Decorating an Office With Purple

Setting the Tone

• While it may seem that purple evokes only a feminine mood, purple can be incorporated into an office space in a more masculine setting as well. To create a sophisticated home office, paint the walls a cool grey and use deep eggplant purple leather on a chair. Keep the accessories in the room monochromatic for understated elegance. For example, use blue and deep purple for artwork. Black-and-white photography as art also enhances the effect of the color purple in a way that can be seen as either masculine or feminine. Install a rug with an abstract pattern with dark purple tones, or carpet that is purple with an undertone of grey.

Inspiration From Nature

• For a cheerful office space, use yellow, which is the complementary color to violet on the color wheel, as an accent color to purple. This color combination is easily observed on an iris flower -- a natural pairing that is bright and youthful. Paint the walls light purple and install modern artwork depicting broad strokes of yellows for a vibrant workspace. Furniture in light wood tones further enhances the bright and energetic feel.

Purple as the Main Attraction

• Paint the walls or one accent wall grey-purple. Use a bookcase without a back panel so that the purple wall is exposed behind it. Alternatively, paint the inside panel of the bookcase purple for this "wow-factor" effect. Add touches of various shades of purple for desk accessories such as a small vase, a basket for papers and pencil holders. Use a desk chair in purple leather or fabric in a similar shade as the walls for a unified but dramatic effect.

Ultramodern Purple

• With purple walls as a backdrop, install a high-gloss white desk or glass desk and pair it with a purple leather chair. Add chrome details for light fixtures and knobs on cabinetry. Install carpet in a mid-tone warm grey. Use purple accessories for the desk, and, for a touch of opulence, hang one large piece of modern art in an unusual frame such as ornate carved gold or silver for a space that will spark conversation. Add a side chair in bright blue for a pop of contemporary color.

Purple as Inspiration But Not Distraction

• In an office setting, you certainly want to get your work done. Purple is a bold and vibrant color that can become distracting or clownish if paired with too many colors competing for attention. A color such as purple in an office works best as the starring role, keeping the other tones as secondary.