February is the month for Valentines: Bunches of red roses, cards with delightful messages and gifts decorated with red ribbons.   Love is in the air!

So with a warm heart my thoughts turn to how we use red in interior design – it’s a daunting colour, one which makes a very bold statement but let’s not be afraid.   

Red can have positive and negative connotations so it must be applied appropriately.  Whilst exciting and strong on the one hand, it can appear aggressive and defiant.  It is a colour often utilized to inspire – a good colour to spark the imagination and encourage conversation.  And it is a colour full of passion.  If your blood pressure can stand it a red bedroom is overtly sexy and extravagant (perhaps even decadent).

Red is a valuable colour to consider if you have a property that is difficult or expensive to heat.  Most houses built in the 1960s and earlier were constructed without insulation and many still have single glazed windows.  Unless the property has been upgraded with retro-fit lagging and double glazing interiors will suffer cold spots. It has been scientifically proven that if you decorate a room in shades of red you will feel warmer in it than if you used a cool colour like blue.  As a result you will probably turn the thermostat down, which could save you money! 

Number 15 by Steve-h

Seen in the design of ‘For Sale’ signs, warning posters and of course, traffic lights, the colour red really gets noticed.  Use it to work for you in the home –draw attention to something beautiful:  A red cushion tempts you towards a comfortable armchair, a collection of red ornaments catches your eye, and you are charmed by a red front door.

When teamed with white in a decorative scheme red is crisp and bright, clean and modern.  When teamed with black or grey it is less intense and can create a more mysterious and subtle decorative scheme.  Alternatively red works well with blue and yellow forming a balanced scheme that relies on the three primary colours to provide a comfortable yet interesting design.  This combination often works well in children’s bedrooms.  Red’s complement is green and when these two colours go head to head you can achieve drama and excitement – try them in equal proportion combined with neutrals. 

Crimson, cherry or pillar box red?   Moving from the warmer orangey hues through to the cooler raspberries, you will need to carefully choose the right ones for your scheme. 

So, whether it is a message of love or an expression of your warm and dynamic personality, I encourage you to be confident and communicate with red!