Painting with Red

Have you wanted to paint red and been afraid? Don't be afraid just go for it! But...do some prep work first, use blue tape to tape off the ceiling and baseboards or get a good trim brush if you have a steady hand for cutting in. Be ready to either paint 3 or 4 coats or 1 coat of primer (tinted gray or dark pink) and at least 2 more coats of paint. Either way you are going to paint that room 3 times or more. But it's worth it!

The next step is choosing the right color. Burgundy reds mostly have pink undertones and

lean towards Victorian or formal decor. Brown reds, think really dark rust, lean towards country or traditional decor and clear bright reds are more contemporary.

Burgundy can be very dark and is really cozy in a small room like a powder room or a library. For more of a library feel accent with navy or deep green.

Brown reds often go great with golds and olive greens, either to use in paint on an accent wall or furnishing, furniture and accessories. I suggest you paint your ceiling the lightest shade on the color strip of the accent color. The ceiling is often the forgotten surface and deep colors need a soft color on that surface not stark white.



My daughter, who lives near DC, has painted her living room bright red. It is Glidden paint and the color name is Drumbeat. She loves it so much that she says she will paint that color again if she moves. The color is similar to Valspar Cut Ruby. She has done excellent in keeping her look contemporary and warm by accenting with taupe furniture and black accessories.


It's best to choose eggshell or satin paint finish for red paint. It allows some light to bounce off the surface and doesn't look muddy like flat paint. Flat paint is only for ceilings, in my opinion.

My living room is painted Valspar Persian Dance, an old gold color with an accent wall in Valspar Cooper Molera Fandango Red. Quite a mouthful for a name of a color, but it's one I love and have used in other houses.

Want to have some fun with color? Check out this site: http://www.valspar.com/explore-colors/choose-a-color.html

Finally, find your color inspiration in something in your space or maybe in a favorite item of clothing in your closet and have fun painting!



Blessings,
Coleen

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”- Psalm 95:1-2