home and hearth magazine

The combination of red, black and white is widely known as a powerful color scheme.  In Asian culture, red is traditionally used as a symbol of good luck, happiness and joy hence red is often selected for festive occasions like wedding ceremonies and during the New Year’s holiday.

Since red is representative of vigor and fire, decorating with red in the home is equally powerful for drawing positive energy while black and white provide the complementary balance and unity of Yin-Yang (dark – light) in a living space.

Add excitement to an otherwise sterile bathroom environment by decorating around a red focal wall.  The natural light, porcelain white and chrome fixtures minimize the “heat” of the red and the black tub pedestal grounds the look overall.

In the kitchen, the color red, specifically tomato red, is said to stimulate the appetite according to Better Homes and Gardens. In this photo, the color’s warmth merges well with the industrial white kitchen cabinetry and sophisticated black dining room accents which add controlled pizzazz.

This red lacquer “shabby chic” Horchow accent piece does the heavy lifting by making a fabulous color statement in the room. It provides utilitarian service as a multi-photo picture frame and could easily double as a focal wall mirror.