Throughout history, red has grown to symbolize passion and power. Whether in hate or love, red stirs our emotions and passions, a life force. On stage it evokes danger and deceit. Ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Indians believed that the color would energize and heal, actually increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Some therapists say that people who favor this color know how to enjoy life and are assertive, full of energy, vitality and passion, and are definitely not timid.

There is no subtlety with red. It will gain your attention no matter where it is used -- on business memos, fire trucks, traffic signs and in fashion and home decor. It is no coincidence that designers are adopting this persuasive and complicated color. Taking a tip from interior designers, remember that red does not need to be brash, only dramatic. This warm color works best when used either a little or a lot. In large quantities, it defines the setting, such as a dining room to enhance the appetite. In small portions, red is a wonderful accent for any other color, when used in the same intensity.

With a warm yellow mustard, a hot red brings thoughts of a Mediterranean countryside. With a deep green, red evokes warmth and masculinity. Blue with red is patriotic. For a Southwest feel, include blue and orange. For true drama, if you dare, gold and red are luxurious. Bold red with stark white gives a feeling of formality; however, that same red with beige trim or accents speaks more of a casual décor.

When using a softer palette, rose red with lime green invoke visions of watermelons and summer drinks. Pale greens also make a wonderful background for orange-red accents, and as a pastel, a light red with white is fresh and sunny.

Papering a room is an instant makeover and, if red is used, there is vibrancy and style. Wallpaper is coming back as a timeless classic. ¡°Wallpaper is like meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy. It¡¯s comfort food for the walls,¡± says Phillip Ostler, Los Angeles chapter president of the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers. We remember Grandma¡¯s kitchen with red and white checks or cherries. Perhaps there were red and beige cabbage roses on bedroom walls or in the dining or living room.

Memories of casual gatherings, playing Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit, with popcorn and soft drinks, are being rediscovered as more people are staying home to entertain. There is a trend toward cocooning and looking to the past for comfort. Red has always been, and will continue to be, an important color element in home decorating.

Most consumers, however, are afraid of color, especially red. They won¡¯t use it for fear of making a mistake. The easiest way to experiment with strong color is to use it in small areas first, such as a toile fabric pillow on a side chair or a checked tablecloth in the kitchen. Try wallpapering an area where people don¡¯t linger for long, such as an entry foyer, mudroom or laundry room. Move up to hanging a brightly colored border or use wallpaper on one wall of a room as an accent.

Red accents in the timeless designs of berries, apples, flags, and roosters are being featured by Chesapeake Wallcovering in their new collection, Peace and Plenty. Here the consumer will find soft, blended, traditional colors, such as burgundy and garnet red in patterns that will connect them to the past, but will work with both classic and country décor.

Interior designers have many innovative ideas for wallpaper that can be used by practically everyone. Striped wallpaper, for example, can be hung horizontally to lower a room with a high ceiling. A paneled wall effect can be inexpensively obtained by hanging one width of paper 20 inches from both the floor and the ceiling. Outline with a coordinating border or with molding. Don¡¯t forget that there is a fifth wall in every room, the ceiling. Using a border above the wall or crown molding, on the ceiling, brings the eye upward, making the room appear taller.

Conversely, using a border along the baseboards will draw attention downwards, perhaps to highlight a beautiful wood floor. Using a narrow wallpaper border over the seam of an open small print will give the room a striped effect. Or measure out the plain wall and hang the border vertically for stripes. When finished hanging, cut out a design from the wallcovering and decoupage lamp shades or cut a single design element, such as a group of red apples and attach to room or window corners.

In the kitchen, add a bold, but homespun flair with a red-checkered tablecloth over a white table with white shutters at the window. Laying tile on the diagonal and hanging lattice-patterned wallpaper give the illusion of fresh air and openness. Replace hooks with red antique or antique-looking glass knobs for hanging kitchen towels.

In an entry area, a high backed, red painted settee adorned with yellow pinstriped seat cushions against a wall with a small yellow floral print is both refined and casual. Instead of hanging only pictures on the wall, use a variety of shelving, plates, mirrors, and architectural remnants, some of them red, to give both character and style to the room.

