February 2010

“Getting Red Hot!”

There's no doubt about it; February is all about celebrating the nature of the heart. Some of us associate February with Presidents' Day. Others immediately remember and honor the life of the Rev Martin Luther King. And Happy New Year to my Asian readers! Yet I suspect the masses are obsessing about the new and different ways they can celebrate Valentine's Day. All of these holidays commemorate passion, devotion and renewal. If we're talking about interior design, these emotions unmistakably are expressed with the color red.

Bringing red into your rooms is an immediate way to infuse them with passion, energy and excitement. But which shade of red and how much can my room stand, you may be asking? Image Consultants will tell you that everyone can wear red, you just need to find the correct shade. It is the same for interiors.

You must first ask yourself: is my room predominantly dressed in warm or cool tones? Then try to expand your impression of the word red. Warm reds have more yellow tones in them and include all these luscious shades: vermilion orange, tomato, brick and mandarin red and Valentine red. Cool reds conversely are blue based and include burgundy, claret, scarlet and, what we used to call “George Washington red” in grammar school.

Even the most earth toned room replete with greens, tans and browns will look awakened with a splash of red. Consider adding toss pillows, a chenille throw and pillar candles in a warm brick red or cinnabar. However having just said that; if you are one of those fun and edgy folks who has a room adorned in chocolate brown and fuchsia, you already know that brown looks smashing with either warm (brick red and cinnabar) or cool (fuchsia) reds. If your room's palette tends to be cool and is currently bathed in light to medium blues, infuse this room with the passion of red, but choose cooler versions such as watermelon or geranium red (these are pinky reds which prevent the room from looking patriotic). Deep navy and teal on the other hand, require deep brick red, burgundy or blue red to balance their intensity, but nonetheless add pizzazz.

If you're up for a real adventure, consider doing a room in one of the following color combinations, all of which use a fabulous red in a very fashion forward interpretation:

• fuchsia & pumpkin
• claret & tangerine
• brick red & chocolate brown
• claret & plum
• turquoise blue and bright red (very 50's Retro!)

You adventurous types may be ready to commit to more than just red pillows, throws and candles in a space. If so, consider painting or wallpapering an accent wall in red. Take a look at some of these beauties I found on Squidoo; I want to make clothing out of some of these wallpapers; they are so scrumptious.

Imagine an accent wall decked in this fuchsia red damask wallpaper. The little swirly bull's eye in the background adds an edginess that would befit traditional, contemporary and eclectic interiors.

And finally, for the really hesitant experimenters, it doesn't get any easier than these removable wall appliqués.

These sold out but the product is available online through a multitude of outlets. These are very cool.

So you see there are almost countless ways to inject the passion and excitement of red into any interior. But I caution you; the results may be downright intoxicating. What a wonderful way to celebrate the month of the heart.

Happy Valentine's Day, and until next month, decorate from the heart!

Jayne