Code Red: Color Therapy for Your Home

Kick your fear of color and brighten up a bland room with these fun red accessories and bold paint colors.

How to use red:

1. First, give it a trial run: Paint one wall and see how it looks. Love it? Cover the rest. Or if that's enough, you've got an accent wall.

2. For an upscale effect, "mix reds with a chocolate brown," says designer Alessandra Branca, who sprinkled it into the room at left with fabrics and a bordered sisal rug.

3. Or bring a mod vibe with a pop of shiny red, whether as a glossy paint on a side table or a patent-leather ottoman.

"White moldings brighten up darker shades of red," says Branca, who designed this space.

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

1 of 12 Photo: Thomas Loof

Red room inspiration:

"White sheets give a clean, crisp look to super-bold wallpaper," says Melissa Rufty, the designer of this bedroom.

2 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Redbook

Red room inspiration:

Balance a bold crimson with light woods and neutral accents.

3 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Redbook

Pick your paint:

Clockwise from top left:

Benjamin Moore, Poppy 1315

Sherwin-Williams, Gladiola SW-6875

Clark + Kensington, Two Lips

4 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

Designer pick:

Ceramic knobs, $7.96 for 4; worldmarket.com.

5 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

Designer pick:

Tullsta chair, $99; ikea.com.

6 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

Designer pick:

Peony wallpaper, $79 for 9 yards; urbanoutfitters.com.

7 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

Designer pick:

Side table, $99.99; homegoods.com for stores.

8 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

Designer pick:

Pillow, $80; dwellstudio.com.

9 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

Designer pick:

Table lamp, $43; wayfair.com.

10 of 12 Photo: Courtesy of Manufacturer

11 of 12 Redbook

Code Red: Color Therapy for Your Home

How to use red:

Red room inspiration:

Red room inspiration:

Pick your paint:

Designer pick:

Designer pick:

Designer pick:

Designer pick:

Designer pick:

Designer pick:

interior design: realize your dream home