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Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room

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Purple is such an underrated, gorgeous, accent color when adding vibrant pieces to your home, and is often over looked. I think you’ll see just a little bit can add chic elegance to a space like no other color can. I hope you are intrigued by our “Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room” tour which includes a live video tour of one side of the living room (below). Coming soon is the opposite side where I’m currently designing my purple glass collection display from the thrift store on floating shelves-a must see! SUBSCRIBE HERE if you don’t want to miss all this purple magic.

Why Did I Decide to Use Purple in our Living Room?

I was spoiled rotten as a little girl by maternal grandmother, “Nano”. From secret $1 dollar bills handed to me under the table, to loads of candy, to even yummy peanut butter & jelly sandwiches while playing tic tac toe…she really made me feel loved. Her love came in a way where she didn’t even need to say a word, it was simply comforting just being by her side while she would cook, clean, or crochet. In 1974 or so, she gifted me a purple tricycle and to this day I can’t eat a purple sucker, or purple popsicle, or even a peanut butter & jelly sandwich without thinking of my Nano.

Before Photos of Apartment Living Room

When we moved into our “temporary apartment” last September I decided to use shades of purple as an accent color because it’s just simply one of my most favorite colors due to all of the positive memories of “Nano”. When it comes to color in your home, use what makes you feel happy, and forget what colors are trending. I’m currently using purple, and shades of pink, and reds and I am really enjoying the rather feminine warmth they provide. Okay, so here’s the apartment living room the day before we moved in. Our “charcoal” colored sectional would be arriving soon, and I knew it would fit right in.

Beautiful Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room with just the right amount of purple.
Beautiful Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room with just the right amount of purple.

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Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room Debut

Because the floors, walls, and even our sofa are shades of gray, I just knew purple pillows would really add some personality to the rather cold, charm-less, color-less space. I decide to use 2 different shades of purple pillows that really have a lot of pink in them. You may be able to see the pinkish tones in the second pillows the most on the sofa. I also tucked in very light gray pillows in the back, and added dramatic black sheer curtains, and black throw blankets- one for each of us (all sources found below).

My husband has a really sensitive back, so he stretches out on the left side where there’s the chaise lounge with a big heating pad (he’s there as I edit this). I nestle in on the other end with my little black granny stool, and also a heating pad. Don’t even try to find the heating pads in the photos because I hid them 😆.

Beautiful Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room with just the right amount of purple.
ALL OF MY PRODUCT SOURCES FOUND BELOW
Beautiful Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room with just the right amount of purple.
ALL OF MY PRODUCT SOURCES FOUND BELOW

I still receive many inquiries about the “Wedding Dress Canvas” above our sofa. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued, so I can’t tell you where to get it, but I can show you more photos of it at our old house HERE. If my lamps look interesting, you’re correct! They still make me happy, and I love the sheer black drum shades and glam factor it all adds to the room. Oddly enough, I found the sexy pair of chandelier lamps many years ago at Walmart in their clearance section 😊.

Beautiful Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room with just the right amount of purple.

So, how do you like the purples/pinks up against the charcoal? Did you happen to notice the over sized purple brandy glass yet? I found that on Etsy. I enjoy searching for unique colored glass items at thrift stores & on line, and I scored big time when I found that baby. I can’t wait to put purple Tulips, or lilacs in it if I can find some🕺.

Beautiful Chic Charcoal & Purple Living Room with just the right amount of purple.

Live Video of Our Chic Apartment Living Room & My Source List

PURPLE PILLOW COVERS (16×16)

(The lighter pinkish purple pillows in the middle were purchased long ago at Pier One.)

LARGER GRAY PILLOW COVERS (18×18)

PILLOW INSERTS (all sizes)

BLACK THROW BLANKET

BLACK VELVET BUTTON TUFTED FOOT STOOL

OVER SIZED PURPLE BRANDY GLASS: ETSY

BLACK SHEER CURTAINS

CRACKLE GLASS CURTAIN ROD

Before I go hang out with my husband Rick, I want you to know that I will be sharing the TV wall very soon once we finish installing and decorating our new “floating shelves” that I’m using to display my thrift store purple glass collection. I will pull it all together for the full apartment tour coming up, too. I’m also working on a closet office, so there is still plenty to see in our little apartment.

UPDATE: I Found the Perfect Purple Tulips

Here’s where I found my faux Tulips (they come in many colors!): ORDER TULIPS HERE

Thrift Store Basket Wall Corner

Thrift Store Corner Wall

Our Zen Lounge

Coffee Zen Lounge Decorating Ideas

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17 Responses

  1. becky says:

    The vibe is tremendously sexy romantic, kinda guyish romantic, until u notice THAT wedding dress ~
    ..I have always loved that picture! ~ Throw a few bottles of champagne in that large purple ‘snifter’, and pass it around!

    • Julie says:

      Thank you, Becky! I love the masculine side you pointed out. Rick is so secure all the fem decor doesn’t even phase him. I love your champagne idea!!

  2. Debbi says:

    Where did you get the corner shelves I. Your laundry room?

    • Julie says:

      There is a link in the post here, let me know if you can’t find it 👉🏻https://redheadcandecorate.com/2023/01/life-changing-space-saving-tips-for-modern-apartment-living/

  3. C.J. ALLEN says:

    LOVE IT ALL, as usual! One opinion, however: I hope the pillow-chop trend ends soon–I refuse to do it EVER!!! LOL! Thanks for sharing your chic apartment with us. I have lived in an apartment/condo my entire adult life, and always enjoy seeing new ways to decorate a minimal square foot space.

    • Julie says:

      Ahhhh ha ha!!!! I am addicted to chopping my pillows and now my husband does it 😂😂😂! He’s pretty good at it I must say!! Give it a try lol

  4. Julie. I love it! You are giving me so much inspiration for my apartment! You are so talented!

  5. Chris says:

    Love it! You are so talented!
    Where did you get the shag rug? How do you clean it?

    • Julie says:

      I found this on overstock.com and wish I could find another one for our dining area but haven’t been able to. It’s very tight so it vacuums nicely with just a regular vacuum! If you want the info on the back of it just e mail me at redheadcandecorat@live.com

  6. Kim says:

    I love purple. In our first cottage I used a lot of it, the house just called for it and it always made me smile. I know that’s how you must feel everytime you catch a glimpse our your gorgeous purple vibes.

  7. Diane Cross says:

    Beautiful transformation. Love the purple — it’s all so pretty!!! Yes, use the colors you love!
    Thanks for sharing.

  8. Diane says:

    Just love what you did to a basic condo — no longer boring — but WOW!
    I would love to order tulips but it wouldn’t let me, Help!
    Thanks, and keep up the inspiring designing

  9. MariP says:

    Love your ideas, such talent. Where did you get the acrylic coffee table?

    • Julie says:

      I found that on Overstock about 4 years ago. I love it, just wish it was a tad smaller. You can search “square acrylic & glass table”. It’s actually glass top and acrylic frame & legs.

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