COLOUR THEORY

Plum

A warm and rich autumnal shade that beckons us to hunker down, our colour guru, Amelia, explores why and how to use this opulent hue

Plum is a deep and luxurious colour that’s a mixture of both purple and red. The spectrum of plum hues varies just as much as the varieties of the fruit. Some shades err on the side of a darker, blackish purple, while some are a more vibrant, hotter red.

‘I’m seeing more and more people use plum purple in their homes and I’m not surprised,’ says Tash Bradley, colour psychologist and Lick’s director of interior design (lick.com). ‘We saw purple have a moment in the spring this year, with people gravitating towards that soft lilac tone which is gentle and calming to be around. And now, as we step into the colder months, plum is having its time,’ As Tash points out, the nation’s purple shade of choice is a reflection of the season. Plums are ripe and ready towards the end of summer/ early autumn, and this change of season is precisely when we want to introduce more plum into the home. ‘Plum is synonymous with many aspects of autumn/winter. From rich winter berries and red wine to jewelled red leaves falling from the trees – plum is the perfect shade to set the scene for the colder months,’ says Emma Bestley,

It’s the colour for you if:

1 You want a cosy space 2 You want a luxurious feel 3 You want a cocooning and warm vibe

Decadent Damson Simply Refresh Feature Wall paint, £29.77 for 1.25ltrs, Dulux

Oh Boysenberry Flat matt paint, £48 for 2.5ltrs, Coat

Colourfast No.457 matt emulsion paint, £35.21 for 2.5ltrs, Crown

co-founder and creative director at Yes Colours (yescolours.com).

While purple is opulent, luxurious and mysterious, red is romantic, bold and empowering, and when these two shades combine, we experience a mixture of both. So it’s best to keep this in mind when deciding where in your home to use the shade. ‘Plum is wonderful to use in spaces you want to feel comforting and welcoming, like the bedroom, snug, living room or dining room. It can be used on all four walls for an enveloping space, or as an accent colour to avoid the room becoming too dark,’ says Dominic Myland, CEO at Mylands (mylands.com).

When using with other colours, two options stand out. ‘Due to the richness and earthiness of the plum colour, it looks amazing with other autumnals like burnt oranges, deep terracotta reds and greens,’ says Tash. But if you want it to take centre stage, pair with neutrals. ‘Plum works well with complementary grey or beige hues,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene (littlegreene. com). ‘You should always consider the undertones within your specific plum shade and opt for neutrals with a pink or lilac undertone for a harmonious finish.’

About Damson No.50 matt emulsion paint, £41.95 for 2.5ltrs, Victory Colours 90 Mini Mini Berry Red desk lamp, £115, Anglepoise

Zara plum luxury velvet throw, £60, Julian Charles

Harper two-seater sofa in Plum smart velvet, £1,350, Sofa.com

The perfect pairings with plum

Create a warm, cosy feel or pare it back with neutrals

The autumnal palette

Timepiece wallpaper in Amethyst, £65 per roll, Graham & Brown

The rules

DO

Combine with other earthy hues Mix with gold and brass metallics Go all over for maximum impact

DON’T

Use a cool undertone in a north-facing room Forget to try before you buy Combine with highly saturated colours

The neutral palette