“Red isn\’t for the faint of heart,” says Jeannie Matteucci, HGTV. “Red can feel contemporary, traditional, rustic or timeless, depending on the shade and context. A touch of red can warm up a cool blue-and-white room, or add drama when used as the main color in a small space like a powder room.”
When used properly, the color red should “flow in your house, not be a patchwork of opposite looks,” says Candice Olson, HGTV. However, “to use color boldly can be a challenge.” It is easy to lose perspective and overdo it with red or any color for that matter. So, the question on everyone’s mind is…
“How do you decorate with red without going overboard?” asks Caren Baginski, HGTV.
Rock the Red in Your Own Interior Design
“Red isn’t for the faint of heart,” says Jeannie Matteucci, HGTV. “Red can feel contemporary, traditional, rustic or timeless, depending on the shade and context. A touch of red can warm up a cool blue-and-white room, or add drama when used as the main color in a small space like a powder room.”
Here are a few tips, tricks, and ideas to help you better utilize red throughout your interior.
Lights, Camera, Accent!
“Exercise restraint,” says Deb Schwartz, Real Simple. More often than not, red works best as an accent color. “Sprinkle reds here and there (not everywhere) for hits of color, rather than wallops.”
- Furniture: A few strategically chosen and well-positioned pieces of red furniture can really make an interior pop! “For the more daring, brighter reds may be a bold move that will give your room a real personality,” says Elena. “A set of chairs and a table works very well with neutral tones for the rest of the room.” Because the color is so visually arresting, “even one red piece can transform a bland room,” adds designer Carendi MacMurray.
- Flooring: “Red rugs are sure to leave a dramatic impression; they richen the room’s atmosphere and they’re a great basis for decorating,” says Elena.
- Wall Decor: “In an otherwise neutral palette, even a restricted amount of red can liven a space,” says Schwartz. Consider a few strategically placed wall accessories, like tapestries or mirrors.
- Odds and Ends: “Red doesn’t work for everybody,” says Elena, “so giving the right reds a place in your home is key to creating the right look. It’s a delicate thing to work with, but with the right combination, you can pull it off fashionably.” Try to think through your interior and where you can afford to be a little bold. A red lamp can really accentuate an end table. A red vase can draw the eye to a shelf. Where could your interior use some extra life?
Red, Red Walls, Stay Close to Me
The first thing to consider is coloring the walls – not as easy as it seems,” says Andrea Elena, Impressive Interior Design.
Red is a very versatile color and can be used several ways. One thing red isn’t is boring, says Denna McLaughlin, City Studios. “Red can go everywhere from cheery and happy to angry and aggressive,” adds Don Raney, Civility Design. “That’s what you’ve got to keep in mind when using red in a room. When is too much too much and when is it not enough.”
- Calm and Relaxing: “Red with a touch of brown or purple will feel warmer than pure red with hints of pink,” says Matteucci, while “purple-red shades can make a space feel more intimate and quiet.”
- Bold and Invigorating: Orange-tinged reds, for example, “will make you feel energized,” says Matteucci. These types of bold red are ideal for accent walls “that are moderately striking, just about enough to spice up the look of a room,” says Elena.
“Red is a color that needs to be well-thought-out, as well as the shade itself,” says Richardson.
Rock the Red with Custom Painted Shutters
“Window frames in an apple red really enhance the dramatic appeal of a room together with linen white walls,” says Elena. This look is easily accentuated for those feeling bold about with custom painted shutters from Next Day Blinds.
“We make all of our shutters the old fashioned way,” says Steve Freishtat, Next Day Blinds CEO and Founder, “assembled by hand. There’s almost an infinite number of possibilities for sizes, shapes, and colors.”
Our paint is a furniture-grade and lacquer-based paint. And we paint our shutter panels after they’ve been assembled, which allows for paint to cover and fill all seams that are created by the connecting and joining of the wood components.