Bette Midler's Jewel-Toned New York Living Room Made The Case for a Controversial Sofa Color in 1975 – Now, It's 2026's New Neutral
Who's afraid of purple? The actress's 70s living room showed exactly how to make the bold color look chic and elegant, never clownish
There is no color more feared in interior design than purple. People worry that it will feel overly formal, garish, or too dark. However, the shade's perception is rapidly changing with aubergine - a ligher, redder cousin in the purple family - emerging as a major interior design trend for 2026.
For evidence of the shade's beauty, Homes & Gardens turns to a pioneer of decorating with aubergine: Bette Midler. Archival photos of the actress's New York apartment from 1975 show that her living room was anchored by a gorgeous eggplant-colored sofa. Whether you decide to replace your living room sofa with a purple couch or just update your existing design with a simple aubergine cushion from Amazon, Bette's color choice is one to watch.
Accented by a towering plant and adorned with pink and green cushions, her space makes the controversial shade feel ultra-chic. Deep blue walls and an abundance of natural light let the sofa stand out as a key accent piece.
To explore decorating with aubergine past and present, we will start with a sneak peek into Bette Midler's home. Then, we've curated an edit of picks to help you recreate her look in any home at a range of price points. Finally, Homes & Gardens spoke with design experts to get to the bottom of why aubergine is trending, and how to style it. Let's dive in.
Bette Midler in her New York living room, 1975
Recreate Bette's Look at Home
From aubergine accents to decorative pieces that make a sofa feel elevated, these are the best pieces for emulating Bette's living room.
This statement sofa is designed for ultimate comfort, offering plush, wide seating that invites complete relaxation. With a continuous arm and back, every angle is thoughtfully considered, featuring a wooden frame that cradles the sofa beautifully.
This classic Monstera has large leaves that instantly add life to a brightly lit room at home. It is easy to care for and classic, with greenery that will thrive alongside your sofa (whatever the color) for years to come.
Bette Midler layers her aubergine sofa with a gorgeous pink gingham pillow, and this ruffled mauve number from Anthropologie is perfect for getting her look
Bette elevates her purple sofa with a silver bowl on a pedestal behind it. The edges have a stunningly designed pattern, making a stand-out piece that is sure to add elegance to your shelves.
A stylish olive green throw pillow is the perfect contrast on an aubergine sofa for creating a stylish jewel-toned scheme. The lumbar shape provides extra spinal support for those who work from home, while the cotton velvet material is built for ultimate softness.
If you're not ready to replace your neutral sofa, this aubergine throw is perfect for draping over it to try out the jewel-tone in your space. The sumptuous chenille fabric and durable weave make for a true standout piece.
So, how did we get from a fear of purple to it becoming one of the biggest interior design trends of 2026?
Interior design expert at Furniture Village, Shelley Cochrane, opines: 'Purple can be quite a divisive color in interiors.' She continues.' Lots of people associate it with the 1980s, so it can feel a bit dated, and for others, it has royal connotations, so it seems fusty or overly formal. More recently, however, aubergine, a deep and sophisticated iteration of purple, has emerged as a key interiors colour trend. It’s much more approachable than royal purple, and it’s surprisingly versatile too.'
The versatility comes through in Bette Midler's living room, where the sofa color feels like an extension of the room, rather than a bold accent. Interior Design Expert at Barker and Stonehouse, Magdalena Gierasinksa even describes it as a key ‘new neutral’ this season.
She explains: 'It’s a wonderfully cocooning color that instantly adds a sense of intimacy to a space. Its rich, velvety depth creates an enveloping atmosphere, making it particularly effective in dining rooms where you want to encourage long conversations and a relaxed, after-dark ambience.'
On the other hand, aubergine can also be used in a bold manner. Shelley states: 'When used for accent pieces, aubergine acts as a focal point, drawing the eye to a particular object or part of the room. The colour also shifts beautifully throughout the day, appearing almost plum in daylight before taking on a richer, moodier tone in the evening.'
Because of its versatility, there are hundreds of ways to style the pattern. Like Bette, you could opt to cocoon it with other enveloping jewel tones to achieve a stylishly warm room. Alternatively, you can go more modern.
Shelley recommends: 'To style aubergine at home, I’d recommend pairing it with contemporary patterns for a timeless and confident look.'
For a luxe feel, Madgalena advises: When paired with warm metallics and natural textures, it feels ultra sophisticated.'
Bette Midler's living room proves that when styled correctly, no shade is too bold to look chic. From the '70s until now, aubergine has always been an underrated hero, and we're excited to see how its trajectory develops.
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