The color red is used to indicate love and passion as well as war and danger

Learn all about the color properties of red

The color red spectrum is beautifully vibrant and has high energy. It is the most intense color of the rainbow. It is a brave, bold, hot and intense color. People who prefer red are usually have an energetic and dynamic personality.

How to use Red in color schemes

Below are some ideas for color schemes:

Complementary

The complementary color scheme is made of two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

The complementary color for the color red is green. Don't feel you have to have holly berry red and kelly green. The color red has many faces. It can range from the bright red color you are probably picturing to pink tint or a naturally warm shades of terra cotta and red maple or oak wood.,

An even balance of a shade of red and the color white makes a great color scheme. Add the green of growing plants and you have a complementary color scheme.

Terra cotta and olive green would be a pleasing complementary color scheme.

Hot pink and lime is a favored color scheme with young girls

Split Complementary

The split complementary scheme uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary. For the color red these colors would be red, yellow and blue (yellow and blue being the 2 colors on each side of green which is the complementary color)

Red, white and blue has got to be the all time favorite for country decorating schemes. Place a pot of daffodils on the kitchen table with this color scheme and just watch that yellow pop forward.

A color scheme of pastels using pink, blue and a touch of light yellow or cream is much in use for nurseries.

Terra cotta and denim blue is a great combination. Add a touch of yellow in your accessories.

Rich red and gold is sumptuous in traditional decorating schemes. This combo is a favorite in opulent dining rooms.

Triadic Color Scheme

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. The triadic scheme is more balanced and harmonious than the split complementary

Red, orange and purple would be a triadic color scheme. Choose one color to be used in larger amounts than others. If you find the colors are overpowering, used subdued tones to create a pleasing color scheme using triads.

Analogous Color Scheme

The analogous color scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Avoid combining warm and cool colors in this scheme.

By using the color red and it's closest neighbors you can create a harmonious analogous color scheme. Usually analogous schemes use three, five or seven neighboring colors. Avoid using too many hues in the analogous scheme, because this may ruin the harmony.

An example of the color scheme would be red, orange-red and orange. Going in the other direction red, blue red, magenta, fuchsia and purple would be an analogous color scheme.

You can follow this progression on the color wheel below

The color red and feng shui

The color red symbolizes virtue and truth. Red wards off evil and its vibrancy is life-affirming. It is the color of life, luck, prosperity, power, glory, and happiness.

The Chinese have a particular affinity to the color red. In the Chinese culture, red represents the "chi," or life force. Red Buddhas and dragons enhance the chi energy and encourage auspicious occasions. An aquarium containing goldfish or koi is considered particularly auspicious.

Touches of the color red stimulate a fire and passion within. The use of red flower arrangement or red candles in the bedroom would be a helpful aid to sexual passion and stimulation.

The healing properties of the color red

Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. For this reason, we often speak of seeing "red" when we are angry or upset. The color red is used for burning out cancer, drying up weeping sores or wounds, etc. Red's warm stimulating rays will soothe muscular aches to reduce pain. Red is a powerful healing agent for healing diseases of the blood and circulation. It will help with depression.

If you are feeling "down", being around the color red will pep you up. It will also make lonely people feel more secure. Red helps people feel more powerful and in control of their lives. It helps to wear red when you are around people who drain your energy.

If you have an important or stressful day coming up, wear red to enhance your high energy qualities. The outfit needn't be totally red. A scarf or tie will do. There's a reason the President and CEO's are often seen waering red ties!

Personalities attracted to the color red

People attracted to the color red are vital, energetic and quick thinking. They are also likely to be hot tempered.

One last caveat

Painting your front door red to bring energy to your surroundings is one thing. Overdoing red in the home is quite another. If you are already a high energy person, you may find the use of red is too stimulating and energizing. Instead of helping to lift you up, too much use of the color red could be too draining, make you nervouse and upset, and eventually bring down your level of energy.

Exercise - Take the Room Challenge

Once you have studied the various color properties and color schemes, take on the challenge below. We are only going to do this on paper so be brave and creative.

Choose a room in your home that has colors you are not happy with and you'd like to change. Keep in mind the things you can't change such as a living room sofa, a bedroom set, or kitchen appliances. Now decide on a basic color for the room; blue, red, green, etc. In looking at the photos of this color section, what type of color scheme are you drawn to; monochromatic, analogous, complementary?

Build a total color scheme for your room. Take pictures of what you have and want to use. Paste it on your storyboard. Add paint chips, wallpaper samples, fabric swatches that you have chosen to your storyboard.

Do you have a definite color scheme? Is is monochromatic? Complementary? Analogous?

Play with this exercise to your hearts content. After all, it's only on paper. Use colors you may never have thought about. A new look you love may be just around the next idea. Be wild, be free, have fun!