Why is red the colour of love?

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Helen Kaufman from HK Interiors talks about the fiery colour which can certainly capture the imagination as Valentine’s Day approaches.

RED IS AN EMOTIONALLY INTENSE COLOUR. Red is power, hence the red tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs. A red rose is the symbol of love and fidelity – dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy and celebration. Red is the colour of happiness and prosperity. Red is LFC…for (some) football lovers!

HOW DO WE USE RED IN THE HOME?

Red is a very strong and dominant colour, so you want to avoid pairing it with too many other dominant colours – especially if you want red to be the stand out colour in your home.

Try using colours such as navy, black, white and grey. Steer clear of pastel tones and go for stronger tones such as canary yellow, citrus orange or dark green.

DOS AND DON’TS OF USING RED IN INTERIORS

Using the colour red in your interior design scheme can be a big and bold move, so it’s important that you not only love the colour, but use it correctly.

Don’t go painting the entire room red if you think you might tire of it in a year or two. Do use red in soft furnishings such as cushions or rugs, but set it in patterns rather than solid colour textiles.

This way you can pick out some other colours from the pattern and highlight them in the room as well.

LESS IS MORE

A splash of the colour red can lift and enhance a room, whether on a large or small scale. You can add a pop of colour by having a small red item in a bookcase or on a sideboard against a more neutral overall colour palette in the space.

ONLY CHOOSE RED IF YOU TRULY LOVE THE COLOUR

Are you happy to go to sleep and wake up to the same colour?

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH RED

If you want to make a bold statement, pair red with white and almost any grey. If not, pair small amounts of red with lines, muted greens or a black back drop.

USE RED FOR DECORATIVE ITEMS

Artwork, vases, books or decorative pieces that are not overly domineering. You can then have some fun rearranging these items throughout your home if you need to change it up.

If all of the above does not inspire you to use red then just go with flowers! A bunch of red roses placed in a clear vase placed perfectly on your mantle, centre of your dining table or console will brighten up any room.

If you feel you need that bit of extra guidance, come into the studio and we can help you!

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