With the arrival of February and the so called month of love I thought I’d share some ideas for adding the color red to your decor.

Passionate, lively and strong, red is often described as one of the most powerful colors in the spectrum. It can ignite feelings of warmth, spiciness and sensuality or be bold and energetic, depending on its use.

Here are some ways you can incorporate this dominant color into your home.

WALL COLOR

If you’re going to add red, why not all the way. If you choose to paint an entire room red, remember that red paint tends to make a room feel smaller. Red can also be very intense and will dominate a room, painting just an accent wall is a good way to balance the color. However the intensity of an entire room painted red can be offset by pairing it with the right furnishings and accessories.

FURNITURE

Not ready to jump in with red walls? How about a red sofa or furniture piece? A great way to instantly add life to your space is with the boldness of a red sofa, table, buffet or accent piece. Keep in mind that red is a powerful color and should be the center of attention, avoid putting it in a space with conflicting design elements or other colorful pieces of furniture.

ROOM ACCENTS

The most popular way to bring red into your home is with small decor pieces and accessories, such as throw blankets and pillows, wall art, lamps, vases, draperies and other items.