Restful is not the first feeling that raises to mind when we think of the colour red. Red is known for passion, energy, and even anger. However, these three home designs display a skillfully balanced approach to the red accent through intelligent spacing and use of tone. We’ll look at red decor that's cooled by pale grey expanses and white intervals, before we tour an apartment that’s coloured only by its furniture. Finally we’ll visit a sophisticated home interior where an earthy red palette is pushed back by solid volumes of black, cream and white. Red is unmistakably the starring character in each of these homes, but never overplays its part.
In Irkutsk, Russia, this 38 square metre home design uses fearless red accents separated by a neutralising swathe of restful grey and white.
Consistent cool tones push apart saturated red accents, commanding calm breathing space between.
A modern sofa adds a botanical print to the living room, where shades of grey and muted red combine.
The two sofas are raised on chrome feet, which gives the red room a clean and spacious feel.
Behind the lounge arrangement, a round dining table is teamed with iconic Arne Jacobsen drop chairs.
The table’s cold white finish quenches the fire of the chairs hot red colourway.
White decorative vases add a sculptural element to the small dining set.
A grey kitchen unfolds alongside the dining area, settling quietly into the grey background.
An oversized red dining room pendant light closely matches the circumference of the table, colourfully anchoring it in its spot.
In Łódź, Poland, red furniture is appointed to establish the colour theme of the apartment, whilst wall paint is kept entirely neutral in warm white. A red modular sofa rests on a matching rug in the compact lounge to create one combined statement.
A red wall cabinet peeps around the corner from the hallway, raising the bright accent up to eye level.
Beading creates a classic panelled effect across the wall, which captures the TV and red wall unit inside their own domains.
A gold designer table lamp tones warmly with the red notes in the room, and with smooth wood grain that shapes the storage cabinets and round coffee table.
On top of the mezzanine, hanging plants provide lush green contrast with the muted red decor elements. The foliage falls onto a one wall kitchen, which pales into the background of the colour rich lounge.
Dining chairs take the gold accent to the other side of the living room, where a circular dining table forms a chic matching set with the coffee table.
A trio of pendants make a large but light statement over the pedestal dining table, drawing the eye up to appreciate the lofty ceiling height.
The red wall unit snugly wraps around the corner of the hall into a recessed home entryway to form a set of decorative shelves.
A floor bed increases the sense of height up on the mezzanine. A small linear wall light shines over a custom made headboard.
Our last tour takes place in an earthy red, cream and white apartment design with basic black accents. A light rug brings a stretch of plush texture to the lounge area of the open plan, which juxtaposes smooth coffee tables and plain sofa upholstery.
Large pieces of modern art paint accent colours into white spaces.
Wherever there is a pause in furniture there is a piece of artwork to amuse the eye.
Tactile light woodtone forms the nesting coffee tables by the sofa, whilst a darker grain builds a bespoke window seat across the room’s width.
Black window reveals are mirrored by black accent pillars on the opposite side of the room. Black decorative vases seem to tumble out of a painting, bringing its dark abstract form to life.
A red ceiling plane makes clear zoning over the kitchen. Matching red kitchen cabinets fill the far wall, resulting in one glorious seamless statement of colour.
The red ceiling treatment is employed to define an open plan hallway too. A large terrarium of cacti splits the walkway from the sitting room.
The kitchen pendant light is mounted dead centre of its red ceiling panel, illuminating a crisp white island. See more stylish ideas for kitchen pendant lights.
Mosaic tiles crackle down a hallway of muted red storage units. A black front door is framed in matching paintwork to achieve one solid colour blocked effect.
A black accent wall mirrors the effect at the top of the hallway. Black track lights guide the way into the living room.
Inside the red bedroom, a slatted statement wall contrasts richly behind the grey platform bed.
Vertical linear wall lights complement the slatted wall feature, and contrast with the curves of a chic hourglass bedside table.
A comfortable reading chair is made even cosier with one of the grey throw pillows from the bed.
The bedroom TV wall is a seriously smart yet simple piece of design, made from a framed timber slab and LED strips.
A modern wall sconce is mounted onto the wooden TV mount to light a minimalist floating desk below.
The crackle mosaic tile from the hall makes its way into the bathroom, and all over the shower wet zone and cistern wall.
A racetrack vanity mirror and a unique ceiling suspended shelving unit team up with a contemporary pedestal sink.
The bathroom's red accent wall reflects in the mirror, opposite a cooling wall of raw concrete.
tiles and slatted accent wall are cut through by a clean white bathtub and searing white LED track light.
Black fixtures and fittings firmly weight the scheme.
