Red is home decor’s steamy new palette

While it seems like white, gray and other cool neutrals have taken over many shelter magazines and blogs in the past few seasons, there’s starting to be little rise in temperature. Here and there, dollops of hothouse pink, sultry red and sunset orange are showing up in decorative accessories, rugs and upholstery.

Misty Yeomans, PPG’s color marketing manager for Glidden paint, says a recent company survey found that red is one of the most popular paint colors. That may be because of its range.

“Each red can give off different impressions,” she says. “A dark red implies sophistication, whereas bright red can be considered more powerful and romantic.”

Designers like Amanda Nisbet, Mark D. Sikes and Jessica McClendon have called Benjamin Moore’s Exotic Red, Sherwin-Williams’ Heartthrob, and Farrow and Ball’s Rectory Red among their favorite versions.

“Lighter reds — like pinks — are often thought of as more youthful,” says Yeomans.

That may partly explain the ubiquity of millennial pink, which has shown a lot of stamina over several decor cycles. But there are some new kids on the block.

“Looking ahead to 2018, we’re seeing a shift toward burgundy, and oranges are becoming brighter,” says Dee Schlotter, PPG’s senior color marketing manager.

Orange hues like Olympic Paints’ Orange Poppy and PPG Paints’ Caramelized Orange are cheerful and contemporary, she says.

Corals are also starting to emerge as a transition from the pinks, reports Yeomans, noting Glidden’s Coral Beach and Roseland as examples.

Color specialist Leatrice Eiseman, the author of “The Complete Color Harmony: Pantone Edition” (Rockport, October 2017), says decor trends are often an outgrowth of a desire for change. “And color can certainly provide the spark, specifically in the more vivid tones.”

Benjamin-Moore just named Caliente, a rich spitfire of a red, as its 2018 Color of the Year.

There are lots of ways to bring these energetic colors into a room.

“You can easily tap into the trend by adding an accent wall,” Yeomans suggests. “If you’re not ready to add these bold tones to walls, the back of bookshelves, interior and exterior doors and accent furnishings provide great alternative spaces.”

Temper the heat with black, navy, gray, cream or green.

Add spice to the kitchen with red countertop appliances, canisters, bowls or linens. Or wade in deep with Kitchenaid ‘s or Smeg’s candy-apple-red ranges; Smeg and Viking also have red fridges.

Home Decorators’ Monte Carlo club chair comes in rich burnt orange or burgundy recycled leather. At World Market, a traditional wing chair gets fuchsia velvet upholstery, and there’s a Persian-inspired area rug decked out in a vibrant geranium, poppy, tangerine and navy palette.

AllModern has a wide array of cotton, velvet and metallic throw pillows in solids and patterns that pick up hot pinks, tangerines and reds. Here too, a squooshy deep pink shag rug that’s got a warm, happy vibe.