If red is one of those colors you just can’t quite bring yourself to incorporate into your home, you’re not alone. Thanks to its association in color psychology with energy, action and even danger, it’s rarely the first hue we think of when we’re designing our homes – after all, we usually want our spaces to be calm and restful.

‘Red can attract a lot of attention and is typically associated with strong emotions, such as love, passion and anger,’ says Mike Fisher, founder and creative director of Studio Indigo. However, we’re here to tell you that red can be a calming shade if it’s used right – softer, more muted shades with blue undertones, like burgundy or raspberry, in particular have a place in a relaxing scheme.

By Ellie