The journal

8 Favourite Shades of Purple Paint for Bedrooms

20 July 2022 5 min read

Did you know purple is very much on trend? Banish thoughts of Parma Violet sweets and Disney princesses; modern purples are interesting and versatile, ranging from soft lilacs to rich, deep aubergine. Pantone named periwinkle the colour of 2022, cementing purple as the shade of the moment.

Use dark purple to create a cosy, dark bedroom, or light purple for something soft and calming, both ideal qualities for a bedroom. You needn't go fully purple; a purple feature wall behind the bed looks striking, contrasted with light grey, white or even yellow. Here we outline our favourite Mylands purples for bedrooms.

Bedroom wall in grey-lilac Lavender Garden No.30 with skirting and door in soft Rose Taupe No.292 — Left, bedroom front wall in Lavender Garden No.30 with Rose Taupe No.292 woodwork; right, Pale Lilac No.246 rear wall over Cadogan Stone No.59 boards

Small bedroom with dusty lilac Pale Lilac No.246 rear wall above pale Cadogan Stone No.59 painted floorboards — Left, bedroom front wall in Lavender Garden No.30 with Rose Taupe No.292 woodwork; right, Pale Lilac No.246 rear wall over Cadogan Stone No.59 boards

1. Lavender Garden™ No.30, a grey-lilac

Lavender is known for its therapeutic, relaxing qualities, which we often link to the plant's scent, though the same holds for the colour, and grey is calming and restful too, so together they create a wonderfully serene bedroom.

It's a delicate shade that works well as a backdrop to striking contrasts, in wall art, soft furnishings or richly coloured bed linen, and you could add pops of warmth and depth with jewel tones like amethyst or ruby. In a child's room, have fun with a mural or wall stickers in a complementary scheme.

Bedroom with walls and built-in shelves painted the same grey-lilac Lavender Garden No.30, books and folded linen — A bedroom drenched in Lavender Garden No.30, walls and built-in shelves in the same grey-lilac

2. Early Lavender™ No.260, a purple-pink

Delicate, soft and oh-so-pretty, this light pastel is popular with designers and pairs well with white, very gentle and easy on the eye, its purple-pink tone adding joy and warmth.

Below, Mylands Early Lavender™ No.260 transforms the table, the soft purple sitting comfortably beside white walls, a beautiful, calming colour that would suit a grown-up main bedroom or a baby's nursery.

Small wooden table painted soft purple-pink Early Lavender No.260 standing against crisp Pure White No.1 walls — A table painted in Early Lavender No.260 against Pure White No.1 walls in a nursery

3. Pale Lilac™ No.246, a dusty lilac

Soft lilac is friendly and comforting, creating a gentle environment that invites you to relax in peace, ideal for the haven that is your bedroom.

Like lavender, lilac is drawn from nature; Mylands Pale Lilac™ is actually a mix of dusty lilac and pink with grey undertones, a clever blend that keeps it delicate, fresh and subdued, welcoming and light enough to suit an entryway too.

Bedroom with dusty lilac Pale Lilac No.246 upper walls above deep Theatre Land No.282 panelling and dado rail — Upper walls in dusty Pale Lilac No.246 above deep Theatre Land No.282 panelling in a bedroom

4. Smithfield™ No.19, a grey-lavender

If purple feels a bit daring, try a subtle shade with plenty of grey; dusty lilac is essentially a warm neutral and a more modern way to work with grey, the neutral of choice for a while now.

This pastel is an interesting, versatile choice, the grey warmed by purple-lavender tones, more grey than mauve and very tranquil, a well-balanced pairing where the grey tones down the purple and the purple lifts the grey.

Attic bedroom wall in grey-lavender Smithfield No.19 eggshell beneath a flat Pure White No.1 ceiling — A bedroom wall in grey-lavender Smithfield No.19 in eggshell, with Pure White No.1 above

Use Smithfield™ No.19 in eggshell in the bedroom for a finish between matt and silk emulsion, good for walls, though ceilings need a flatter sheen.

5. Soho House No.266, a muted magenta

Warmer than lilac and lavender, Soho House No.266 is a richer purple, combining red, blue and umber with hints of beautiful magenta.

It pairs well with soft green or white on bedroom walls, or as a contrast to bolder floral wallpaper, a hot trend right now that brings wonderful natural vibes indoors.

Bedroom with muted magenta Soho Pink No.266 walls, white Pure White No.1 woodwork and a linen-covered bed — Bedroom walls in muted magenta Soho Pink No.266 with Pure White No.1 woodwork

6. Empire Violet™ No.80, a regal purple

For something bolder and more dramatic, try Empire Violet™ No.80, rich, opulent and theatrical, a real statement. Violet is a very regal shade that oozes luxury and grandeur, so pair it with metallic gold or bronze to accentuate that further.

This warm, striking purple works well in a living room too, bold and impactful yet capable of feeling cosy and intimate, and it makes an impact as an exterior colour on a front door.

Bedroom walls in rich purple Empire Violet No.80 with a slim gilded FTT-001 Rich Gold mirror frame — A bedroom in regal Empire Violet No.80 with gilded FTT-001 Rich Gold detail

7. Plum Tree™ No.283, an earthy plum

This sophisticated purple is sumptuous and warming, earthy and natural, reminiscent of fresh plums and fruity jam, a comforting, reassuring and very familiar shade on bedroom walls.

Plum looks sophisticated and refined; below, Plum Tree™ No.283 creates a strong accent behind the bed, paired with pale blue and white to keep the room from becoming too dark, and it's a particularly good choice for a dining room too.

Bedroom with earthy plum Plum Tree No.283 behind the bed, pale blue Notting Hill No.213 walls and Whitehall No.9 ceiling — An earthy Plum Tree No.283 accent wall with Notting Hill No.213 walls and a Whitehall No.9 ceiling

8. Duke's House™ No.44, a deep purple

The deepest of our purples, Duke's House™ No.44 is a showstopper, dark and impactful, a complex mix of magenta, black and dark blue; for best results, use a grey primer and undercoat beforehand.

In a bedroom this deep purple creates an enveloping ambience, like a lovely hug, especially in the room where you want to relax and wind down.