Red is undoubtedly the boldest of all possible colors with which to decorate a home. It’s the color of fire, of heart, of passion, of defiance. It’s what Ann Curry wore for her farewell after her rather unexpected departure from the TODAY Show, reportedly as a display of strength and free will. It’s the hue of lipstick we put on when we want to yell without words: “Check me out!”
Put simply, red sends a message.
For those of us, however, who love the color but don’t want to declare war on the contentment and relaxation of everyone who walks into our homes, red can be incredibly effective in small doses, or even large ones tempered with white for balance.
One bold red statement piece like the couch shown above can do all the work when surrounded by neutrals, and red-and-white bedding (such as the set shown from Target, below) can easily make the transition from crisp summer contrast to warm winter sweetness, as can toile window treatments like the Pottery Barn classic pictured below, and the contemporary “silver pebbles” rug from the ever-modern CB2.
Any way you present it, red can raise the pulse a little, and that’s not always a bad thing. With lives that, albeit satisfying, can get a little routine, why not spice things up a little?
Photo credits: Overstock, Target, CB2 and Pottery Barn
