One of the boldest colours you can work with is red. It can convey so many different emotions and moods depending on how it is used. That is why you need to be careful when incorporating red into your interior design, and use colours that are opposite to red on the colour wheel. Here are what colours go well with red when you are designing interiors.

The type of red you choose is important

As you can imagine, there are many shades of red, and they all compliment different colours on the colour wheel.

Some of the combinations include:

• Primary red – Can be used with yellow, white, green, blue, and black.
• Tomato red – Can be used with cyan, mint green, grey, and off white.
• Cherry red – Can be used with grey, pale orange, pale yellow, and beige

Most shades of red will work with black, blue, white, and metallic. If you place a shade of red next to any other particular colour, you can usually see pretty quickly whether or not they work well together.

Use accessories and furniture to add red to a room

Rather than painting an entire wall red, it is better to add splashes of red. For example, you could buy hairpin tables where the red is limited to the legs – leaving you with that vibrant colour while helping to prevent it from feeling overwhelming in your residential space.

Another way to subtly incorporate red into a room is by adding cushions or throws in this colour. Having a patterned cloth will also allow you to pick out other colours.

Less is more

The theme you want to achieve is a highlight rather than a big block of colour. A large red sofa might look nice enough in a white room, but red cushions on a white sofa will be easier on the eye.

The amount of red you use depends on the influence you want it to have. Some designers pick out one aspect, such as a red book or one red chair, to add a touch rather than a statement.

Do you like red?

Some people will choose a colour purely because it is in fashion. While this is fine if you genuinely like the colour, if you don’t, it will be difficult to live with. If you dislike red, then even the smallest amount of it may stand out to you in a jarring, rather than natural, way.

The only option, if you really want to use red, is to tone it down to a dark red or pale red. This will have less impact on the room.

Go bold to make a statement

If you love bold colours – or themes such as maximalism – and want to make a statement, then you can try combinations such as red with yellow and white.

You should keep the bold colours to one wall, or it will be too much. Using yellow and red together creates a cheery and happy space that can brighten a room considerably.

Conclusion

Unless you are trying to make a statement, it is a good idea to make red an accessory colour rather than the main feature. That will help you make a room more vibrant and comforting.