The room that is undergoing the greatest amount of transformation in new construction and remodeling is the bathroom. The average master bath has tripled in size since the 1930s. The bathroom was once designed as an oversized water closet, but people are now finding respite and sanctuary in multiple room master and guest baths. The weekend spa mentality has developed into a lifestyle that Americans want to experience on a daily basis.

Functional Furniture and Finishing Touches

Along with the larger space comes the question of what to build and design into an updated bathroom. Bringing furniture into the bath is a growing trend because furniture pieces make a bathroom feel cozier and less sterile . . . and they provide added storage. Many manufacturers now offer fixtures like sinks set in furniture pieces designed specifically for the bathroom. Another option is to retrofit a dresser or armoire.

The Onda Collection from Porcher offers storage totems that blend with tubs and showers for a sophisticated European feel. These totems are an updated storage and display area solid enough to serve as a towel rack and sturdy enough to handle soaps and shampoos in the slide out drawers. Easy to move around, the totems can be a designer¡¯s dream used either as a single element or in a grouping. The collection is available in wenge wood or a lighter, whitened oak finish.

Mixing and matching furniture finishes to blend with the flooring and trim throughout your home creates a warm bathroom space and connects that bathroom to the rest of the home.

Moments of Relaxation

Look for spaces to rest in the bathroom. Add a stool near the tub or in the shower for a resting point. Simple chairs slipcovered in terry or chenille offer a place to rest and can withstand water. If space permits, add a pair of upholstered chairs with an ottoman for a private spot to read or relax after a hot bath.

Soft Lighting

Dimmers can be installed quickly and easily even with older electrical push-button switches. Candles are another great option because they can also add scent to the room. Designers like to place regular lamps on a vanity or shelf area. These give the bathroom more of a bedroom feel.

Flooring

Tile is a great option if you can warm it up. Look for an unexpected rug to add to the room. Instead of typical bathroom rugs, consider an Oriental, sisal or bound remnant piece. Or, for added warmth, install wood flooring instead of tile. These flooring ideas will bring your room scale and blend the design along with the other rooms in the house.

Wall Covering

No more printed borders! Splicing and dicing wall space makes a room feel smaller and busier to the eye. Wallpaper can work in the bathroom if you¡¯re not steaming up the area all the time. If installed incorrectly, wallpaper will quickly curl in the corners and ruin the look of the room. Think about a softer, soothing painted color, wood panels or laminates for the wall. Adding warmth to the walls will help you feel relaxed when you walk into the room.

Bath Towels

Towels make you feel snuggly if they are soft, clean and fluffy. Relegate old towels to the rag bin and replenish your bath with new towels every year or so. Towels should blend in with bathroom décor and not contrast as the only element with or without color. This keeps your eye on the space and not the towels.

Clean and Clear

Your home is a reflection of who you are. Whether you choose to decorate with bold, bright colors such as reds and oranges, or with natural more muted tones like tans and browns, your home is a place of self-expression.

That¡¯s especially true when it comes to choosing flooring. With ceramic tile or stone, there are so many color and design choices for you to decide from that the possibilities are endless. The best approach is to choose a color that best suits your personality.

Ceramic tile and stone are popular with homeowners because they are moisture resistant, making them a natural fit for baths. They¡¯re also perfect for kitchens, since they won¡¯t scratch, dent, cut or burn. In addition to flooring, ceramic tile and stone are also perfect for countertops and walls. Overall, ceramic tile and stone bring quality, value and beauty to your home.

So, after you¡¯ve specified the perfect tile or stone for your home, it is important to choose premium installation materials that will accentuate and complete the design you are trying to achieve.

With its exclusive AccuColor® Grout colors, TEC delivers all of this, and more. AccuColor Grout colors provide unmatched color accuracy, color consistency and ease of use with colors that accent the latest trends in tile and stone. Offering 32 different color selections, you are able to choose from and array of colors complementing the latest consumer fashion trends in tile and stone. Some of the colors available with AccuColor Grouts include the following: mist, reminiscent of misty, coastal days; clay, a burnt orange similar to aged terracotta; starry night, a deep, dark navy blue; and more.