Red, a staple in recent fashion seasons, is set to influence interior design in 2026, according to designers polled by Vogue. Experts highlight the color's emotional depth and versatility, from subtle accents to bold room transformations. They share tips on incorporating red through furniture, fixtures, and paint while balancing it with natural elements.
Designers anticipate red's prominence in interiors for 2026, following its sustained popularity in fashion. Pamela Shamshiri of Los Angeles-based Studio Shamshiri describes red as "one of the most emotional colors you can use—it holds heat, intimacy, and life." She recalls a client presenting a brass dish of paprika as a color reference, emphasizing red's grounding quality when drawn from tactile sources.
New York designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen has launched a collection called “Life in Rouge” centered on red, calling it a hue of "timeless elegance; complex, and emotional." For those hesitant about full immersion, London-based Anna Haines suggests pairing red with natural materials like linen, timber, and vintage textiles to temper its intensity. Haines notes, “For me, red works best when it enriches a space quietly rather than announcing itself,” adding that it feels soulful and layered.
Designers recommend microdosing red through accents, such as Jacobsen's choice of Orior’s Bembo credenza in bright red Italian leather, which she says grounds a room. In utilitarian spaces, Frances Merrill of Reath Design praises a cherry red stove for adding an "invigorating jolt" to the kitchen, advising restraint in surrounding elements.
For bolder approaches, Nicole Hollis advocates painting entire rooms red, stating it creates a calming effect. Shamshiri concurs that brighter reds on walls become soothing when applied with conviction, paired with natural materials and antiques. Softer shades like burgundy, paprika, and brick red offer gentler entry points; Shamshiri favors orange-based reds for their warmth and vitality, while Haines prefers brick tones for their depth and longevity.
Specific products include the Rosamund sofa by Joon Loloi, Lucca round side table by Lulu and Georgia, and paint options like Negroni by Backdrop Home and Baked Cherry by Little Greene.
