can easily coexist. The juicy purple hue and oversized fruit pattern on the wallpaper provide a graphic punch.

Kitchen design goes sleek, shiny and clutter-free.

Mauve cabinets may not be to everyone’s taste, but when paired with stainless accents and crisp white walls, they look undeniably fresh and appealing.

For more colour-infused spaces, see our Photo Gallery: Colourful Kitchens.

Try this feminine colour in a contemporary space.

Although this colour choice is unexpected, its softness makes it easy to live with for a long time. This kitchen, first featured in our June 2003 issue, is still surprisingly current with its clean lines, stainless steel island and overall pastel hue.

For more colour-infused spaces, see our Photo Gallery: Colourful Kitchens.