The importance of colour has long been a source of fascination for interior designers and scientists alike. Studies suggest that colour has a significant psychological impact on the viewer, especially over the prolonged exposure of a home or office. Because of this, the colour that you choose to paint your interior walls matters a great deal.

White has been proven without a doubt to be the worst colour for a workplace setting. All-white environments stifle creativity, and the subjects of most colour studies report that a lack of colour feels restrictive and clinical. This translates into home colour schemes as well; a home with all-white walls and ceilings is likely to have a subtle psychological impact on its inhabitants.

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That is not to say that white should be abandoned as a part of interior design – far from it. White provides much needed neutrality and can create a calming space. However, it is important to balance that neutral space with the little colour accents that stimulate the creative and emotional sides of your psyche. One of the best colours for this is, somewhat surprisingly, the colour red.

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The colour red is generally regarded as a strong colour. It is the colour of passion, of confidence, aggression and love. Red actually has a subtle physical effect and can stimulate your heartrate.

Because of this, it is often overlooked in home colour schemes, as designers worry that it will be too intense for daily use. However, that is not the case.

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Of course red is a stimulating colour – but that can actually be a very good thing. Working in an environment styled with the colour red has been linked to improved productivity and skill in certain tasks.

Red walls can help with focus and have a particular benefit for detail-oriented tasks, making it ideal for a home office or even just to improve concentration around the home.

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Now, perhaps you don’t want to go all-in and slap a red feature wall in the middle of your living room. Perhaps an exterior red brick is enough colour for you.

We understand – it is a bold colour, and that could be a lot to look at every morning. But there are other, more subtle ways to style red so that you get all of the practical and psychological benefits whilst also creating a unique aesthetic inside your home.

red design colour palette light red dark red ideas living room colour schemes interior design

Red is incredibly versatile and you can find comprehensive colour schemes for just about every style and shade. From muted, natural reds to dramatic bold shades, the colour red has a flexibility that earns it a place in any modern home. Whether it’s just an accent, a furniture piece, or just a piece of art; there is always room for a little splash of passion in your home design. Read on for a list of the best red colour schemes and the many ways to style colours that go well with red to make your house look good.

Colours that go with red: 5 wall colours that go with red for a beautiful room colour combination

5. Dark and Moody

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Red complementary colours: One way to offset the brightness of red in a contemporary home is to choose a dark shade and match it with similar tones like dark greys and blues.

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This gives a sophisticated and modern feel which regulates some of the intensity of red for those who prefer a more cohesive colour palate. To avoid making the room too dark, accents of lighter colours like brass and gold will compliment the deeper colours without taking away from the sophistication of a moody interior atmosphere.

4. Light and Industrial

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Red colour combinations: A splash of red is the perfect way to give a light grey colour scheme some visual intrigue.

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The depth of a rich red tone contrasts nicely against shallow shades of grey and beige. It is also a great option for those who want the benefits of the colour red without committing to a permanent wall colour change.

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You can use subtle accents like a couch, a rug, or even simply a bedspread to achieve this effect.

3. Royal Shades

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Royal colours that match with red: Gold is one of the first colours brought to mind in modern times when thinking about a royal or luxurious colour – but what about purple?

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Throughout history, purple has been one of the most expensive colours to make and was often reserved for royalty. The rich tones of a dark purple accent match very well with a similar deep red, creating an atmosphere of power and wealth.

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Red and purple are very close on the colour wheel, meaning that some shades are purple are difficult to distinguish from red; you can use this to your advantage while styling by including various shades of dark red and purple, to blur the lines between colours and create a breathtaking royal effect.

2. Boho Warmth

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The bight happiness of yellow pairs exceptionally well with a dark and mysterious red. Designing a room with these two colours is a great way to benefit from the warmth of bright colours whilst still making sure that your design has edge.

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These rich colours used in tandem create an autumn-like effect, bringing a sense of the natural world back indoors.

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Red does incredibly well in warm spaces, and can even be used in multiple different monochromatic shades to contrast against itself for those who aren’t keen on yellow.

1. Simple and natural

red design colour palette light red dark red ideas living room colour schemes interior design

Light shades of red are a gorgeous option for those who want to tone red into a more relaxed and neutral colour palette. Lighter red shades with pink undertones blend well with most colours but particularly soft and warm whites, beiges, greys and browns.

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A soft, natural red works equally well as a subtle accent such as red furniture, or as the main feature colour of the room. If you love red but don’t want anything too overwhelming, this is probably the colour scheme for you.

For more information on strategies to include colour theory in interior design, see here.

red design colour palette light red dark red ideas living room colour schemes interior design

Juliet Taylor

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