Colour quest – December

With Christmas here, red is the perfect festive colour. However, red can also come across energetic, lively and is the colour of good luck, red can excite and enliven a home.

Red is a versatile colour, whether it’s traditional red brick, a more earthen tone — like Frank Lloyd Wright’s favourite Cherokee Red — or a more electric hue, red makes your home jump out and announce its presence.

Historically, many Swedish country barns and farmhouses were painted red. The pigment originated at Swedish copper mines and was found to be an excellent wood preservative. It is thought that the colour became popular for barns and farmhouses in the U.S. due to an influx of Swedish immigrants and the colour’s popularity in 19th-century Sweden.

Red raises a room’s energy level. The most intense colour, it pumps the adrenaline like no other hue. It is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement, particularly at night. In the living room or dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression.