We are in the middle of a love affair. The object of our affection is bold; it turns heads everywhere it goes; it has a tiny problem with commitment, constantly shifting focus from dresses to sweaters to shoes. The color red has had its moment in the fashion spotlight for many seasons; now, with designers predicting its rise in interiors for 2026 as well, it looks like it’s time to welcome the trend home, too.
“Red is one of the most emotional colors you can use—it holds heat, intimacy, and life,” says Pamela Shamshiri of Los Angeles-based Studio Shamshiri. “I once had a client arrive with a small brass dish filled with a pyramid of paprika as a color reference, a beautiful and precise gesture. Red can feel intimidating, but when it comes from something real, something tactile, it becomes incredibly grounding.” New York-based designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen is similarly enamored; so much so that she recently launched an entire collection (called “Life in Rouge”) based solely around the fiery hue. “Red is a color of timeless elegance; complex, and emotional,” she explains. “We’ve been in the process of re-thinking our brand identity for the past year or so, and red is a color we keep being drawn back to for its bold sophistication.”
Whether you’re looking for an interiors project to reflect a transitional period of your own or simply want to breathe a little life into a drab corner, the re-energizing properties of this bright color make it the perfect tool to kickstart a design refresh. For the daunted, London designer Anna Haines recommends balancing it with natural materials (like linen, timber, and vintage textiles) to soften its intensity. “For me, red works best when it enriches a space quietly rather than announcing itself,” she says. “I’m drawn to using it in a way that feels soulful and layered.”
Vogue’s Favorite Red Decor Pieces:
Ahead, here’s how interior designers actually decorate with red at home—plus the pieces we’re eyeing to inject some of its energy into our own spaces.
Microdosed Moments
“While I love an all-red interior, I prefer to use red as an accent color,” explains Jacobsen. A dining chair here, a fringed accent pillow there… these tiny moments with decor and furniture have the power to make a statement without being too loud. She recently picked up Orior’s Bembo credenza, a low-profile case piece wrapped in bright red Italian leather: “It’s the ideal pop of red for the space; it has grounded the whole room.”
Back to Basics
Red is a playful color; why not use it to bring a little fun to the most utilitarian of home items? Your lighting, your bathroom fixtures, and even your cooking appliances could all be made a little less mundane if you select them in a punchy shade. Frances Merrill, founder of Reath Design, recommends using this hue in one or two select spots for highest impact, and exercising restraint with its surroundings. “This cherry red stove adds an invigorating jolt to the kitchen,” she says.
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Head-to-To(e)mato
Then, there’s the maximalist approach: all red, everywhere. “If you are going to use color, I find being bold and not afraid to paint the entire room one color is the way to go,” explains Nicole Hollis. “It actually has a calming feeling.” Shamshiri agrees: “When brighter reds are used with conviction across walls, they become calming instead of overwhelming. They stop performing, and start holding the room.” She suggests pairing your bright new wall paint with natural materials and antique fixtures to keep the space feeling grounded.
Shades of Scarlet
If, on the other hand, you’re afraid to coat an entire room in floorboard-to-fan tomato red—don’t. Burgundy reds so deep they almost read brown and earthy tones of paprika and persimmon offer a less severe way in to exploring this color trend. Lately, Shamshiri has been drawn to orange-based reds: “They have warmth and vitality, and bring a sense of permanence to a space,” explains the designer. Haines prefers warmer tints of brick red. “These are the shades that carry depth rather than too much sharpness,” she explains. “They tend to age really well within a space, rather than feeling too on-trend.”
