Red in a decorating scheme is often seen as a bold and brave choice. Associated with passion and power, it can be used to add just a little fizz or to fan the flames of a room's décor.
First made from clay soils, berries, vegetables and even insects, red pigment has featured from ancient times in tapestries, pottery, painting and weaves. The hue is a symbol of luck in China, where brides don the colour. Even today, we roll out a red carpet at important events.
In country homes, red's resonance is often linked to the seasons and natural settings -blazing autumn, vivid sunsets, the breast of a robin...
Today, our homes continue to benefit from red's brave and brilliant impact. But the hue can also be explored in subtler ways to bring a warming, enriching mood to rooms.
WAYS TO USE RED
Drape it or dot it Red tones naturally command attention and can steal the scene, so think carefully about the saturation of colour (full-beam red or a gentler tint) and how much to include in your decorating scheme. Drape a room in all-over red to make an impact, relax a room with red used alongside companion colours, or add it in hotspots to create highlights.
Enclosing red This clever colour can manipulate how we read a room, seeming to bring walls closer and the ceiling lower, making large spaces seem cosier. A period country house with elevated covings or vaulted attics can be made less daunting by painting the ceilings with red, while vacuous barns and enormous conversions can be brought down to size with a coat of this colour.
This story is from the February 2024 edition of Country Homes & Interiors.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2024 edition of Country Homes & Interiors.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A day in the country
The TV presenter and author stays close to home in the Wye Valley, walking at dawn and ending the day making supper for friends
MINIATURE MARVELS
Tiny but mighty mini bulbs bring sparks of colour to springtime garden borders and containers
UP THE GARDEN PATH
Affordable and easy to lay, these DIY path ideas will add form and purpose to your garden, providing a fast track to planting, focal points and outdoor rooms
Bring the family
Rediscover the simple life with these gloriously back to nature staycations that kids and adults will adore
'Handmade glass looks watery and beautiful'
As anyone who surfs will know, despite the crash, chaos and roar of the ocean, there is a strange moment of peacefulness when you ride a wave.
Knock on wood
Transform damaged and dingy wooden flooring with expert techniques to return its structure and shine
COLOUR CONFIDENT
Breathe new life into your kitchen with a colourful design from Magnet
STOCK UP
The best ideas for maximising food storage in the kitchen, from walk in pantries to woven baskets-and everything in between
STORAGE STORIES
Faced with cluttered rooms and overflowing cupboards, four homeowners found smart solutions to help them get more organised
Installing fitted wardrobes
Everything you need to know about integrating built-in storage into your bedroom