How to decorate your home with red
February 3, 2020
If you’re passionate about red, but aren’t sure how to best use it in your home, read on for our top tips for introducing the colour into an interior scheme.
Image: Modern Emulsion in Rangwali, Farrow & Ball
When it comes to powerhouse colours that pack a punch, you can’t beat red. One way or another, it’s going to add atmosphere to your home’s design, but how and where you use it is the all-important factor.
Get it right and you’ll have an invigorating, romantic or timeless scheme, but get it wrong and you could very well end up with a major headache.
Pick the right room
Image: Benjamin Moore
When it comes to colour psychology, red comes with a lot of baggage. It’s a colour charged with energy, meaning that it can both help put some zip in your step, but can also leave you feeling a bit frazzled and frantic. And while it may be the colour of passion and love, it’s also the colour of danger and anger – you might be able to see why it needs to be used with care!
Think about how you use the space before committing to an overly red colour scheme. It might not be the right choice for a bedroom or bathroom you want to make into a space that’s calm and relaxing, while it can be super cosy and inviting for a formal dining room, or add a fun element to a cloakroom for example.
Opt for less saturated reds
Image: DFS
Primary red isn’t your only option when considering the colour for your interiors, and this season, we’re seeing a big trend towards rust tones. This Blenheim sofa from DFS is still bold, but is dialled back in comparison to a classic red. Pairing it with other tonal reds helps to ground the colour even more in this scheme.
Add calming elements
Image: Mandarin Stone
A message from the editor:
Let us help you create the home of your dreams! Get ideas & inspiration from Good Homes every month, delivered direct to your door. Visit goodhomesmagazine.com/newsletter to sign up for the weekly Good Homes newsletter. Meet the Good Homes team at Ideal Home Show and be inspired by our on-trend roomsets.
~ Karen Walker, Editor, Good Homes
Earthy elements, such as wood and stone, help to ground red and give it a more natural-leaning feel.
Create a period-inspired feel
Image: Harvey Maria
Red works great for period-inspired properties, calling back to classic hues used throughout history. Whether you opt for darker, traditional wall colours, or even this statement Victorian-style luxury vinyl tile pattern floor, red finds itself at home in a period house.
Go for the luxe look
Image: Carpetright
Red is a great way to bring a sense of luxury and grandeur to a space. Red walls feel decadent, while red velvet is the ultimate in opulent style when it comes to room décor.
Use as an accent
Image: deVOL
Unless you’re looking to create something super bold and design-forward, red is probably best kept as a highlight within your room scheme. It’s a beautiful colour and, used in the right amount, it can really add the wow-factor to your space. Try one large piece of furniture, such as this Potager’s Cupboard from deVOL, and then tie in with small accessories throughout the scheme.
Have you decorated your home with red? Let us know on social! Tweet us @goodhomesmag or post a comment on our Facebook page, or post a picture of your redinteriors on Instagram using the hashtag #ThisGoodHome for your chance to be featured on our feed.
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A message from the editor:
Let us help you create the home of your dreams! Get ideas & inspiration from Good Homes every month, delivered direct to your door. Visit goodhomesmagazine.com/newsletter to sign up for the weekly Good Homes newsletter. Meet the Good Homes team at Ideal Home Show and be inspired by our on-trend roomsets.
~ Karen Walker, Editor, Good Homes