What Color is Magenta? How This Berry Hue "Adds Depth, Energy, and Most Importantly, Drama" to Your Home

Home office with magenta carpets and walls, patterned armchairs, a curved timber desk, and console table with artwork hanging above.

I've never been afraid of experimenting with color when it comes to interior design, but maybe my degree in fine art softened me to stark saturations. I will admit, though, that certain colors are more intimidating to incorporate than others. And at the top of that list is one bright and bold berry shade: magenta.

One of the reasons it is so hard to work with is that it's not completely obvious what color magenta is. Known for its vibrancy and proximity to hot pink, the shade encompasses a more complex variety of undertones. "It’s a vibrant reddish-purple that can range from playful and daring to deeper, more sophisticated tones that frame a space beautifully and add a strong personality," says Maye Ruiz, founding partner and creative director of MAYE — an interior design and architectural studio based across Mexico and the United States.