Red, An Auspicious Colour (2024)

Red, An Auspicious Colour (1)

In the midst of Chinese New Year, there is also a celebration of colour. Colours play an important role in Chinese culture, representing concepts and qualities that were formed throughout history.

According to legends, a beast named ‘Nian’ would appear on the eve of Chinese New Year to devour villagers, livestock and crops. People would put food in front of their doors to protect themselves from the mythical creature, hoping Nian would not harm anyone after consuming it. As the legends go, one night Nian was frightened away by a child dressed in red and subsequently, people hang red lanterns and dress their houses red to deter the beast for another year. Red is symbolic of good fortune, luck, vitality, celebration and prosperity. Today, people refresh their houses with a red hue and hang red lanterns and banners.

Red, yellow and green are considered ‘auspicious’ according to Chinese traditions. These primary colours come from the Chinese Five Elements Theory, where red represents ‘fire’, yellow represents ‘earth’, green or blue represents ‘wood’, white represents ‘metal’ and black represents ‘water’. 2022 is the Year of the Tiger which represents ambition, impulsiveness and communication.

In accordance with feng shui, this year’s lucky colours are cerulean blue, fiery red, mint green and imperial yellow.

Fiery red encourages movement, vitality, passion and love. Combined with the other lucky colours of the year, we are presented with an exciting palette.From the collection with Andrew Martin is Kit Kemp’s Friendly Folk fabric design in the ‘Huntsman Red’ colourway. Inspired by 15th and 16th century tapestries, it features bushy tailed creatures peering amongst hedgerows, blooming trees and rolling hills. Printed on linen, we love how this works so well on upholstery, curtains and cushions.

If a dash of red is more your style, we have inverted the design to make Wychwood wallpaper which is also from Kit’s collection with Andrew Martin. Don’t be afraid to use this fabric and wallpaper together as they strikingly complement each other.

Our Ozone wallpaper design in the ‘Ruby’ colourway reminds us of Chinese lanterns hanging in the air. Surely this would bring you protection from Nian all year round!

For a quick fix of red (and warmth), throw on aRuby Lost & Found woven scarf. With Valentine’s Day looming, the colour is also said to also be associated with heat, energy, passion and love!

In the Library at Knightsbridge Hotel a bright red is used for the walls and as an accent in fabrics and lampshades. This pulls the scheme together in a bold combination of primary colours.

See more examples of how we work red into our schemes with our blog post Bold Reds & How We Use Them. Whichever colours you choose to scheme with, we hope the year ahead is filled with good fortune.

Red, An Auspicious Colour (2024)

FAQs

Is red an auspicious color? ›

As a symbol of joy, celebration, vitality, success and good fortune, red is the luckiest color in Chinese culture. It's famously used in important events such as weddings and festivals like Chinese New Year. You'll see everything from red lanterns lining the streets to red outfits and red letters pasted on doors.

What does auspicious color mean? ›

Red is symbolic of good fortune, luck, vitality, celebration and prosperity. Today, people refresh their houses with a red hue and hang red lanterns and banners. Red, yellow and green are considered 'auspicious' according to Chinese traditions.

What does the color red mean spiritually? ›

Red. Red symbolizes energy, passion, strength, courage, physical activity, creativity, warmth, and security. It is also associated with aggression. In healing, use red to bring warmth and burn out disease. Red is a powerful color and should be used in moderation.

What color is auspicious? ›

Green has long been linked to money, luck, and success. It's also been linked to balance, peace, and healing. Meanwhile, gold symbolizes royalty, energy, power, and success. Both of these colors can help you create new opportunities for yourself and manifest new streams of income.

Is red a good or bad color? ›

Red is often associated with passion, love, and vitality and can also represent anger, danger, and aggression. Red is also associated with evil, blood, and death. In ancient Egypt, red was the color of Seth, the god of evil and chaos.

Is it good luck to wear red? ›

Within Chinese folklore, red is considered an auspicious color because it's said to have scared off a vicious beast named Nian that terrorized villagers on the last day of the lunar year. Red also symbolizes loyalty, success, good fortune and joy.

What color is good luck for money? ›

Green is often associated with wealth, as it is the color of money in many countries. Additionally, gold and purple are also sometimes associated with luxury and abundance.

What does red symbolize? ›

Red. Red has a range of symbolic meanings through many different cultures, including life, health, vigor, war, courage, anger, love and religious fervor. The common thread is that all these require passion.

Which colour attracts positive energy? ›

YELLOW: Optimism and Happiness

Yellow has been psychologically proven to boost energy, awareness, and even metabolism! It stimulates our creative process, which can help us get “unstuck” and make quick decisions. It's a seriously powerful color when it comes to colors that represent positive energy.

Why is the color red so powerful? ›

Thanks to its long wavelength, red is one of the most visible colors in the color spectrum (second only to yellow). Its ability to instantly grab people's attention is the reason why it's often used to warn people of impending danger. Think: stop signs, sirens, fire engines, and red traffic lights.

What the Bible says about the color red? ›

The Hebrew language does not have a similar, biblical term. However, the color red or scarlet in the Old Testament frequently symbolizes blood, whether the blood of sacrifice (Leviticus 14:4, 6, 49-52; see Hebrews 9:19) or the blood of violence (II Kings 3:22-23; Isaiah 63:2-3; Nahum 2:3; etc.).

What energy does the color red attract? ›

Take red. It is one of the stronger colors for positive energy. Scientific studies have actually shown that when someone looks at the color red, it actually increases their heart rate and results in a rush of adrenaline.

Why is red an auspicious color? ›

In China, red is auspicious—associated with life-generating energy (the sun, blood, and fire)—and is the color of celebrations and prosperity.

What color is good luck for house? ›

Everyone hopes for good luck. Recommended colors for attracting luck include white or cream, such as Jamila 158-1 - the color of the year 2023 from Beger. The next option is Super White GW-8800, which not only provides a clean appearance but can also help keep your home cool and reflect heat.

What color to wear every day? ›

The Power of Colors in Vedic Astrology
Day of the WeekPlanetColor of Clothing
ThursdayJupiterYellow
FridayVenusPurple, Pink
SaturdaySaturnBlack, Dark Blue
SundaySunRed
3 more rows
Jan 25, 2023

Does red attract wealth? ›

Attracting Money: Decorate in Red, Purple or Green

"Color has a powerful impact on mood, and red is considered auspicious and powerful. Think of walking the red carpet or wearing a red power tie," explains Laura. Purple and green are also key colors for attracting prosperity but there's a hitch.

Is red a good Feng Shui color? ›

Fire energy is very bright, like the middle of summer. It can be really helpful to include some fiery elements, including red accents, in your home during this cold, dark time of year. Red is the most auspicious color when it comes to feng shui. It's dynamic, bold, and stimulating, and it really stands out.

Why red is the color of danger? ›

Since the wavelength of red colour is maximum in the visible light, the light of red colour is scattered least by the air molecules of the atmosphere and therefore it can reach to a longer distance. Thus, from a longer distance this red danger sign can be detected without much scattering.

Is red associated with negativity? ›

The color red is known to influence psychological functioning, having both negative (e.g., blood, fire, danger), and positive (e.g., sex, food) connotations.

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