POSSIBILITIES OF PURPLE
Update your decor with the colour of the year
B.C. HOME AND GARDEN SHOW
When: Feb. 21-25
Where: B.C. Place Stadium Tickets and info: From $10, bchomeandgardenshow.com Forget feeling blue — this year, it’s all about embracing the colour purple. Well, Ultra Violet (Pantone 18-3838), to be exact.
“We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination. It is this kind of creative inspiration that is indigenous to Pantone 18-3838 Ultra Violet, a blue-based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level,” said Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, in a news release. “From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come.”
And the colour choice appears to be lighting the way for many creatives in the design realm, too.
“I really like the messaging behind the choice of Ultra Violet as the Pantone Colour of the Year,” says Kendall Ansell, a Vancouverbased interior designer.
“One of the thoughts behind Ultra Violet is mindfulness and positivity, something we could all use a little more of this year.
“In a world of grey, be Ultra Violet!”
But, while we can likely all agree on the fact that the hue shows “imagination” and “artistic expression,” it’s easy to imagine the colour could be a bit tricky to incorporate into existing decor without looking out of place.
As it turns out, it is not. “The easiest way right now is to use it in florals and accent pieces,” Ansell advises.
“I think we will see this colour used in accents this year instead of big features. Since many of us lean toward neutral palettes in our spaces, pops of bold Ultra Violet will stand out beautifully.”
According to Ansell, one of the most effortless ways to add a splash of Ultra Violet into your living space or garden is with the introduction of plants. And Brian Minter, The Vancouver’s Sun gardening columnist and owner of Minter Country Garden in Chilliwack, couldn’t agree more.
“For annuals, the best violet coloured ones are dahlias, dwarf and tall; impatiens and New Guinea impatiens; osteospermums; petunias; calibrachoas; verbenas; geraniums and ivy geraniums; Martha Washingtons; violas; and pansies,” Minter says.
“For perennials, choose lavenders, echinaceas, delphiniums or aubrietias.”
For foliage plants, the gardening expert suggests picking up either Persian shield or Setcreasea plants, while for vine plants, he recommends clematis.
All cover the purple trend, and are also all blissfully easy keepers, Minter says. “All these are great and easy-to-grow plants,” he says.
Looking to incorporate a hit of popular purple into your vegetable garden? You’ll be happy to hear the Ultra Violet movement coincides with a trend in edible options, too.
“Ironically, the hot veggies for 2018 are purple,” Minter says. He points to purple broccoli, purple cauliflower, purple brussels sprouts, purple peppers and purple kale as just a few to try.
Back inside the home, for pops of purple that make a bigger statement, Ansell recommends sticking to a part of the home that is high traffic, but isn’t necessarily the focal point of the abode: the bathroom.
“We are seeing a lot of paintable free-standing tubs on the market,” she says. “Having your tub painted Ultra Violet would be completely unexpected, and you can always paint over it after.”
But while the experts agree incorporating elements that are Ultra Violet into your home may be much easier than initially expected, there are some existing decor schemes that simply won’t play nice with the hue.
“If your home has a lot of green or red accents, purple usually isn’t the way to go without making the home seem dated,” Ansell says.
“You can always eliminate things in your home for a time and bring them back out in different seasons.”
Your home’s decor should be a reflection of your personal taste and mood, she says, and we shouldn’t be afraid to mix things up a bit.
“Home decor should always be changing with you and your style,” she says. “Start with small amounts. And, if it works with what you have going on, then go bigger.”
Keep in mind that if you’re prone to following trends in home decor each season, it’s best to keep your base elements such as wall colours and large furniture items, neutral.
“White and grey homes will find it very easy to incorporate Ultra Violet and other bold shades,” Ansell advises.
“We are always trying to create homes for our clients that can easily accommodate colour trends in their decor pieces so they can explore trends easily and often.”