Reimagine your home with red colour palettes

Let’s talk colour! Join us as we discuss all the exciting ways to use a red colour palette in your home with our first Let’s Colour podcast.

Listen now!

Episode 1: We need colours like we need vitamins

Well, here it is folks, the Let's Colour Podcast. We are bursting with happiness and pride right now… okay, we’ll admit, we can feel a few butterflies fluttering around too!

Whether you’ve already given us a listen – thank you if you have – or you want to know more about our mission before you press play, these show notes are where you’ll find the tips and titbits that we talk about in each show.

So, let’s get started…

In episode 1, we begin by revealing our secrets about the red colour palette and how you can use it in your home. We catch up with fashion designer Kitty Joseph. Before finishing off with tips on what to do with leftover paint.

You can listen and subscribe here, and don’t forget to leave us a review. We’re excited to know what you think!

Colour Lookbook: red colour palette

Red paint floor and wall with dotted chair

We chose the red colour palette for our first Colour Lookbook. After all, it is the most powerful colour on the planet. It’s used to express our strongest emotions and it can energise just about any room.

But every colour comes with limitations. We know painting with red can be intimidating. So, we pick our favourite shades to help you navigate and understand how you can use this unapologetic scheme in your home.

Our favourite reds:

Coral Flair
It’s modern, punchy with a zesty feel. Pairs well with cool greys and is perfect for a room where people come together.

Pepper Red
It has an orange undertone and when used sparingly, like on a small area of a wall or your accessories, it adds energy to a space.

Our takeaway tips:

Remember, when painting with red, only fools rush in. The red colour palette is one of the most advancing palettes. Some reds can be cosy and warm, others intense and powerful. Some should be used on walls, others only on skirting boards or doors. So, make sure you think before you pick up a paint brush.

Special Guest: Kitty Joseph

Kitty Joseph in front on a big colour palette

This is one of our favourite parts of the podcast. It’s when we talk to some extraordinary guests and colour experts. First up? All-inclusive fashion designer, Kitty Joseph.

Who is Kitty Joseph?

Kitty is a Print and Textile Designer with her own clothing label. But to us, she’s one of the most amazing women we’ve had the pleasure of speaking to. Kitty is a very colourful designer – joy simply bursts from her designs!

So, we couldn’t wait to ask her a few questions…

What do you find so satisfying about colour?

Kitty works with bright, uplifting colours, as she believes they can act as a tool to help you thrive in life.

“I find myself on a constant journey of endless discovery”

What do you think about the red colour palette?

Kitty answers this with a quote from Derek Jarman:

“Red protects itself. No colour is as territorial. It states a claim, is on the alert against the spectrum.”

And another from Josef Albers:

“If one says ‘Red’ – the name of the colour – and there are 50 people listening, it can be expected that there will be 50 reds in their minds. And one can be sure that all these reds will be very different”.

What’s your top colour tip?

When asked what people should do if they’re scared to make bolder colour choices in fashion, Kitty believes that if you love it – get it! Don't worry what anyone else thinks. We couldn’t agree more.

Which colour would you take with you on a desert island?

We put Kitty on the spot with this one (sorry, Kitty!). She went for Cobalt Blue. Before finishing our lovely chat, with an absolutely delightful comment...

“We need a full range of colours in our life the same way that we need a balance of vitamins”

Dr Dulux: What to do with leftover paint

We answer your real-life decorating questions and DIY dilemmas in each episode. Because if we aren't helping you paint with confidence, then we’ve failed our mission to add colour to your life!

If you’re wondering what to do with leftover paint, follow the 3 R’s: Reduce, reuse, recycle paint. Sustainability matters now more than ever, and that goes for decorating.

We’ve lots of Micro Makeovers and how-to videos to help you get started on these ideas – as well as Marianne’s Colour Classes.

Here are some simple ideas from the episode:

But if none of those tickle your fancy, why not donate your leftover paint to a good cause? You can drop your tins off at your nearest Community Repaint – find a centre here.

We know buying the right amount of paint can be tricky. So, we also talk about the online Paint Calculator from Dulux, which makes it easy to estimate what you need.

Dr Dulux: How do you make your paint job last longer?

“It's all in the prep”

Tackle decorating like you tackle cooking – make sure you have all the right ingredients to hand before you get to work.
Clean the area – you should always sand down surfaces, fill in any cracks and sand down the filler before you apply the paint.

You can get more tips on how to prep your walls for painting here.

Our recommended products:

Polycell lightweight filler makes filling gaps effortless. It holds its shape and is easy to sand down.
Decorators caulk can be used to close the gap between your skirting boards and wall. It makes the room look seamless.

Do you have a burning question that you'd like to ask? Drop us a message
here and we'll select the very best for a future Podcast.

#FeelGoodColour

We wrap episode 1 up with an uplifting story about how one yellow front door can unite a whole community and spread a little joy and happiness.

Colour has the power to change everything. Here’s three more front door makeovers with tips to help you make an entrance!

Close-up pictures of Marianne Shillingford and Steph King

And there you have it – that’s all for episode 1.

This podcast is a real passion project for us, and we just hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoy making it.

You can listen to our podcast here. And don’t forget, if you like what you hear, then hit subscribe. Please leave us a review if you want to – we’d love to know what you think.

So, without further ado, Let’s Colour!

Episode 2, 'Show your plants some love' is available now

Show your plants some love

What colour makes you feel good? In this episode, we (Marianne and Steph) delve deep into the psychology of colour with Applied Colour Psychologist, Karen Haller. We explore the colour of the moment: the green colour palette. Plus, there’s tips on how to choose exterior house paint, a few children’s bedroom decorating ideas and more…

Listen to Episode 2 View Show Notes for Episode 2