How to Decorate With Chinese Red Walls

Vivid red, like this gate and cart in Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, is often referred to as Chinese red.

The bold, rich color of Chinese red provides a powerful punch to a room's decor. With such an overwhelming color, the rest of the room requires a subtle touch to enhance the walls without losing the furnishings in a sea of red. A vibrant shade, red can also cause a room to appear smaller as the prominent color shrinks the space, requiring options to add more depth to the area. Decorate Chinese-red walls with tasteful and inspiring furniture and decor.

Instructions

1. Place brown leather or cloth furniture around the room to balance the power of the red walls. Brown represents an earth tone that complements the red without taking away from it.

2. Position dark wood tables or black modern furniture in the room to play off the vibrant Chinese red walls.

3. Install light hardwood flooring and scatter rugs with varying shades of red around the room.

4. Hang Chinese lanterns in different sections of the room to play up the Asian ambiance.

5. Place green foliage around the room, such as small lucky bamboo plants set on top of end tables, or larger palm plants inside hand-painted pots in the corners of the room.

6. Hang a large mirror with a silver frame on a short wall. The silver frame illuminates against the red background and the mirror adds depth to the room.

7. Break up one red wall by painting three strips of varying widths in the center with white or cream-colored paint. Use painter's tape to mask off the three columns and paint inside the lines. This wall becomes the focal point of the room.

Tips & Warnings

• According to Feng Shui traditions, the Chinese believe red brings luck.

• You may need two or more coats of white paint to cover the red wall sufficiently when repainting.

References

• House Beautiful: Chinese Red Wall
• Viewzone; Decorating with Feng Shui; Nancy Uon