50+ Rooms That Prove ‘The Unexpected Red Theory’ Really Works

There is often a correlation between trending colors in the fashion and the interior design world. And some colors in these design worlds have a way of standing out and starting trends that everyone talks about.

And right now, ‘The Unexpected Red Theory’ is a hot topic in the home décor world. Of course, it’s not that red is making a comeback, as this color is timeless and ever-present. But lately, people are noticing the difference this color can make to a room.

From the runways of New York and Paris to the interior design world, red is the trending color. And these rooms that showcase the Unexpected Red Theory show the power of red.

‘Adding anything that’s red, big or small to a room where it doesn’t match at all will make the room automatically look better.’ And she is right; adding a little bit of red in places where it doesn’t necessarily match with other colors or styles makes the room feel alive and more stylish.

So why red? According to Simon, the color red is like a chameleon. Red works with almost any other color and will always look great. Plus, red grabs your attention; it’s not accidental that stop signs and emergency lights are red. This color catches your eye.

Of course, some colors work better with red than others. Green and purple shades go really well with red; mixing them together will make your room stand out. But don’t shy away from mixing red with other colors.

Adding The Unexpected Red Theory to your home is easy. Start small with a red cushion or lampshade; this way, you can see how the color looks in your room. And if you want even more ‘unexpected red’ color inspiration, then you’re in the right place because I have selected some beautiful rooms with a touch of red to inspire you.

Unexpected red with the red and white striped wallpaper by Ralph Lauren that serves as a bold backsplash in the deVOL Kitchen of Clarence & Graves’ country house.

IKEA is not afraid to combine colors. A red sofa is paired with a blue wooden floor, orange cabinets, yellow pillows, and a colorful Eket storage system.

Pearl Lowe’s laundry room features an unexpected red feature with the curtains under the blue cabinets.

Red and green are the main colors in this Victorian apartment, and in the kitchen, a subtle red accent has been added to the sink skirt.

a calm blue bedroom is spruced up with red color accents on the side table and bed frame.

Bold color combinations in this Dulux bedroom from their Color Forecast 2024.

Besides smaller decor pieces, you can also go bigger and add red with a striped sofa, like this beautiful example from Rowen & Wren.

A custom-made red wardrobe system turns your hallway from bland to fabulous.

IKEA loves primary colors, and their 2021 catalog was filled with red color accents, like the striped rug in a blue children’s room or a red ceiling lamp paired with yellow, wood, and black.

Pair two warm colors and you get a stunning kitchen. This deVOL Kitchen, which can be visited in their New York showroom on Bond Street, combines Refectory Red cabinets with Farrow & Ball’s ‘India Yellow’ on the walls.

This bedroom in a colorful family home in London shows that you don’t have to be afraid of combining colors in the bedroom. The walls are painted in a soft pink hue from Little Greene, paired with yellow textiles, red wardrobes, and green wallpaper.

Red comes in many shades, from orange-red to deep shades like this ‘Refectory Red’ kitchen designed by Uns Hobbs and deVOL Kitchens.

a magical cottage in the English countryside features its unexpected red moment in the kitchen, where designer Emma Ainscough added a red island and a red/white checkerboard tiled wall.

Simple Ikea Ivar cabinets are painted red to add a color punch to a Swedish living room.

There are several bright color accents in this modern London apartment, including a red dining table and a red vase in the home office. You can always add a pop of red to an otherwise neutral-colored room.

One of the living rooms in a San Francisco family home designed by Heidi Caillier features a red checkered ottoman table and a red desk chair.

The color and design of this table lamp make it stand out in a vintage home in Sweden.

a cushion or a lamp are subtle ways of adding red to your room. Painting goes one step further, but look how great this red ceiling looks combined with a yellow bath and green and blue tilework.

Several unexpected red color pops in this colorful vintage eclectic house; a small home office with a red stool, a red chair in the bedroom, and red fireplace tiles.

A home bursting with color and the occasional red color accent. This playful artist’s home used red on the stair banister, a table lamp, and a door. It’s paired with pastel shades, which makes the red pop even more.

The owners of this small Stockholm apartment love to decorate with color. It features a red cabinet and a red ladder combined with yellow, pink, and blue.

Bod colors always work in a neutral-colored home, and the contrasting colors give a unique touch to a room, as you can see with this red side table in a serene apartment.

Burgundy red tiles add a warm tone to the kitchen in a vintage apartment with floral wallpaper, antique furniture, and green accents.

Blue and red is a color combination that works really well, as you can also see in this London mews house where a red bookcase has been added.

Red walls in a sitting room in an eclectic art-filled townhouse in London.

In a unique home in a former furniture workshop, they added a red bath paired with aubergine storage. The sculptural red bath is made in collaboration with Henry Stringer.

The owners of this historic English house really love red. Beside a red living room, they also painted one of the fireplaces red, which they paired with dark green walls.

a deep red armchair in a Fox Island living room designed by Heidi Caillier.

The red sofa really pops in a Victorian room that is painted in a light brown shade.

The Welsh coastline serves as the color inspiration for this Space A designed house. Mustard yellow, blue-gray, and splashes of “safety red” form the base of the color scheme in this seaside home.

Beige walls and a wooden floor form the base of this Scandinavian apartment. Red dining chairs are paired with a mint green table.

Both bathrooms in Rufus Wainwright’s Laurel Canyon home feature red accents.

Bold and unexpected, this Swedish hallway is painted in an orange-red shade and paired with black and white textiles.