Crimson. Scarlet. Cherry. Tomato. Fire-engine.These are not muted, “safe” reds, the dark reds, the blue-toned reds – we’re talking about the intense, bold, brilliant reds. And we love them.

Red is dramatic and makes an undeniable, impossible-to-ignore statement. Because of its natural in-your-faceness, red is generally best paired with neutrals, especially white and black for classic contrast, wood, and metallics. Somehow, though, red seems to complement nearly every color, as you’ll see in the pictures below. Just be sure that you know what you’re doing or hire someone who does!

It’s also a versatile shade, working well with traditional and modern styling alike and applicable to every room. It’s particularly good for food-related spaces like kitchens and dining rooms due to its appetite-inducing powers (maybe not a good choice for those who are perpetually dieting…). It even works in restful spaces like bedrooms, when balanced with neutrals, pastels, lots of good light and/or high ceilings.

While many choose red as an accent or accessory color – a safe route that still effectively adds zing to a room – the truly daring may opt for red as a main color, even saturating a room in it. It’s warm, vibrant, and energetic.

Before you start visualizing rooms out of horror films, check out these fabulously rooms where red is the main color – on walls, cabinetry, or even flooring: