15 ways to use shades of red in interior design

While many homeowners consider red a challenging hue, the colour actually possesses lots of potential to bring out the sensuality and cosiness of a room. Find out how you can work the colour into your home, without letting it overwhelm your style.

TONING DOWN RED WITH BLACK TOUCHES

In Florence, the historic Palazzo Corsini is home to Italian shoe brand Aquazzura's flagship. Designed by Portuguese firm Casa do Passadico, the majestic space features 17th-century frescoes and vibrant geometric tiles. Extremely powerful and glamorous, the bright red used on some walls and pieces of furniture is balanced with black details. “Our main concern was to create harmony between the historical setting and the contemporaneity of the brand,” says Claudia Soares Pereira, cofounder of Casa do Passadico.

(Photo: Francisco Almeida Dias)

INJECTING A FRESH TOUCH THROUGH LIGHT PINK

In a clean, fresh and sophisticated apartment showroom, design firm Lim + Lu inserted elements of light pink via the sofa and an accent wall, with the space featuring patterned ceramic tiles and black-framed glass sliding doors to add elegance. “We deliberately chose hues that would inject fresh life into the space,” says Elaine Lu, managing director at Lim + Lu. “The thresholds created by the subtle distinctions of colour, texture and material maintain a fluidity to allow a holistic look.”

(Photo: Nirut Ben Jabanpot)

LIGHTING UP WITH PINK AND ORANGE PATTERNED RUGS AND CUSHIONS

In this Brooklyn home by BFDO Architects, cheerful accents are achieved through the use of pink and orange rugs and cushions in the living room. These accessories increase the brightness of the whole space and provide fun pops of colour. Thanks to the chromatic palette, this interior is young and lively. Playful touches of pink and orange are ideal to highlight the abundance of natural light and give a summery feel at any time of the year.

(Photo: FRANCIS DZIKOWSKI/OTTO)

INSPIRING PINK BATHROOM

In the Henrietta hotel in London, interior designer Dorothee Meilichson — founder of Chzon — used a pastel pink to create a bright and feminine bathroom, aiming to put everyone in a good mood. "This shade of pink is very joyful and makes you look good," says Meilichzon.

(Photo: KAREL BALAS)

ADORNING A COSY NOOK WITH RED LIME-WASH PAINT

Studio Robert McKinley was inspired by the coastline and the casual elegance of Europe’s seaside towns to design this four-bedroom home, which is located in Montauk, New York. Furnished with a Moroccan daybed, pillows and linen curtains, the comfortable library has deep red limewash paint walls and ceilings, which evoke the richness of Mediterranean colours. “We were inspired to create a residence that truly feels like a dream home, ideal for relaxed beach getaways,” says Robert McKinley. “To me, summertime is always about entertaining, with friends, at home.”

(Photo: NICOLE FRANZEN)

INCLUDING CORAL TO MAKE A VISUAL STATEMENT

In this 65 sq m apartment, the Casa team – led by Andrea Serboli and Matteo Colombo – designed an arc-shaped, coralcoloured volume in the kitchen, which hides a powder room and is next to the pink terrazzo-like quartz island. That colourful element immediately catches the eye and creates a statement in the living space.

(Photo: ROBERTO RUIZ)

PAINTING AN ACCENT WALL IN BRIGHT RED

“For the Shoreline Waikiki hotel in Honolulu, red was selected as a vibrant backdrop for our 'nature meets neon' concept," says Dan Mazzarini, founder of design studio BHDM. “This bright tone was used for high visual impact. This colour has to be set off by a lot of white as a sort of negative space that allows the eye to rest." In order to soften the intensity of the red on an accent wall, one possible solution is to use textured paints.

(Photo: ADAM MACCHIA)

HIGHLIGHTING ELEMENTS VIA CONTRAST

Spanish design studio Masquespacio – led by Ana Milena Hernandez Palacios and Christophe Penasse – prioritised the mix of bright and soft colours, allowing some furniture pieces to stand out, such as a sofa with pastel pink base against a coral-hued wall. Inspired by the Memphis Group (founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1980), they created a cosy space with vivid colours, geometric forms and plants.

(Photo: BRUNO ALMELA)

ACHIEVING THE ‘WOW FACTOR’ WITH A DAZZLING TOTAL LOOK

“My work is really characterised by the use of bright colours”, says Maximiliano Crovato. “Each tone is studied and chosen according to the client’s personality.” In this 60 sq m flat in Sao Paulo, the mix of fuchsia and red evokes the owner’s style. In addition to these stimulating tones, which cover the walls, ceilings and furniture, the presence of wood gives a sense of warmth.

(Photo: EDU CASTELLO)

FOCUSING ON EARTHY TONES FOR A WARM SPACE

“In Mediterranean countries, so much revolves around the sun – from kitchen ingredients to the experience and lifestyle in the region,” says the Sella Concept team, who were in charge of designing Omar’s Place Restaurant in London. “The sun and circle influenced many design features, including the fluted banquettes, concave sapele wood slats, curved edges and joinery. We worked with a base of earthy colours and textures that are a nod to the restaurant’s Mediterranean background.”

(Photo: NICHOLAS WORLEY)

ADDING ROMANCE AND MODERNITY WITH PINK

In the Room Mate Emir hotel in Istanbul, interior designer Lazaro Rosa-Violan adorned the lobby with pink walls to evoke the tones of the city’s sunsets. “We combined it with black elements to give a modern twist, while the brass details of the wall sconces reflect the romanticism of Istanbul,” explains Rosa-Violan. With many grades to it, pink is flexible. Depending on the surrounding finishes and lighting, it expresses different feelings.

(Photo: ROOM MATE HOTELS)

GOING WITH SALMON PINK WALLS

A member of Grupo Habita, Guadalajara’s Casa Fayette hotel in Mexico features the architectural work of Estudio5, while Dimorestudio designed the interiors. Salmon pink, burgundy and orange, among other bold colours, were preferred in many areas. Both timeless and sophisticated, salmon pink helps to create an intimate ambience, while easily mixing and matching with plants for a tropical touch. This colour is also warm and soothing, making it perfect for an entrance foyer.

(Photo: UNDINE PROHL)

PLAYING WITH COLOURFUL ICONIC CHAIRS FOR A SOPHISTICATED LOOK

In this stylish apartment shaped by Ganna Design, pops of colour were introduced through a series of different pink and red chairs by iconic designers, including the Ant chair by Fritz Hansen and the Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair (DCW) by Charles and Ray Eames. Using energising hues is a good way to integrate classic designs with contemporary interiors. Combining red and pink accents with white, black and neutrals provides a sense of balance.

(Photo: SIEW SHIEN SAM/MWPHOTOINC)

USING ORANGE THROUGH FABRICS

Located in the heart of Paris, Hotel Saint-Marc features Art Deco vibes. Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci, the duo behind Milan-based studio Dimorestudio, used orange through several decorative elements such as velvet chairs and geometric curtains, bringing a touch of surprise and boldness to the unique atmosphere. Using burnt orange helps create a warm, eclectic decor with a vintage vibe, especially when combined with rich textures and fabrics.

(Photo: PHILIPPE SERVENT)

VIVID RED TO ADD DRAMA

In this boutique hotel in Merida, Mexico, the wall in the lobby was painted red for a dramatic effect. Helping to anchor the area, this element makes the double-height space come alive and arouses emotion. The power and vitality of this red reflect exuberance and magnificence. Associated with love and happiness, it attracts attention, whether it is used on big superficies or only through a few details. When red is paired with dark wood, it helps to highlight the historic character of a property. In order to soften the intensity of the red on an accent wall, one solution is to use textured paint or wallpaper

(Photo: CASA LECANDA HOTEL IN MEXICO)

Source: homeanddecor.com.sg