Violet and purple – what sets them apart?

Sir Isaac Newton’s Theory of Light proved that the colour spectrum consists of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. That’s right: no purple. You might be surprised to learn that while violet is a true colour and is part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light, purple is non-spectral, and can be used to describe any shade of colour occurring between red and blue.

While it may not be a “colour” in the true sense of the word, purple can still be a wonderful way to describe all those elegant and luxurious hues that sit between violet and red, like lavender, mauve, mulberry, and orchid. Okay, so Sir Isaac Newton may not technically agree but we’re willing to bet he’s never slept in a room decorated in soft shades of soothing lavender...