My husband loves the colour red. I've come to terms with this but I'm struggling to find a shade to enhance and complement red; something that won't compete with or detract from its impact. Can you help?

If you want a true complement to red, it's green. You'll often find red and shades of red (such as burgundy and rose) teamed with green in period interiors – they have a natural balance. In a contemporary decor, bright red looks wonderful with chartreuse green, especially when set off with black and white. If you don't want to make such a dramatic statement, use red in small doses: as a painted feature wall, perhaps, or the upholstery for a sofa. Pair it with stone or off-white walls. One good combination to try is deep-red Seductress and parchment-coloured Tennessee Dawn, both from Wattyl.