A Closer Look at the Color Red

Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language (1964) defines red as “a primary color, or any of a spread of colors at the lower end of the spectrum, varying in hue from that of blood to pale rose or pink.” Le Petit Larousse (1997) defines it as “of the color of blood, or of poppies”. (“de la couleur du sang, ou du coquelicot.”). In Eva Heller’s Psychologie de la couleur – effets et symboliques. (pg. 39–63), “Next to orange at the end of the visible spectrum of light, red is commonly associated with danger, sacrifice, passion, fire, beauty, blood, anger, socialism and communism, and in China and many other cultures, with happiness.

Red-colored flowers immediately draw your attention despite being surrounded by a sea of green.

As a color, red has a more colorful(?) history of association when compared to other colors. Red stimulates almost any individual’s senses. As a color, it is a naturally stimulating; the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. It instantaneously draws any individual’s attention and a judicious use of red as an accent can immediately make a person focus his attention on a particular area or element.

How the color red affects us physically

• Increases enthusiasm
• Stimulates energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate
• Encourages action and confidence
• Provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety

A gentleman’s club in Rouen calls your attention and curiosity.

 Interesting information about the color red

• Red represents beauty in many languages and cultures.
• The Chinese associate red with fire, south, and summer. It is also the color for good luck and fortune.
• The Japanese clothe and decorate the statue of Shinto and Buddhist deities with the color red.
• Swedes reserve the color red for members of the privileged class.
• In Greece, Easter eggs are dyed red.

Exploring Paris on board the iconic Red Paris Tour Bus.

• In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses are national icons. Since the late 1800s, mail boxes in the UK are painted red.
• Indian women believe that a red mark on their forehead will bring them good fortune.
• To the Hindu, red symbolizes joy, life, energy, and creativity.
• The Chinese celebrate their New Year by wearing red-inspired clothes and decorate their homes with various shades of red. They put money gifts inside red envelopes called ang pao for good luck and good fortune all throughout the year.

One of Loire Valley Balloon Tours’ bright red hot air balloon.

The silent but imposing red awning of Fouquet’s Restaurant at Champs-Elysees, Paris, France.

A global icon and marketing phenomenon from Japan, Hello Kitty, dressed in red.

• Red symbolizes feast days of martyrs in the Catholic church.
• Red is the highest arc of the rainbow.
• Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight.
• The longest wavelength of light is red.
• Eric the Red is the Norwegian Viking credited for colonizing Greenland…he earned his nickname from his bright red hair and beard.
• Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity to the residents.
• Bees can’t see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors.

Yummy and inviting, a generous slice of Restaurant La Couronne’s strawberry cheesecake.

Banapple’s red colored lamps.

Ceiling lamps in the same design of Banapple’s wall lamps add warmth to the place’s ambience.

What it says about you when you buy a red vehicle

There is no question that the vehicle you drive is an extension of your personality — an unspoken but clear message to the rest of the world.

• The message you send by driving a vehicle that is vibrant red in color: sexy, speedy, high-energy, and dynamic.

The lady prefers red.

• If, however, your vehicle is a Burgundy or Blue-red, you give a similar message but far less obvious.

Three different cars, all of the same color – RED.

Share with us what you know about the color red

Is there something that you know about red that should be included here? Great! We’d love to hear from you.