022. 5 Moods of Red for Home Interiors
From simple innocence to global traveler, red is a versatile home decor colour
Depending on where you are and who you are, red is a symbol of love or luck, lust or anger, danger or sacred connection, or a host of other strong sentiments. We see darker versions of red on the robes of Buddhist monks and the dyed hair of counterculture Gothic youth, and brighter versions on Valentine’s Day hearts and Chinese New Year envelopes filled with money.
In our homes, there are so also many different moods we can use red to evoke, though people do tend to shy away from it as a colour for interiors - perhaps feeling that it’s too much of a bold statement. But red doesn’t have to make a loud scream in a room - though it certainly can do that very effectively!
Here are 5 examples of different moods of red in different rooms around the house, with images I generated using Midjourney AI and the Pantone Studio app:
SIMPLE INNOCENCE. Though we often associate red with fiery emotions, red does have a softer side. As a child I had a red gingham quilt on my bed for years, and I loved it dearly. Paired together, red and gingham evoke long summer days of picnicking and playing - a great combination of joy and innocent simplicity. A touch of green from the plants is an important addition, as it adds to the feeling of wholesome freshness.
SENSUAL CALM. How fabulous to envelope oneself in the calming stability of burgundy. Combining heavy fabrics like velvet and damask, with shinier ones like silk and satin, will create a luxe room that feels like a decadent and sensuous lair. It creates a soft cocoon that is perfect for long nights of sleep and/or romance!
ELEVATED TRADITION. Paired with traditional wall moulding and dark leather or velvet, dark red shows up as deeply traditional and stable. A library nook or home office are great options for this type of red if you’re looking for a more staid and elevated feel. Dark red rugs or Persian rugs work well in these spaces to maintain the desired atmosphere.
GLOBAL TRAVELER.
Small dark rooms can feel hard to transform to greatness, but in these spaces red can again be a helpful friend. Though you may feel tempted to go with light and bright colours to make a small space feel bigger, leaning into a dark and red palette can bring dramatic results! Paired with dark richly carved woods and other interesting global artisanal treasures, a small poorly lit space can be transformed into an intriguing room bursting with stories waiting to be told. Plants are again an important addition to ensure the room feels alive and welcoming rather than a tired museum space where one should speak in hushed tones. The life that the green of plants brings to a space shouldn’t be thought of as an optional afterthought.
BODLY PLAYFUL. Go big or go home OR… go big AT home. This is the side of red for which is it perhaps most well known. Boisterous and full of energy, this face of red can be put to good use in a home…
I get excited about cooking only in very specific and infrequently occurring conditions ;-)! I’ve tried all kinds of strategies to make cooking more appealing, with limited success. I’ve been thinking that perhaps it’s time for a colour-based strategy! Some energy boosting red and yellow might be in order to convince me that being in the kitchen is an attractive way to spend my time!
FUN FACT ABOUT RED:
Did you know that over 75% of national flags include the colour red?
This makes red is the most commonly used national flag colour, followed by blue and white. This is fascinatingly illustrated in the project Flag Stories, a website exploring the world’s flags through infographics by design firm Ferdio.
The symbolic meaning of red in national flags varies, as shown in the graph below. Unsurprisingly, blood ranks at the top of the list. Perhaps it is inevitable that the colour of our very existence holds so much attraction for humans.
The best sofa I’ve ever owned was an absolutely wonderful shade of bright cherry red. It moved with me from Switzerland to New York and back again to Switzerland, providing a soft and warm welcome to me and friends from around the world. It was much loved by many, most especially by me!
How do you use red in your home? Is there a shade of red you adore but have been hesitant to use in your interior?
If you would like to see more rooms, in red and other colours, you can have a peek at my Practically Fabulous Instagram account.
-Vanessa :-)
The colour exploration series:
Love a color board! Keep the colors coming. :-)
Loving the different shades of red in the rooms, my favourite no:3.
Interesting fact about the flags!