The story goes that in 1832, when JMW Turner found his painting Helvoetsluys exhibited side by side at The Royal Academy with John Constable’s The Opening of Waterloo Bridge, he was not prepared to be upstaged. To redress the balance between his watery-toned seascape and Constable’s richly coloured work, he strode into the gallery, added a red buoy to the centre of his painting, and walked out. Outraged, Constable is said to have remarked that Turner “has been here and fired a gun.”
What Turner understood is that the colour red need only be used in small doses to pack a powerful punch. And, in the art world, he is not alone. From John Singer Sargent’s Portrait of Mrs Robert Harrison to the clothes worn by many of the women and girls in Laura Knight’s paintings and illustrations, many an artist has used small doses of red to lift muddier or softer palettes.
Things are much the same in interiors. Red is an advancing colour – it appears to come towards you, which is why it is so successful when used against cooler, receding colours and neutrals. Used by Neptune’s styling team to counterbalance the equally zingy quince, each touch of Burnham red paint and each vaseful of vermillion-hued flowers sings with personality.
So how to go about using red in your own home? Firstly, a little in every room will create cohesion - establish a ‘red thread’ throughout your space. Secondly, vary the amount of red, making it stronger in some spaces than it is in others, according to the room’s character.
The Burnham red Pembroke bookcase in Neptune’s photography is stimulating in the home office, but for other spaces such as living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms, you might like to use red in smaller ways so the effect is less energetic. Lamp bases, lampshades, throws, cushions, and patterned antique rugs are all possibilities for red on a small scale.
Finally, for a touch of red to work well, it needs contrast, so keep the rest of the room either muted or on the cooler side. Clay-like colours are perfect if you prefer neutrals and will create a cocooning atmosphere. Layer in earthy yellows and greens, such as Neptune’s saffron and olive, as well as darker shades such as warm black to round the palette out. On the flip side, if you lean towards more colour or fresher schemes, try aqua or flax blue, quince and steely blue greys, plus Isla steel if you feel you need the grounding influence of a deeper tone.
Added to all these, red will cut through to uplift, enliven and raise a smile in your home.
