Color Guide: How to Work With Red
Sizzling or sedate, red is not for the timid. Here's how to use its boldness to make your rooms come alive
Samantha Schoech
August 13, 2012
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design. I just completed my first remodel, turning my crumbling 1941 kitchen into a beauty of grays, whites and natural wood. If I could, I'd sleep on the countertop. That's how much I love it.
You can also read my parenting blog on Baby Center http://blogs.babycenter.com/author/sschoech/
Houzz Contributor. I am a former magazine editor specializing in travel and design.... More
It's the color of fire, love, passion and blood. In China it is associated with happiness. In Japan it is linked to heroism. In Western cultures it also hints at sex, deviance and shame.
Whatever its associations, red is a powerful and beautiful color. True red is a primary color, but the spectrum of reds is vast, from pale pink (white with a little red in it) to scarlet, crimson and vermillion. In decorating, bright, vibrant reds are usually reserved for accents, while darker, browner reds end up on walls, floors and doors.
Its complementary partner is cyan, or turquoise blue, but it looks good with greens and all sorts of neutrals too, especially warm grays and whites. Red does well with a high gloss (think Chinese lacquer) and dramatic lighting.
Red works in all sorts of decorating styles, from sleek modern to country cute, but it's a dramatic color and to use it in a space is to make a statement. A red room is a fearless room.
Whatever its associations, red is a powerful and beautiful color. True red is a primary color, but the spectrum of reds is vast, from pale pink (white with a little red in it) to scarlet, crimson and vermillion. In decorating, bright, vibrant reds are usually reserved for accents, while darker, browner reds end up on walls, floors and doors.
Its complementary partner is cyan, or turquoise blue, but it looks good with greens and all sorts of neutrals too, especially warm grays and whites. Red does well with a high gloss (think Chinese lacquer) and dramatic lighting.
Red works in all sorts of decorating styles, from sleek modern to country cute, but it's a dramatic color and to use it in a space is to make a statement. A red room is a fearless room.
Red in the Kitchen
Red adds warmth and coziness. This eclectic kitchen uses red to bring together a retro stove and backsplash, an island with a country vibe and a rich Oriental rug.
Red adds warmth and coziness. This eclectic kitchen uses red to bring together a retro stove and backsplash, an island with a country vibe and a rich Oriental rug.
Red cabinetry, especially if it's stained rather than painted, can give a kitchen a warm, traditional country feel. It goes well with the the warm tones of the natural wood too.
Red on the Walls
The accent wall is the probably the most common way to incorporate red into a room. It's bold but not too much. With this room's clean lines and bright whites, red looks very modern but still warm.
The accent wall is the probably the most common way to incorporate red into a room. It's bold but not too much. With this room's clean lines and bright whites, red looks very modern but still warm.
If you want to go crazy with red, try it in a small space. A tiny red powder room is vibrant and fun without feeling overwhelming.
Chinese-patterned red wallpaper gives this space such depth and richness. Try to imagine the same wall in a sage green or beige — feels pretty blah after this, right?
Here's another red accent wall. Red really benefits from good lighting, and this wall seems to glow, adding warmth and intimacy to the room.
Here's an accent wall in high gloss. It glows among the warm neutrals and almost looks like a piece of art.
Here, glossy red is achieved with tile. It gives an otherwise stark white bathroom so much depth.
OK, so it's not a wall, but this red floor is still a dramatic choice that adds a lot of warmth and intimacy to a large room with a high ceiling.
Decorating With Red
When you choose a print with lots of red, you get the benefit of being able to add red accents. Red is dominant here but not at all overwhelming. And see how well it goes with green?
When you choose a print with lots of red, you get the benefit of being able to add red accents. Red is dominant here but not at all overwhelming. And see how well it goes with green?
A red sofa brings some pop and passion into a very buttoned-up, traditional living room.
I am in love with this small bathroom, which becomes an absolute jewel with the red wallpaper and matching claw-foot tub.
A traditional living room with red accents.
A modern living room with red accents.
Red Outside
Red appears in nature all the time, but you don't see it very often in design and decorating for the outdoors (except on doors). If you use it, it will pop like nothing else.
Red appears in nature all the time, but you don't see it very often in design and decorating for the outdoors (except on doors). If you use it, it will pop like nothing else.
Any door can benefit from red. Seriously, any door. Modern doors.
Craftsman doors.
Urban doors.
Cottage doors.
Barn doors.
Colonial doors.
Midcentury doors. I'm telling you, they all work beautifully.
Red Paint and Wallpaper
This is an excellent red for walls: bluish and deep and sedate.
This is an excellent red for walls: bluish and deep and sedate.
Another cool red that would work well in a traditional room.
A vibrant pinkish red.
A superwarm red with lots of orange. Sizzle.
Another orangey red. Oh, this would look so good in a high gloss.
Wallpaper for a little girl's room? Just one wall.
A damask-pattern stencil can be made to look quite modern with the right roommates.
Amazing, vermillion zebra wallpaper from the staircase we saw earlier.
Do you decorate with red? Show us how below!
Do you decorate with red? Show us how below!
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The perfect green is the one I had in my New Zealand house, but can't find it in the New Zealand paints.
Am thinking of going over the top w/glossy cobalt paint . . . or, even considering replacing the red leather sofa, chair and ottoman (I, ahem, slide off the leather, and then can't get up! - Not a pretty sight!).
Jury's still out.