Decorating
Colour: Red Alert – 10 Ways to Use This Powerful Primary at Home
From bold flashes to radiant walls, use deep, powerful shades of scarlet, ruby and pillar-box red for a strong, spirited interior
Neutral shades and barely there hues are all well and good but, sometimes, don’t you wish your home had a little more punch and pizzazz? Time to call in the primary colours! We sometimes shy away from these bold shades, because they are notoriously difficult to get right (unless you are decorating a playroom, of course), and none more so than red. This overtly masculine colour has all the associations of danger and power but, used wisely, and maybe sparingly, red can inject masses of love, passion and warmth, too. These gorgeous rooms offer red hot inspiration…
Take it outdoors
Red is such a cheerful colour that it would be a shame to reserve it for the inside of the house. Garden furniture in bold, bright colours will definitely help to instil a huge dose of warmth into your outside space, whatever the weather.
Red is such a cheerful colour that it would be a shame to reserve it for the inside of the house. Garden furniture in bold, bright colours will definitely help to instil a huge dose of warmth into your outside space, whatever the weather.
Frame it
Rejuvenate an old mirror or picture frame with a lick of bright red paint. It’s a simple way of adding a vivid accent and the artwork inside will really pop.
Rejuvenate an old mirror or picture frame with a lick of bright red paint. It’s a simple way of adding a vivid accent and the artwork inside will really pop.
Transform a wall
The crisp, uncluttered feel of this mid century modern furniture is brought to life with a gutsy burst of red on the walls. It’s a colour that might not be strictly in keeping with the 1950s era, but rules and regulations are definitely there to be broken when something looks this good.
Discover 10 fantastic feature walls
The crisp, uncluttered feel of this mid century modern furniture is brought to life with a gutsy burst of red on the walls. It’s a colour that might not be strictly in keeping with the 1950s era, but rules and regulations are definitely there to be broken when something looks this good.
Discover 10 fantastic feature walls
Pump up the colour
This all red cloakroom might be too much for some, but there is no denying how warm and cosy this saturated shade can be in a small space. Red is never an obvious choice, but when used properly, it can look truly fabulous.
Explore 10 ways to give your cloakroom character
This all red cloakroom might be too much for some, but there is no denying how warm and cosy this saturated shade can be in a small space. Red is never an obvious choice, but when used properly, it can look truly fabulous.
Explore 10 ways to give your cloakroom character
Use as an accent
If you don’t fancy going all out on red as your main colour, try it instead as a power-packed accent. This living room combines pale turquoise and scarlet. It’s not an obvious colour combo, but looks very fresh and striking.
If you don’t fancy going all out on red as your main colour, try it instead as a power-packed accent. This living room combines pale turquoise and scarlet. It’s not an obvious colour combo, but looks very fresh and striking.
Team with grey
Grey and red have long been a great interior design partnership. This quirky, patterned stair runner is a refreshing change from the usual striped versions and the red is so eye-poppingly bright that it looks almost three dimensional.
Grey and red have long been a great interior design partnership. This quirky, patterned stair runner is a refreshing change from the usual striped versions and the red is so eye-poppingly bright that it looks almost three dimensional.
Make an impact
A luxurious, ruby red armchair in tactile velvet is the perfect finishing touch to this glamorous bathroom. The bare brick walls and neutral colours allow the strong red hue to stand out and it creates a warm focal point, gently balancing the burnished silver tones of the roll-top bath.
A luxurious, ruby red armchair in tactile velvet is the perfect finishing touch to this glamorous bathroom. The bare brick walls and neutral colours allow the strong red hue to stand out and it creates a warm focal point, gently balancing the burnished silver tones of the roll-top bath.
Add flash to your furniture
Paint a single piece of furniture in a glossy, poppy red lacquer and make sure the backdrop is muted and neutral for maximum impact. This upcycled console really stands out against the grey library wallpaper.
TELL US...
Do you like to use red in your home? Share your thoughts and tips in the Comments.
Paint a single piece of furniture in a glossy, poppy red lacquer and make sure the backdrop is muted and neutral for maximum impact. This upcycled console really stands out against the grey library wallpaper.
TELL US...
Do you like to use red in your home? Share your thoughts and tips in the Comments.
Red is the colour of passion and warmth, so if you adore cooking, why not bring some fiery tones into the kitchen? These simple, pillar-box colour cupboards complement the rustic wooden walls and ceiling beautifully.