Brick, cherry, ruby, merlot, raspberry, lipstick, scarlet, tomato and burgundy are just some of the thousands of reds used in interior design today.

The once regal color has become mainstream and very popular with homeowners. And yet some people are still afraid of the bold impression red stamps on a living space.

Local design experts say there is nothing to fear. In the right doses, red can put the touch of pizzazz on a room that takes it from ordinary to extraordinary.

Popular appeal "Red has really been the most requested of all accent colors," said Nancy Boyle, a local interior designer who owns Interior Innovations with her husband Dan. "We're painting more red than any other color right now. Red really creates a wow appeal in a room."

In particular, red stimulates the appetite and is a color of passion, she said. "It really does have a pretty positive affect on people."

Recently, Pantone Inc., a world-renowned authority on color headquartered in New Jersey, announced that chili pepper, a deep, spicy red, was the color of the year for 2007.

The company, which provides products and services in the home interior, architectural, paint and fashion markets, said the color was chosen for its boldness, sophistication and eye-catching appeal.

"In a time when personality is reflected in everything from a cell phone to a Web page on a social networking site, chili pepper connotes an outgoing, confident, design-savvy attitude," says the company's Web site at http://www.pantone.com

"Whether expressing danger, celebration, love or passion, red will not be ignored," explained Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "In 2007, there is an awareness of the melding of diverse cultural influences, and chili pepper is a reflection of exotic tastes both on the tongue and to the eye. Nothing reflects the spirit of adventure more than the color red. At the same time, chili pepper speaks to a certain level of confidence and taste. Incorporating this color into your wardrobe and living space adds drama and excitement, as it stimulates the senses."

A broad brush

Micah Waters, vice president of Porter's of Racine who is a registered architect and interior designer, said that red will always remain a popular color because of its versatility.

"It can go everywhere from regal traditional to hyper contemporary," he said.

Waters said red upholstery can look fabulous on a Queen Anne Victorian Chair and great in leather for a contemporary design.

"It has that versatility," he said. "That's why it's such a popular color."

The wide of range of reds is also a big part of why the color remains fresh and exciting in interior design. "Red in itself is a very broad category," Waters said. "From lipstick red to rust, it's such a broad brush. You have so many things to choose from."

And that helps keep the color in favor, without looking like something you picked specifically in 2007. Waters said it's not like the mauves and grays of the 1980s.

Don't be afraid There are just some people who aren't going to use red in their homes, Boyle said. "Paint colors do reflect the personality of the homeowner," she said. "People who are beige aren't even going to consider it. They're not risk takers."

Those who want to use the color, but are afraid to try it, shouldn't be, Boyle said. "People don't need to be afraid of red. It can be a beautiful addition to a room. And it's only paint."

Waters said using red can be fun. "But use it in moderation if you're uncomfortable with it," he suggests.

Red in a room How to use red is probably one of the most difficult challenges with the bold color.

Boyle said they have done jobs when all the walls of a room are painted red, but in those cases they usually paint the woodwork white or cream to give it high contrast.

"It helps balance it out," she said.

However, red is typically used as an accent, Boyle said. "Small doses can often be more effective than large," she said.

In throw pillows, area rugs, artwork, floral arrangements and accessories, red can work in harmony with golds and yellows or provide a nice contrast to cool blues.

"Red, for us, in interior design is used regularly as an accent," Waters said. "It's a good constant for us."

There are several ways to do this. Red can be used in upholstery fabrics, in the rug, wall coverings, window treatments and in the artwork when completing the room. These are the focus areas that a designer would typically recommend a splash of color, Waters said.

"But I don't mean to imply that (red would be used) in all of them," he said. "The mistake could be made to go overboard with it."

What not to do

"Your whole world does not have to be red," Waters said. "Maybe just a single wall. Maybe just a chair. That type of thing."

In a monotone room, the use of red is often an interesting accent, he said. "Keeping it to an accent gives some flair and interest. Going overboard is where the mistakes are made."

Sometimes the bold color can be overpowering, Boyle said, "if you incorporate dark woodwork, dark flooring, dark furniture and red walls. Red clearly needs a very light contrast to give it life."

Using the right red in a space is just as important, Waters said. When something doesn't work, it's often because it is the wrong red rather than it being red.

"It might be too electric for the application or the wrong vocabulary for what they are doing," he said. "Color is not hard to choose, the right color is."