The Colour Edit – Red

With tomorrow being Valentines day and all, I thought it only apt to do a post, not on love itself, but the colour red that represents our celebration of love.

Not for the faint hearted, red is definitely an IN YOUR FACE kind of colour. It’s not surprising then, that most of us are perhaps a little scared, or unsure of how to implement it within our homes.

Our concept of red is hugely variable. It’s emotionally charged colour that is representative of  quite often contradictory connotations, such as love and anger, celebration and danger.  Some thought needs to go into this often fiery colour, if you’re going to use it at all.

HISTORY

In history, red is without a doubt the oldest colour, from cave paintings, to tombs. It has been perceived as a symbol of power, wealth and of great importance. The evidence of The Romans coveted red to the extent that the words coloured (colaratus), and red (rubber) were synonyms. It has been the colour of choice for Kings, Cardinals and Emperors. Even 74% of the world’s flags have some red in them.

On the flip side, the middle ages saw red being associated with the devil, lust and ire. Warning signs are red and poppies are representative of the blood spilt from wars. Red is undeniably an emotionally charged colour, and not forgetting its cultural representations, it will not be, as they say ‘everyone’s cup of tea’.

THE COLOUR EDIT – RED

Colour has such an impact on how we feel, and view our surroundings, that red because it is a highly emotionally charged colour, can be tricky to implement and get right in our homes . Want to know how to introduce this colour in your homes? I’ve put together some examples where red breathes life, warmth, excitement, and boldness into spaces.

ACCENT

Adding impact to a space by utilising brighter reds, which attract our attention. They speak louder than less saturated reds, that tend to feel, and look heavier in their appearance.

 

Spaces that are predominately white enjoy injections of brighter in your face reds. If you think along the lines of how you can instantly transform your appearance with wearing something red, you know you’re going to stand out!! It’s the same principle with your homes.

 

The combination of vintage industrial, rustic with accents of red work incredibly well together, especially with some iconic black Tolix chairs thrown in for good measure. Black here, adds some grounding, and prevents the space from looking too twee.

 

 

You can use red to highlight the transition between the interconnecting spaces. The boldness of the red draws your eye and welcomes you at the same time. Warm colours, such as red, are advancing colours so visually they appear closer than their counterpart cool colours, which recede.

 

ADD WARMTH

The Traditionalist

From the Renaissance times, red was a representation of wealth, and status. Richer, deeper reds instill a sense of  tradition when combined with traditional tartan fabrics,  and layered with luxurious textiles such as the zebra rug and footstool, creates a formal cosy study area.

The Modernist

Adding some sophisticated deep reds to modern spaces provides a visually softer warmer feel to them. In fact the red here stops the apartment from being too masculine.

Relaxed

Opting for darker, richer shades of red are friendlier and less assertive.

You don’t, of course, have to paint the town red to be able to enjoy it in your homes, especially if they have good bones. If they’re good enough to show off, then expose them. The organic earthy redness of the bricks add a warm vibe to the living space above.  A comfortable, relaxing feel is created especially when combined with other natural materials such as untreated wood, and plants.

 

BE BOLD

Painting your walls in solid red is most definitely not for the faint hearted, but in connecting spaces such as hallways and stairs, it’s vibrancy may not be too overbearing, as if you painted say a living space.

 

If you’re a lover of colour then combining cool colours such was blues and greens, with warm colours such as Reds, oranges and yellows shows off your fun personality. The dominant blue and red are a bold combination, full of energy and playfulness. The mixture of texture and pattern help add interest, breaking up the blue and reds, and making it feel comfortable and cosy.

 

 

GO COSY WITH TEXTILES

Red when paired with white in textiles has a homey quality to it and domesticates its fiery intensity to a more welcoming feel.

 

DEFINE AREAS

This fabulous red and white zigzag rug defines the seating area, and adds a sense of fun, style and function to this living space.

 

Whilst the red rug defines one area in this open plan space, the small dividing wall painted the same shade of red, creates a visual divide between the living and dining areas.

 

DINING

This Noodlebox restaurant utilises red in a number of ways to create visual interest. A cleverly designed space that has red at the heart of it, makes an inviting space to eat. From the solid cherry red metal Tolix chairs, to the tiny squares of red mosaic tiles,  contrasting beautifully against the red and white wall mural. Even the pendant lighting doesn’t go amiss when introducing some pops of red.

 

If you’re going to contemplate red in any area of your home, then consider it for your dining areas. It’s a  high energy colour proven to stimulate, get our blood pressure and heart rate raised. The effect of red increases our appetite, and makes us more sociable.

 

On a final note, you may have noticed that all the above spaces are areas where we socialise and spend time in. Red is such an energising colour, that rarely do we utilise it in bathrooms and bedrooms where the tendency is to create tranquil, restful spaces.

 

Until next time…….

Maria