THE COLOUR

PLUM

Much like the fruit from which it takes its name, the colour plum comes in many shades, from the deepest, ultra-ripe purples to paler, more delicate hues. Whichever end of the spectrum you favour for your home, plum can always be counted on to lend a room a distinguished feel. Indeed, this colour has long been associated with wealth and power. It is a close relation to Tyrian Purple, a shade loved by Roman Emperors and royalty, which was produced using a dye extracted from molluscs found only on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia (now Lebanon) – so expensive was this dye that only the most prosperous could afford it. Luckily, that’s no longer the case. Now, we can all feast on the finest plum paint varieties, such as the sumptuous ‘Grenache’ by Paint & Paper Library (pictured, £46.50 for 2.5 litres; paintandpaperlibrary.com).