Luxury Purple Sofas – A Guide
There are several colours that evoke a sense of luxury and grandeur when used in interiors and purple is one of them. It has long been associated with the likes of royalty and the aristocracy over the centuries and was used by the Roman upper class and even the emperors themselves. Over time its impact hasn’t diminished but as a bold colour, when using it to decorate, it needs careful consideration. If you have your heart set on a purple sofa, here’s a guide which explores different styles of sofa and provides some tips to help you style your décor around it to ensure it enjoys maximum impact.
Amy Sofa in Soft Wool Emperor Cumulus
The Colour Purple
A mixture of red and blue, there are 100s of shades of purple, with those closer to red on the colour wheel producing a warmer aesthetic, and those closer to blue providing a slightly cooler look and feel. At Darlings, we have three shades of purple available – Plum, which is a warm, vibrant purple, Cornflower, which is a cooler and effortlessly stylish shade and Liver, which is the perfect mix of warm and cool tones. To see them in person, either head down to one of our showrooms or you can order some free samples, which will be posted out to you.
Sofa Styles
When choosing a new sofa, some people choose the colour first and the style second and others do the opposite. If first and foremost you’ve decided a purple sofa is right for you, the next step is to choose which style of sofa will complement your interior.
Mid-century modern and contemporary sofas focus on clean lines, elegant, tapered legs and tend to have a low back. These sofas work well in a modern, Scandi or industrial interior and work well with a fairly neutral colour palette when it comes to wall colour.
Traditional sofas tend to have more curves, higher backs and rounded arms, with deep seat cushions. These sofas work well in a real range of interiors, from traditional to country house and more.
For a sofa that has instant wow factor, a Chesterfield sofa is a great choice. With deep button detailing, sumptuous seat cushions and rolled arms, this iconic design brings timeless elegance into your space.
A modular corner sofa is great when you have plenty of room and also offers real versatility, giving you the option to move certain modular units as and when you need to. It also means you can create a sofa bespoke to your home, choosing the perfect size and configuration to complement your space.
If you’re short on space but still like the idea of having a sofa, a loveseat ticks all the boxes. With enough room for you to relax by yourself, or cuddle up with a loved one, loveseats are available in an array of styles.
Purple Velvet Sofas
Perhaps the ultimate luxury fabric, combining velvet’s richness and warmth with purple’s historic associations with wealth and power, a purple velvet sofa is bold and beautiful and can dominate and space into which it’s placed. Purple velvet sofas work in a variety of styles, from very square and modern, with clean lines that show off the richness of the fabric, to more classic curvy styles.
A Chesterfield or similar buttoned sofa works beautifully in velvet because the varied surface created by the buttons causes the thick pile of the velvet to naturally catch the light in different directions, creating an attractive visual texture. Equally, a simple Scandinavian-style sofa allows the fabric to do all the talking and prevents the sofa from being too dominant in a smaller or more crowded space.
Purple Leather Sofas
Unusual and colourful leather sofas are more and more popular with people who want the comfort and robustness of leather but don’t want to be tied to traditional colours like brown, black, and white. Purple leather looks particularly good in soft untreated leather, so it can develop a natural patina and variation in a shade that prevents it from being too overwhelming or looking overly artificial. A variety of different sofa styles work with purple leather, particularly those with rounded shapes, broad arms and plump cushions that suit the luxurious associations of the colour.
Types of Upholstery
You’ve now chosen the perfect purple shade, and you know which style of sofa you like. The next decision is what type of finish you’d like your sofa to have. Velvet sofas are incredibly popular and with your choice of purple, your sofa would create an elegant and stylish focal point in your space. Bringing a real sense of luxury into your interiors, there’s several different types of velvet to choose from, including luxury short pile smooth velvets and decadent crushed velvets. If you need a more hard-wearing, family friendly velvet, a stain resistant velvet would be the ideal choice.
If you prefer a more traditional material, there’s the likes of cotton, linen, chenille and tweed. Boucle has also made a comeback and adds real texture and style to your space.
How to Style a Purple Sofa
To make sure your purple sofa fits seamlessly into your home, here are some design tips to consider.
Wall colour
Neutral colours work best with a bold purple. Think whites, creams and greys, all of which will allow your sofa to take centre stage.
Textures and Patterns
To give your room a little more depth, add layers with chunky knit throws and patterned cushions.
Lighting
As with all interiors, lighting makes a real difference to the overall aesthetic. If you opt for a warm purple, warm lighting will help to showcase your sofa. If you choose a purple with a cool tone, then cooler lighting will complement it.
Purple sofa cushions
If you’re not quite ready to go for a purple sofa but like the idea of introducing the colour into your living room, you can bring a splash of luxury to an existing colour scheme with some purple scatter cushions. These look especially good on grey sofas but also on yellow, green or brown. You could also try a couple of purple cushions to brighten up a classic brown leather sofa or a grey fabric sofa.
If you’re looking to make a design statement in your living room – a purple sofa will definitely do the trick. Spend time considering shades and your background and accent colours and then relax in style!
