If you’re looking to make a statement in your home, using red in your décor is one way to do it. The color red is bold and stimulating. It is energizing and exciting. These qualities are both good and bad. Due to its high intensity, bright and dark reds can also have the opposite effect on people and be agitating or over-stimulating. You can avoid the negative effects of the color red by using it in the right rooms or choosing a pastel shade of the color. Here are tips on how to use red in your home décor:

Make a good first impression. An entryway or foyer is a good place to incorporate red into your home. Whether you’re painting the walls or choosing red accent pieces to welcome your guests, everyone who walks in your home will feel warmth and energy. You can also paint your front door red. The exterior of your home will benefit, adding extra curb appeal and boosting the resale value of your home.

Choose the right rooms. If you want to paint an entire room red, pick the dining room. Red dining rooms stimulate conversations and appetites. You can also use red as an accent wall in your living room, where guests tend to gravitate towards. Another room to incorporate red in is the kitchen. Instead of a plain white backsplash, paint it red for a pop of color. It will stand out amongst white cabinetry and help inspire the feeling of hunger in your family and friends.

Strike a balance. Since red is such a bold choice, Boston painters recommend that you choose complementary colors that create a balance in the room. One way to do this is by painting your moldings and trims white. Other colors that complement red in the home are neutrals, yellows, and browns. For example, a room with soft yellow or beige walls would be able to balance out a red couch.

Incorporate the color throughout. The easiest and subtlest way to use red in your home décor is through furniture and accessories. Pick out a modern red accent chair for your family room. Choose throw pillows, area rugs, and curtains that have red tones in them. Hang up red-based artwork to create a new focal point in the room. The possibilities are endless when you’re adding small hints of red to your room.

Avoid bedrooms. Despite all of the positive feelings the color red can evoke, the bedroom is not the ideal location for it. Using red in your bedroom can keep you up at night or even irritate you. Bedrooms are places of relaxation and calmness, so you don’t always want to be alert. Cooler colors and neutrals are more suitable for the bedroom.

Be bold and choose to use red in your home décor. Though it may seem like an overwhelming color, when you follow these tips, you’ll be able to make your home’s décor stand out from the rest. For more help with using red in your home, contact Kathy McGroarty, a Collegeville interior decorator.