After last week’s post on working with tall ceilings, I started thinking that it’s not just our homes’ architecture that we sometimes have to work around. It can also be our past design choices, like living room furniture bought ten years ago that can’t be replaced just yet, or even a paint color you’re not completely in love with, but aren’t willing to change for the time being.
Red is a perfect a example. While gray walls and neutral upholstery may be all over Pinterest and design blogs, there are still lots of red rooms (and red furniture) out there that just need to be freshened up.
A couple of weeks ago, Naomi of Design Manifest did a great post on how a client’s older red sofa could be transformed just by pairing it with new accessories in different accent colors:
Throw pillows, some new accessories and maybe even painting your coffee table a new color are easy ways to get excited about your current furniture without investing the money in new upholstery.
And, what about red walls? Although I don’t have any red walls in our current house, I don’t think every home has to be gray, greige or taupe. Red can be warm, welcoming and work even if your style is far from traditional.
Mix in metallics. Black works great with red, but too many black accents can start to weigh a room down. Red and warm gold tones (like the brass table above) are perfect partners.
Dare to go bold with patterns. Red is a strong color and can handle almost anything you throw at it. Make red modern with bold patterns on the pillows, windows or floors. (I shared another example of how one of my first online clients updated a traditional dining room with a bold patterns here.)
Yes, you can layer reds. You may think contrast is always the way to go, but creating layers of saturated color can make a room feel more modern. Have an old dresser or handed-down buffet? Paint it the same deep color as your walls for an instant update.
Add unexpected accent colors in small doses. Red can be paired with all kinds of colors you may have never considered. Pink, apple green, turquoise. . . But, it’s all a matter of putting that color on the right pieces and in the right doses. The dining room above is a beautiful example. Think of how different it would look if the chairs were the same tone as the table. The green adds instant freshness.
Lonny magazine
Balance red with texture. Adding woven baskets, bamboo shades or a distressed table can all help to make a red room more relaxed and less formal.
Do you have red in your house? After searching for pictures of red rooms, I’m feeling like I might need a little around here. . .
PS—In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m hosting a little party on the blog tomorrow, and you’re all invited :) See you then.
A great post! I’ve been a long time red fan but it can wear on you after a while. These are great tips to keep it fresh!!
I have a red living room and really thinking about painting the room this weekend!! But now that I have seen this might not paint the room after all!!! You just gave me a whole different outlook on the room!!!Thanks so much!!! You are great!!!!
Anita
I’m on a total red kick lately…adding pops of it all over! If I ever get around to painting my DR pale pink, the hits of red will keep it from being too sweet. And the red accents in my LR make it more vibrant. And if Ms Meares does it, it’s good enough for me.
I have a red sectional! I’d love to give it away, but I’ll wait until we either move or the boys get a bit older. It’s great for wiping down, so I shouldn’t complain too much! About a year ago I started pairing it with more teal and black and white, and I definitely think it’s freshened up our place. It’s not exactly what I want in the long run, but I’ve got plenty of time to get exactly what I want, and we’re happy for now!
Fun photos!
Emily, when I read your post, I had to laugh! We are currently remodeling our kitchen and at the same time painting over our red walls and moving our red couches upstairs! Just last night, my husband, “I hate red now.” I guess we weren’t the only ones into red. Great tips for working with it – I know I have some I still have to freshen up some of my other red pieces/decor.
(By the way, I love YOUR red inspiration pics!)
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Great post! Budgets don’t always allow for a total room re-do so I love “workin with whatcha got”!
The funny thing is that I was on red overload and removed it all and now I am slowly inserting a little here and there. Red is just so inviting. Love Carmel’s home.
My name is Jennifer and I am a red fan. Lol. I love this post and definitely believe that working with what you’ve got is necessary so much of the time. I don’t own any red upholstered furniture (I never took that leap) but my bedroom is painted BM’s Moroccan Red and red is one of my main accent colors all through my house. My purse is even a beautiful glossy, candy apple red (thank you Kate Spade). I guess you could say that red is my “signature color” lol! I do love these inspiration photos and the amazing ways that other people use the color red. I love my bedroom just the way it is right now (except Charles needs a new dresser) but when it’s time to switch it up in there I am intrigued by the idea of using blue with it…hmmm. Now the wheels are really turning!
I think I need a house tour soon!
We have a red sofa. It’s about 10 years old and definitely on its way out but not until our boys are a little older and less prone to grass stained knees, spilling drinks (I’m guilty too) and that kind of thing. Holly Mathis helped me out a couple of years ago and we have used pops of teal, yellow and green throughout the room…on the walls and in the pillows. I actually love my sofa now and wish it were in better shape.
