The 17 Best Red Room Ideas

In a London townhouse, designer Guy Oliver dialed up the drama with a mirror-finish paprika lacquer. A repurposed 19th-cenutry marble-topped commode and a black-and-white photo taken by his client add the prettiest juxtaposition.

One way to ensure guests never have trouble finding the powder bath? Place it behind a ruby red door, like the one in this London apartment designed by the one and only Alidad.

In this sitting room designed by Barrie Benson, deep berry-red lacquered walls add the perfect amount of drama. A gilded ceiling and leather chaise keep the glamorous vibes going.

According to Italian-born designer Alessandra Branca, red is life, and we couldn’t agree more. The glazed dining room walls in her Chicago townhouse create a vivacious spirit that lends itself perfectly for the holidays or an intimate dinner party. The Maison Jansen chairs are covered in a Casa Branca fabric.

A sleepy Victorian-era rowhouse in the heart London is revived with the help of lively color and buzzy patterns. Interior designer Gary McBournie doused the walls of the main living room in a delicious cherry red that perfectly frames the cheerful window seat. The striped banquette fabric is produced by Pierre Frey.

For this Connecticut game room, decorator Ashley Whittaker needed to ensure the quaint space exuded a playful spirit that matched its intended use. This was achieved by utilizing two 18th-century Indo-Persian borders by Pierre Frey which is not only a transportive take on the traditional striped wallpaper but it feels exciting and youthful. The game room’s polished brass drinks tables are by Soane Britain.

Decorator Anthony Baratta dials up the drama in this Upper West Side pied-à-terre with Americana style. Stripes assert themselves throughout the bedrooms both boldly as wallpaper (Bennison) and more subtly as trims that emphasize the contours of furnishings. The pineapple-finial bed is Baratta’s own design.

Inspired by her father’s iconic red rooms, decorator Alexa Hampton wanted to challenge the notion that red can’t be used in the bedroom for the Kips Bay Show House. Hampton’s most important tip is to always balance the fiery shade with a crisp white to create artful contrast. The new digitized collection of maps by Gracie covering the walls further balances the bold space.

Designer Todd Romano dared himself to push taste to its limits in his modest two-story, Georgian Revival home in San Antonio. Auburn wool felt walls (Claremont) make artwork and Peruvian mirrors come alive in the primary bed. A Louis XV-style step stool in gauffrage velvet (Lee Jofa) sits at the end of the bed.

An antique Venetian fabric cloaks the walls of the entry and creates a lively welcome for guests visiting designer Micky Hurley’s exquisite Paris loft.

The earthly palette decorating the guest rooms at The Alisal Guest Ranch by designer Nathan Turner directly reflects the resort’s surroundings. The brick-red walls (Picture Gallery Red by Farrow & Ball) pull the warm tones out of the rustic bed linens.

Designer Miles Redd took color cues from the coral reef cays of the Abacos and covered the walls of this Baker’s Bay bedroom with a muted-geranium wallcovering. The headboard and bed linens are from Serena & Lily.