THE RICHNESS OF PURPLE; THIS ONCE-EXCLUSIVE HUE OF ROYALTY IS MAKING A GRAND RE-ENTRANCE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Daily News Fashion Editor

Royal purple reigns again.

The current color craze started in Paris and has gone mainstream, seen in everything from clothes to cars to candles, says Brooke Stoddard, senior editor of House & Garden magazine.

And its cosmopolitan ambience is appealing to everybody from Gen X-ers to their parents, report furniture retailers such as Cecil Adams, vice president of Expressions Custom Furniture in North Carolina.

Unlike recently trendy home decorating colors - hunter green, peach and dusty rose - purple is steeped in history with plenty of pathos.

The color story begins in ancient Greece, where purple carpets were rolled out for the gods. And in the Roman Empire, purple togas signified elite status.

According to Sherry Payne, a Pasadena interior designer who also teaches color theory courses at several colleges, the color purple has always been associated with the upper classes, because the fabric was so costly to make.

``In medieval times, it took 20,000 shellfish to make one square meter of dyed cloth, therefore only the royal family leaders could afford to buy it. And even today, it only shows up during a strong economy,'' Payne says.

Furthermore, Payne says studies show that people behave more elegantly in a purple setting. And while you're sitting ever-so-straight in that purple chair, consider that purple also is believed to relax the body, lower blood pressure and decrease appetite.

Purple, the shortest wavelength of the color spectrum (red is the longest), was a favorite of England's Queen Victoria, and when husband Prince Albert died, it became a mourning color that continues to be a popular alternative to black, says Payne.

Patty Lindberg, interior design specialist at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, says purple is linked to spirituality, ritual and magic. According to Lindberg, ``Purple is a spiritually healing and purifying color, aiding sleep and the development of psychic abilities. It is innate ... even erotic.''

Since the color can make people relaxed and/or erotic, Lindberg says purple is perfect for bedrooms, especially when used in floral patterns with green and white.

On the other hand, Payne says it works well in a kitchen because people don't overeat when they're around purple. The French designer Christian Lacroix hasn't said if he had dieters in mind, but his newest collection of china patterns and table linens for Christofle features shades of violet, gray and gold in tribute to Napoleon III.

The season's purple reign signals a return to formality and luxurious fabrics, perhaps the latest installment in the cocooning decade.

``Deep purple velvet is what we're seeing in furnishings right now. It adds a touch of luxury, easily dressing up an inexpensively decorated room,'' says Lindberg.

But a little purple goes a long way, designers caution. For the most drama, try using deep eggplant in a single piece of furniture, such as a sofa or perhaps a trio of tasseled pillows. Too much purple and you'll put guests on visual overload, as well as make a room look small and heavy, advises Payne.

According to Payne, purple tones work well on dark wood furniture, especially when combined with greens, soft golds or yellows, and white.

So, you don't share the passion for purple and want to know what's next?

``Look to women's clothing. I've noticed it always follows fashion,'' says Irene Hidvegi, an interior designer at Glabman's Furniture in Woodland Hills.

Decor details

Before you spend big bucks on something that will look dated by Christmas, check our list of what's hot and not in home decorating:

Style - Shabby chic is still hot, with emphasis on the mixing of furniture styles as long as they have the same wood tone. Mission furniture continues to be popular; however those slipcover sofas are being replaced by more structured styles reminiscent of the '30s and '40s.

Color - Purple is the star in the color palette, but any jewel tone will give your home a feeling of opulence. Deep greens, golds and creams are complementary tones. And, yes, a little leopard print still works.

Walls - White walls and floral wallpaper take a back seat to faux finishes in muted tones.

Carpeting - In a return to elegance, wool wall-to-wall carpeting makes a comeback, looking fresh in beige with a hint of pink or taupe. Instead of velvet pile, opt for texture and high-low patterns.

Fabrics - Luxurious fabrics such as velvet, chenille, brocade and raw silk are hot; floral cotton chintz is not. In the kitchen, try gingham.

Windows - Ornate velvet draperies are cool again if you've got big windows, but other options are wooden or bamboo blinds, and textured colored glass (sort of like stained glass) that doesn't require a window covering. The sheer draperies that ``puddle'' on the floor are on their way out.

Accents - Angels are out. All the rage now are retro props such as nautical spy glasses and sextants, Federal (round) mirrors, candles, candelabras, purple glass vases, pillows with gold tassels and anything Picasso-inspired.

- Barbara De Witt

CAPTION(S):

7 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) On the cover: Pillow with gold crown, available at Bombay Co. stores.

(2--3--Color) Left: King-size purple duvet from Bombay Co., $299.

Above: Guests will behave themselves in a lilac room. Furnishings by Ethan Allen.

(4--5--Color) Above: Lilac pottery by Dansk, available at numerous department stores.

Below right: Purple candles on pewter holders, $19 and up at Bombay Co.

(6--Color) A new look at retro chairs from Expressions Custom Furniture.

(7--Color) Purple has a calming effect that's well-suited to studies and offices. Chair from Ethan Allen.

Box: Decor details (See Text)