Megan Rapinoe's home rethinks how we view forgotten spaces using this unexpected color

Landings, staircases, and entryways: all of which are transitional spaces designed with functionality in mind, but Megan Rapinoe's home is an exception to this rule.

The former soccer player, who resides with her wife, former basketball player Sue Bird, entrusted designer Mark Grattan to decorate their SoHo home, and this includes the spaces we may otherwise forget. 

The designer opted to color-drench both the landing and staircase in a soothing purple hue that makes an instant statement. The tone turns these spaces from merely transitional to some of the most exciting areas in the home, and while it is a bold choice, color experts say decorating with purple is a risk that will pay off.

'Lilac is traditionally a romantic and feminine hue, but is increasingly popular for many rooms in the home thanks to its subtlety and adaptability,' comments the CEO of Mylands, Dominic Myland. He explains that he's observed an increased number of customers choosing bold yet therapeutic hues like lilac, as its 'versatile nature means it pairs well with a myriad of colors' – should we wish to pair with neutrals, unlike Megan and Sue. 

However, if we do want to make a similar statement, Becca Stern, the creative director of Mustard Made encourages colo-drenching our entire room in this one single hue. 

'Forget about mere accent walls. Pick a color and put it everywhere. Color drenching is all about immersing an entire room in a single, bold hue,' she says.

'Picture a space transformed into a monochromatic wonderland where your chosen color takes the spotlight. Plus, this design trend isn't confined to just walls and ceilings, it extends to every element of your space, including furniture and styling features, all drenched in the same color.'

Becca Stern

Becca Stern is the co-founder and creative director at Mustard, a designer storage company known for its colorful lockers, available in the USA. 

As mentioned, lilac and similar purple hues have already enjoyed some time among color trends this 2023, but will their popularity waver? Octavio Estrada, the senior architectural designer from Block Renovation suggests not. According to Octavio, 2024 will see an ever-greater shift from cool colors to warm ones, including, most prominently, shades of purple. 

'Plum or aubergine tones which are versatile enough to be prominently featured in your home any time of the year,' he adds. So, whether we upgrade our transitional areas or more sociable areas, we can rest assured that this hue is a safe investment.

Alongside paint, we're picking up these lavender-hued picks that translate to every space.