I love all the ideas! We don’t have any red in our home, but I’m sure those that do will be inspired to find fun and unique ways to update the look
I have a taupe sofa and tan walls in our family room with several red accents: a pillow, a rose bud heart wreath, and red flameless candles for Valentines Day. My main color accent is navy and I do have mixed metals throughout. So your blog today does support my Creative side :) which I learned I only rank around 20% from another blog this morning.
THANK YOU!! I have a red sofa, chair and a half, and ottoman. They are old and need to be replaced, but we have to work with what we have for now. Love these suggestions!! Thank you!!
Once again, great post. I really dislike the color red, but these photos are starting to convince me it’s not such a bad color!
Super examples – I’m a huge fan of both Naomi and Jamie, so timely. But I know it’s no accident…sigh… you make it look easy Emily:)
I just bought a pottery barn darby bench in RED!! I love red and it has always been my choice of an accent color. Love your thoughts on the color and love your blog. It is my new addiction!! P.S. I am getting ready to paint stripes in my entry way…thanks for the painting advise.
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I love red, it makes such a confident statement. Love your selections of red rooms, very unique yet attainable.
What about the color khaki? One designer referred to it as band-aid brown walls, but could it not be thought of as a beautiful Palamino or Buckskin horse possibly? The color gray could be thought of as some pretty oogly things, as well! What’s up with the color issues?
I love red always have and I always go back to it. Its all over my house in moderation, curtains, pillows, artwork. I love it paired with blue! Carmel does a beautiful job!
I love red. My house has a lot of turquoise and pale blue, and red just looks so happy (and retro?) against those colors. My younger son’s nursery is pale aqua with a bright red dresser and red accents. My kitchen is turquoise with white cabinets and lots of red Fiesta ware.
I love that you are tackling how to live with what we have! I think so many of us on a budget (really, who isn’t!) have this problem.
Please, please tackle how to deal with carpet that may not be your choice in a room! We have some off-white carpet that is actually ok (not a wierd brown or blue or anything) but sometimes it is hard to know what to put with it to make it more updated. It’s no hardwood, that’s for sure.
Thanks!!
Thank you SO much for this post!! I had wanted to replace my deep red sofa and love seat with a light grey modern sectional from Ikea, but they do not ship to hawaii (where we are currently stationed with the Air Force). There are very few furniture stores here, and those that are, are not my style or are far too expenseive. I think this post has given me the boost to find things that can work with my sofas for the next few years until we are back on the mainland. As a SAHM, feeling stuck and depressed every time I walked into my living room, I really cannot say thank you enough!!!
I’m so glad this helped! This is exactly why I’m writing more of these kinds of posts.
We had a red dining room – it was very glam with a light blue ceiling, beautiful formal table, herringbone floors ect…while it looked pretty and was the look I was going for initially, after awhile I didn’t like it at all. I couldn’t wait to get out of the room. No one ever went in there. So we repainted it white and kept the blue ceiling and now we love it. girls do their homework in there, I read my blogs and hubs sometimes works from there, go figure? I still like the look of a red room in magazines but I guess was too incongruous for our family.
I have a red chair in my front room/piano room and even with my gray walls and wood floors I’m trying to figure out how to incorporate it all.
I needed to see this post because I think to myself, maybe I should get rid of it. Nope!
Thanks for always inspiring me!! You rock
This is such a close-to-my-heart post. I have a red sectional similar to one in one of your pix. I am ready to re-do but got some wonderful inspiration from this. It was like kismet!
I love red with a bit of orange in it. The perfect rusty color!
Great post, Emily! Perfect examples for use when clients’ husbands think you’re being a tad too creative! :)
I love the red and apple green!
These posts are so great Emily. I’m a huge fan of Jamie Meares- especially that room -I’m still dreaming of the day when I find a federal mirror at the right price so I can paint it white and hang it somewhere in my family room – yes, I’ve study every inch of that red room ;) It’s funny though when it comes to furniture I almost always play it safe. I go for neutral upholstery almost every time. I feel that furniture is a much larger investment than a can or two of paint – and my diy skills don’t include re-uphosltery but I can rock a paint roller like nobody’s business. ;) Ha! I think this post is also a great example and reminder to follow your own inner design voice – be inspired by the work of others (blogs, mags, Pinterest) but ultimately go with what makes your heart happy and what you feel most comfortable living with. There a lots of colors in the crayola box, just ’cause Pantone only picks one a year doesn’t mean you can’t like them all.
You did a great job of showing that you can have a strong color and simply change out a few things to acheive a completely different look. Great post!
I have a red sectional I got 2 years ago that I LoVe we layered in some natural pillows and some chocolate ones, as well as a fun chocolate and natural chevron and a bold floral. I had always wanted a red sectional and could never imagine not loving it as much as I do now.
I am a huge fan of red. I have painted two pieces of furniture a bold red and LOVE them!
Thanks for the shout-out, Emily! It’s so funny, I used to hate red, but it really is so fabulous when edited well.
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