Trend Report: Red Hot

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There's a reason iconic logos from Coke to Target to the Red Cross all use the same color: Harness the attention-getting power of red in your home with these tips.

Red is the color of passion, attraction, bold gestures and warning. As the color with the strongest chroma, or intensity, red has the power to make an instant statement—to revive or spice up a room, or add sexiness to a space. But it can also overpower other elements, so you need to use it judiciously. Here are tips for how to add the spark of red to a room successfully:

Red works wonders with neutrals. Just a shot of it—a red leather chair, a red-topped table, some graphic pillows or a painting—can liven up a room filled with beiges, taupes, whites or grays.

Red is said to stimulate the appetite—maybe that’s why it’s a favorite for dining rooms. To choose the right red for your walls, I recommend leaning toward a warm red (one with a yellow undertone) versus a cool red (one with a blue undertone). Warmer reds, such as poppy and tomato, or browner reds such as bittersweet and brick, are more flattering and tend to work better with other colors.

A good way to find a red paint you can live with is to choose a red in a fabric, rug, wallpaper, artwork or even from nature, and match it. Always try out several shades of red paint on the wall first, and view at different times of day, including nighttime. 

Red looks fabulous with black and white. Pair it with charcoal sketches in silver frames, houndstooth check or gray flannel stripes.

Don’t overdo a good thing. Red needs to be tempered with neutrals such as white, cream, camel or silvery gray. If you have red walls in a room, keep furnishings neutral. Red works well with nearly all woods, metals, and many stones.

Red says “pay attention to me.” (Think red sports cars and stop signs.) So consider where you apply it: The silhouette of any red object will really pop. Some curvy red candlesticks or a bouquet of flowers can make a strong statement.

Red can be a fun way to brighten up a kitchen. Consider a red KitchenAid mixer (red is one of their most popular colors) or other small appliance, a kitchen clock or a set of bowls.

While red lacquered walls are as classic as red lipstick, textured or variegated reds can be easier to handle. A red damask, a two-tone red stripe, or a pattern with red, such as an Oriental carpet, make red very livable.

Want just a touch of red? Consider painting the inside of an armoire lacquer red, or papering a powder room or closet with a red patterned wallpaper.