PAINT WITH RED,PAINT WITH PASSION

I’M SEEING RED !

We usually get emotional about this.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAINT THE TOWN RED!

JUST ONE ROOM !!  HA HA

Yes red is passionate.  People love it with a passion; sometimes it makes people passionate. Not many people are neutral about it.  Though is some cultures, red is a neutral.

I have been reading some articles about red lately.  So I thought, “why not write something about red”.

I have purchased several items through the years that were red.  Cars, Trucks, furniture, clothing.  And if you were to look at what you have, you would probably find the same.

This brings me to the subject of using red paint.  Some will not use it because it does not cover as well as other colors.  This is true.  Some paint companies are now mixing red paint with primer which cuts down on the number of coats of paint needed.

Convincing those who are not red lovers to use it can be challenging.  These people will hardly get outside the box of ‘warm neutral’.  But for a little punch, RED IS IT. 

Still, just like any other color, different reds evoke different reactions.  It can have an aged, het contemporary element.  A vibrant intensity, romance, strength, power, royalty and security.

Red spices up a room like no other hue, but few dare to integrate this powerful primary color into their color selection.  Red has had a historical use and has been used as a great place to find inspiration.  You find it in every culture and nationality.

In the U.S.A. shades of red have played a very important part in shaping our views. Wallpaper patterns of circa 1900 sported ‘deep vermilion’.  In the 1930’s red was a favorite for furniture and was used to spice up a tired interior.  Mid-century modern décor used strong reds on accent walls or room dividers.  Today applications of red are paired with unexpected shades like gray and blue.  Or gold and yellow-based neutrals are also ideal complements to red.  I will call the 21^st Century palette, ‘rich in berry red’.  The use of these reds has expanded too any rooms of the home and is no longer limited to dining spaces.  Even cabinets and furniture are painted red.

Red is now classified as a ‘signature’ color.  Indeed it is bold but we now pair it with neutrals that complete the look.

Look at it this way.  What if stop signs were taupe with black letters.  Just not the same.  What color would you prefer for a ‘stop light’?  Do you get the point?

We do tire of red quicker that some other colors but it does come back around.  Some people say that ‘Blue never goes out of style’.  That is true but I would say ‘Red’ is right there with it.

Oh, by the way, I have two recliner chairs in my living room that are red leather.  I purchased them in 1990 and they are still my favorite chairs.  While we have changed the colors on our living room walls several times, they always work with what my wife chooses.  I have two fish tanks and my favorite fish in them have red color on them.

So take it out for a test drive.  Use a little or a lot of red.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

As Always “Happy Painting”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

www.kenraderinteriors.com

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