Using red in your rooms?

We appreciate that often people don’t feel confident using bold colours, such as red, in their homes.  For Kelling Designs, most colours have a place in the interiors we curate for our clients.  Its just a case of finding the ones that resonate with our clients, and working with those. 

It's all about how and where you use colours, as this can really make or break an interior design scheme. If you use colours, including red, in a balanced way throughout the scheme, it can bring a room to life.

Red is transformative in a space - it is bold and full of power. It makes people sit up and take notice, and is a colour that says you are confident and know what you want. We often work with red, and below we have gathered some examples from a wide range of projects which show its successful use. 

Brighter, vibrant reds can be uplifting and bring in the essence of the summer..

Whilst deeper, darker reds will create a cosy and moody feel.. 

If, however, you're a true maximalist, then bringing in complementary and contrasting colours, patterns and prints will allow you to show off your personality - after all, it is important your home should be a true reflection of you and your own personal style.

You can also use red furniture and accessories to complement and contrast with other background colours. By carefully selecting shades we look to create layers and add that all important balance.

Mirrors, particularly in gilt frames, look particularly amazing against red, and are a great way of introducing sparkle and fun. They can help to bounce light around a room, creating the illusion of space and replicating patterns.

You can’t go far wrong with classic red and white. To create depth we used red, black and blue encaustic patterned tiles and accessories, in this vibrant attic bathroom. This was further layered by using varied light sources, whether bright in the natural sunlight of the day, or more subdued with electric lights by night.

Equally, red really suits dining rooms. It makes the perfect backdrop for beautiful feasts with loved ones, and looks fabulous at night time by candle light creating a warm, elegant and intimate atmosphere.

As Emma says “Anyone who knows about interior design and is a true designer would never write off red - any colour can work in interiors, so long as you know how to use it.”