Love & Happiness
In February love is on many people’s minds. Red is the colour most frequently used to represent St. Valentine’s Day. Red is the colour of the month ‘so to speak’ and we see it everywhere, in shops and all over social media.
As a colour, red is associated with courage, fire, energy, beauty, passion, power, wealth, sexuality, love, and joy but also danger and anger.
In many cultures however it is simply the colour of happiness.
We have also just entered the year of the Water Tiger in the Chinese zodiac. Red is a particularly important colour in the Chinese culture as one of the ‘Five Elements Theory’ (Metal, Fire, Water, Wood and Air) – it is the Fire element, symbolizing good fortune, joy and happiness but also represents celebration, vitality, and fertility. For example, red is the traditional colour worn by Chinese brides, as it is believed to warn off evil.
The Psychology of Colour
In colour psychology, red is a very emotionally intense colour. Red is one of the most visible colours in the colour spectrum (beaten only by yellow). It has an ability to instantly grab our attention and is often used to warn us of impending danger, think stop signs, red traffic lights and fire engines.
But it is also the colour of excitement and energy; studies show that being exposed to red (or wearing it) can have the following physical effects:
- Elevated blood pressure
- Enhanced metabolism (increasing your appetite)
- Increased heart rate
- Increased respiration rate
What else do we Feel
Other psychological associations of red are aggression (increased blood flow can make people go red in the face when angry), dominance (athletes in red may be seen as more aggressive, more dominant and more likely to win), passion/desire (people wearing red are consistently rated as more attractive by the opposite sex), and power (we are all familiar with the ‘power tie’ worn by business men around the globe), but it is also interesting to note that the ‘red carpet’ is only rolled out for the most prestigious celebrities and VIPs.
So how can we use red in our interiors?
In interior design red colours are often associated with stimulation and pleasure.
However, it is important to remember that our responses to red (or any other colour) often depend upon our past experiences and cultural influences. So it is very important to ask yourself; how this colour makes you feel/your family members feel, before making any major design decisions.
If we think about the above mentioned psychological/physical effects of the colour we can use that knowledge to understand where we can successfully incorporate red in our living space and where it is better stay clear of it.
Considering red as a wall colour? It is a statement colour and can look striking and elegant and even warm and snug. It is often dependant on what shade or tone is used, what direction the room is facing and the activity that takes place in the room that will influence the mood it projects. Some rooms are better candidates for red than other.
Kitchen and dining rooms are great places to use red as a wall colour. We know it is likely to increase our appetite and is the reason it is such a popular colour in restaurants.
Bedroom designs – if used on walls, it’s better to go for deep red colours, dull or muted tones, terracotta, or pastels as this will evoke muted feelings of desire. Stay away from strong vibrant red shades as this could have the unwanted effect of over-stimulation and troubled sleeping.
In a transitional space like a hallway, it can make a stylish and welcoming statement and act as a striking contrast or complement to adjoining room’s colour schemes. It can be the anchor to a red thread going through the house with some red elements present in other rooms’ artwork, accessories, rugs and so on.
Libraries, snugs and living rooms are all good rooms to add red. The importance again is to make sure the tone/hue is right for the activity taking place. Also, the other colours in the colour scheme will determine the mood of the room. A bold red can be balanced and soften by using warm woodwork and rustic elements, it will calm it and the mood of the room will instantly feel cosier.
If you are not ready to add red on major or more permanent parts of your interiors, try it out in smaller well considered accessories.
A rule of thumb when it comes to accessorising, be decisive and choose a few well positioned pieces. You do not want to overwhelm the space.
It is a little bit like applying makeup, you choose to focus on either your eyes or your lips - not both.’
Inspiration Board - Let’s go Shopping!
2. Print ‘Sing me a sad song’ - Amara
3. Rectory Red (217) - Farrow & Ball
4. ‘Hyacinth’ wallpaper - House of Hackney
9. Paradise velvet cushion – Furn.
10. Majuro cushion cover - OKA