A purple rug is easiest to combine with neutral tones, such as grey, cream and sand beige, and with natural materials like wood, rattan and linen. This gives the purple room to breathe without making the room feel heavy. It helps that purple in vintage rugs is rarely bright: it is usually lilac, mauve, eggplant or a soft violet. Those muted tones are much easier to combine than you might expect.
Which shade of purple do you choose?
- Lilac and lavender: light and calm. Works well in the bedroom and in a Scandinavian interior with lots of white and light wood.
- Mauve (purple with a pink or grey undertone): soft and warm. Beautiful in a boho interior and in combination with pink, terracotta and green plants.
- Eggplant and deep purple: rich and regal. Matches dark wood, velvet, brass and a classic or rural interior.
- Violet: the most pronounced shade. Choose this if you like a real eye-catcher, and keep the rest of the room calm.
Colors that go well with purple
- Grey: the safest combination. Light grey makes it calm, anthracite makes it edgy.
- Cream, off-white and sand beige: let the purple shine without competing.
- Green: olive and sage green look surprisingly beautiful next to purple. A few large plants are often enough.
- Gold and brass: a lamp, mirror or side table in brass immediately makes deep purple chicer.
- Pink: is close to mauve and lilac. Combine them for a soft, warm atmosphere. Also view our pink vintage rugs.
More color advice per interior style can be found in which color rug do you choose?
In which room does a purple rug work?
Bedroom
Lilac and mauve are ideal for a bedroom: calm, soft and yet with character. Place the rug transversely under the bed so that you step onto wool on both sides. With a double bed 160 cm wide, a rug of 200 × 300 cm works well; then it extends well on both sides. You can read more sizes and examples in our bedroom guide.
Living room
In the living room, you can go a bit deeper. An eggplant or violet rug under a grey or cognac-colored sofa immediately gives atmosphere. Ensure that at least the front legs of the sofa are on the rug; this way the seating area looks like a whole.
Hallway
A lilac or violet runner immediately makes a white hallway more personal. In our collection of runners for hallway and kitchen you will also regularly find purple and lilac shades.
Common mistakes
- Combining purple with many other dark colors. Deep purple next to dark walls and dark furniture quickly makes a room feel heavy and small. Ensure enough light counterweight.
- Everything in exactly the same shade. Pillows and throws in exactly the same purple as the rug look forced. It is better to choose a shade lighter or darker, or a related color such as pink.
- Cool white light. Under cool white light, purple becomes drab or bluish. Lamps with warm white light (around 2700 Kelvin) bring out the red undertone better.
- Relying on the photo. Purple is one of the most difficult colors for cameras and screens. Judge the rug in your own room, in daylight and in the evening. For that, you have a 14-day reflection period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a purple rug fit with a wooden floor?
Yes. A warm oak or walnut floor forms a beautiful contrast with the cool side of purple. With a very dark floor, it is better to choose a lighter shade, such as lilac or mauve.
Which wall color goes with a purple rug?
Off-white, soft grey, sand beige and sage green. Dark walls are also possible, but preferably with a light, soft purple rug.
Isn't purple too pronounced for a small house?
Not if you choose a muted shade. A lilac or mauve rug adds color without making the space look smaller.
