Home checklist

Be it eggplant, lavender or violet, expect to see plenty of purple.

According to trend forecasters and designers, purple is the must-have color this fall. Why? This soothing shade works with any design aesthetic, from vintage-inspired to modern.

Plum-toned purples have a calming effect, a great choice for turning any room into a retreat. But purple may pack its best punch in small doses such as in accent pieces or pillows.

For example, Target now features purple in a wide range of decor items, including linens, shower curtains, vases and lamps.

Nationally known designer Rachel Reider likes purple because it goes so well with navy, the "new neutral."

Every purple shade she's tried – from soft lavender to vivid violet to warm aubergine – pairs beautifully with navy, Reider said.

San Carlos-based Kelly-Moore Paints picked a dusty purple – Speakeasy – as one of its focus colors for 2011-12. This shade is "romantic, genderless and with international appeal," according to its creators. "Speakeasy is a mysterious purple with gray undertones that evokes a feeling of refined luxury that can be used in commercial or residential interiors."

Such a purple pairs well with straw, khaki or sage, according to Kelly-Moore's color experts. Speakeasy is part of the company's Renewal Palette, designed to update and complement existing decor.

"Revitalizing a home isn't about 'out with the old, in with the new,' it's about working with what's already there, especially during this economic jolt," said Mary Lawlor, manager of color marketing for Kelly-Moore Paints. "Consumers are gravitating toward optimistic, feel-good colors that lift their spirits. The Renewal Palette colors represent escapism, nostalgia and fantasy – ideas crucial to well- being – and are designed to inspire homeowners to create their own personal sanctuary."

See Speakeasy for yourself at www.kellymoore.com or at local Kelly-Moore stores.

Garden checklist

• Plant daffodils now. To extend next spring's bloom, plant bulbs over the next three weeks.

• Mulch spring bulb beds as well as summer bulbs and tubers left in the ground.

• Snails and slugs are out in force. Hand-pick them at night.

• Snip off spent blooms from roses to encourage late fall bloom.

• Plant garlic and onions. Transplant cool-weather vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and kale.

• Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.

• For late fall and winter color, transplant cool-weather bedding plants including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.

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