The energy of red works well in this Cardinal Point rec room.

Since Valentine’s Day is just a heartbeat away, what better time to talk about adding red to your home décor? Dramatic and energizing, even a small dose of red adds impact in a room.

“Red can be a useful colour to include in a home. People are drawn to red so painting the wall at the end of a long hallway red is a good idea,” according to Stylelist Home  and environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, Ph.D.,  “red backgrounds increase the attractiveness and desirability of a person standing in front of it.”

So how do you decorate with red without going overboard?  We asked interior designer Jo-Ann Capelaci how to do it right, “use red sparingly in design to add energy, passion and warmth to a room.”  Accent pieces, area rugs or accent walls work well, painting items such as picture frames or shelves can make a bold statement.

The red chairs bring a sharp look to this Geranium model home.

Jo-Ann reminds us that, “red is the colour of sexuality so why not consider adding a spark of red in your bedroom?”  Red sheets or a red chair will definitely spice up a room!  The possibilities are endless.  Jo-Ann, who designed the interiors of our Uptownes Model Homes, is an avid Pinterest fan and inspired our Geranium Homes Red Decor Pinterest page, filled with great decor ideas for this vibrant colour.

Marsala is the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year

Sure, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with many shades of red to choose from.  How about considering this year’s “it” colour:  Marsala (Pantone’s 2015 Colour of the Year) is the perfect fit.  The impactful full-bodied qualities of this earthy wine red adds richness to any room.  The colour adds the ideal accent to our model suite rendering of Pace on Main.

Red accents complement the richness of the room’s decor in this Pace On Main suite.

HGTV offers a great guide to the different shades of red.  From bold, bright red for contemporary designs to chalkier softer scarlets for a country look,  red demands attention and will leave a lasting impression on your visitors.  So have fun with this daring colour that doesn’t take itself too seriously!