Dear Designing Solutions:  One of the side walls in the family room in our new home is painted blue (it is neither light nor dark blue, something in the middle). We had purchased our sofa 2 years back which is purple/ violet in color. We do not wish to change the wall color. Please suggest some way in which we can make this combination of violet and blue look really good. I would also like to
know what color cushions would go well with a violet/ purple sofa. We do not
want to make it too multi-colored. Help!!!!  Mary

Dear Mary: To solve your blue and violet color dilemma, we have three words- accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!

Start with those cushions for the sofa.  With a little time shopping in local fabric stores, you’re bound to find several print fabrics that use blues and violets together, along with other colors that you like, in the fabric.  In fact, take a sample of the wall color and sofa fabric with you to make selecting just the right fabric a bit easier.  Many fabric stores offer on-site workroom capabilities, meaning they will make window valances, table skirts and toss pillows to your specifications with the store’s fabric. 

Next, look for lampshades, wall art, area rugs or crafts that combine blues and violets (even if the colors are not an exact match to your painted wall and sofa) and use them throughout the family room to repeat your color scheme.  Add in some strong yellow or pumpkin color as “glue”- meaning use this third color as the accent that goes with both blue and violet and holds it all together.  Use the “glue” color to break up the violet and blue in the family room (before it becomes too boring).  You can paint the other three walls of the family room in the yellow or pumpkin color or choose fabrics, carpet, lampshades, and wall art that use the yellow or pumpkin as a background (i.e. you can use pumpkin-colored lamps, golden-yellow carpeting or blue, violet and pumpkin-colored print fabric for lampshades and toss pillows.)  This should do the trick!

With Love,

Debbie

Interior Designer to the Slobs

Dear Designing Solutions:  One of the side walls in the family room in our new home is painted blue (it is neither light nor dark blue, something in the middle). We had purchased our sofa 2 years back which is purple/ violet in color. We do not wish to change the wall color. Please suggest some way in which we can make this combination of violet and blue look really good. I would also like to
know what color cushions would go well with a violet/ purple sofa. We do not
want to make it too multi-colored. Help!!!!  Mary

Dear Mary: To solve your blue and violet color dilemma, we have three words- accessorize, accessorize, accessorize!

Start with those cushions for the sofa.  With a little time shopping in local fabric stores, you’re bound to find several print fabrics that use blues and violets together, along with other colors that you like, in the fabric.  In fact, take a sample of the wall color and sofa fabric with you to make selecting just the right fabric a bit easier.  Many fabric stores offer on-site workroom capabilities, meaning they will make window valances, table skirts and toss pillows to your specifications with the store’s fabric. 

Next, look for lampshades, wall art, area rugs or crafts that combine blues and violets (even if the colors are not an exact match to your painted wall and sofa) and use them throughout the family room to repeat your color scheme.  Add in some strong yellow or pumpkin color as “glue”- meaning use this third color as the accent that goes with both blue and violet and holds it all together.  Use the “glue” color to break up the violet and blue in the family room (before it becomes too boring).  You can paint the other three walls of the family room in the yellow or pumpkin color or choose fabrics, carpet, lampshades, and wall art that use the yellow or pumpkin as a background (i.e. you can use pumpkin-colored lamps, golden-yellow carpeting or blue, violet and pumpkin-colored print fabric for lampshades and toss pillows.)  This should do the trick!

With Love,

Debbie

Interior Designer to the Slobs