Red colour to liven up your living spaces

Red is becoming an increasingly popular decorating colour; from pale pinks through to the rustic colours of autumn there is a red paint colour for every home.

It's great to see life through rose-coloured glasses, so it seems only logical that to colour your home with a touch, or even a lot, of red is better. Whether it's whole rooms in dramatic deep reds or softer pink tones for children's bedrooms, red colour can suit almost any interior mood.

Splash your walls with red

According to Carl Callaghan, national paint buyer for Bunnings, red is now a popular choice for many Australian homes. Painting in red has many associations: "Notoriously it is the colour that defines passion and fire, but red tones are ideal for bedrooms and are also traditionally used in dining rooms to stimulate appetites," he says.

With so many red colours available, the options are endless, but Carl has a few suggestions to consider for your home. "Natural, earth-toned reds and oranges are great as a feature-wall colour to enliven a room and lend a sense of intimacy," he says.

These earth-toned red paints range from the dramatic Dulux colour 'Designer Lady in Red' to the more orange hued 'Red Terra'. "They are also good as an accent to give an otherwise plain space a new life, depth and mood," says Carl.

Going with a neutral colour scheme

If you're after something a little more subdued, for instance in a child's bedroom, Carl recommends Wattyl's quieter 'Jelly Bean Pink' or 'Vivo'. "The more subtle red tones derived from the chestnut are effective in creating a rustic feel and tie in well with a natural, earthy colour scheme throughout the home," he says.

Before embarking on a new red colour scheme, Carl recommends using an online paint calculator to get the best results. "Simply enter the room measurements and the calculator will estimate how many litres of paint you need to buy," he says. "This reduces unnecessary wastage and allows you to budget for your home renovation."

To get a good idea of the range of reds available (and to get started painting in red!), it's worth dropping into your local paint supplier. If you have a sample of the red you like, take it with you, as they may be able to match it and produce your own custom-made colour. Find a red paint supplier in your area: