How to Decorate Red Rooms: The Essentials

Red rooms make a statement.  In deep red, they are rich, elegant, refined, sumptuous, and dramatic.  Brick reds are more earthy, so they’re evocative of country interiors.  And bright reds – like lipsticks – are passionate, powerful, and stimulating.  Here are some of our favorite red rooms.

Red Library: Assouline Paris

Details: Here, the strong orange-red details are lightened by warm beige (in the rug and the limestone walls), but then given a graphic punch by the dark wood cabinetry.  This is a perfect way to balance two dominant colors (red and black).

Image courtesy Assouline Paris

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Red Sitting Room: Carolyne Roehm at Weatherstone

Details: The reds in this room contain shades of blue which are expertly picked up by the blue vase, blue matting around the paintings, and blue details in the upholstery and the rug.  To create a warming effect (perfect around a fireplace), this setting is tied together with gold details.

Image courtesy Carolyne Roehm

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Red Drawing Room: Michelle Nussbaumer

Details: While predominantly red and blue, Michelle’s room shows how you can layer different tints of the same color (reds with pinks, blues with light blues) for a foolproof scheme.  The presence of yellow, warm greens, and wood accents warms up the room.

Image courtesy Michelle Nussbaumer

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Red Living Room: Alessandra Branca’s 2015 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse

Details: Mixed with lots of ivory, this red room feels fresh and lighthearted.  So if you love red but don’t want a heavy look, just use it more sparingly.

Image courtesy Alessandra Branca

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And for those who can’t get enough, you can always take it with you:

Red Wheels: Michelle Nussbaumer’s ikat red truck

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To see more ways to decorate with red, click here.