Paint Colour Spotlight: Red

Jan 19

It’s the time of year that after the holiday decor gets packed away, many of us look around our spaces and feel the need for a little refresh. If you’re looking to update your space with a fresh shade of white paint or a softer neutral, I’ve got you covered here and here.

But if you’re leaning towards something a little more colourful, you’re in the right place! To kick off 2024, this month I’ll be sharing some colourful home inspiration and rounding up all my favourite paint colours, hue by hue. Find all the colour spotlights here: pink, yellow, blue, green and brown.

Red (and burgundy in particular) keeps popping up in recent trend predictions and for good reason. We’re moving away from the white walls and cool neutrals that dominated interiors over the past decade towards warm, rich and earthy tones… and nothing beats a deep red for creating a cozy vibe.

Burgundy walls in bar area with plush red stools — Image Source: Jake Arnold

Some of us might have lived with the burgundy red and forest green rooms of the 1980s and 90s (and have no desire to go back), but with any trend that cycles over the decades, it looks a little bit different this time around. To keep this colour fresh for 2024, look for darker reds that are less bright and veer more towards the plum or red-brown spectrum; choose lighter reds that have rusty or terracotta undertones (versus bright pink ones).

Burgundy accent wall and built-in desk — Image Source: Studio McGee

Try using red to add colour back to black, white, and grey spaces. Rich burgundy tones also pair beautifully with warmer coloured neutrals like beige, camel, or taupe.

Dining Room with Burgundy Red Wall and Marble dining table — Image Source: Angel O’Donnell

For the more fearless, try a tone-on-tone look of pink and burgundy. The pink is less jarring than pairing burgundy with white trim or a stark white ceiling, and the burgundy will ground a fresh pink.