Designers Embrace Red as the Hottest Interior Design Trend

From persimmon to paprika, experts share how to incorporate the bold color into your home.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Red has been a standout color in fashion for several seasons, and now interior designers are predicting its rise in home decor for 2026 as well. Designers like Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri and Sophie Lou Jacobsen are embracing red's emotional and sophisticated qualities, offering tips on how to balance the bold hue with natural materials to create a layered, soulful look.

Why it matters

As a highly emotive color, red has the power to breathe new life into drab spaces and reflect transitional periods. While it can feel intimidating, designers are showing how to incorporate red in a grounding, elegant way that complements natural textures and creates a sense of warmth and intimacy.

The details

Designers are predicting red will be a top interior design trend for 2026, with experts like Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri and Sophie Lou Jacobsen embracing the color's emotional and sophisticated qualities. Shamshiri notes red "holds heat, intimacy, and life," while Jacobsen calls it a "color of timeless elegance; complex, and emotional." To balance red's intensity, London designer Anna Haines recommends pairing it with natural materials like linen, timber, and vintage textiles.

  • Red has been a standout color in fashion for several seasons.
  • Designers are predicting red will be a top interior design trend for 2026.

The players

Pamela Shamshiri

Co-founder of Los Angeles-based design studio Studio Shamshiri.

Sophie Lou Jacobsen

New York-based designer who recently launched a collection called "Life in Rouge" focused solely on the color red.

Anna Haines

London-based designer who recommends balancing red with natural materials to soften its intensity.

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What they’re saying

“Red is one of the most emotional colors you can use—it holds heat, intimacy, and life.”

— Pamela Shamshiri, Co-founder, Studio Shamshiri (Vogue)

“Red is a color of timeless elegance; complex, and emotional.”

— Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Designer (Vogue)

“For me, red works best when it enriches a space quietly rather than announcing itself. I'm drawn to using it in a way that feels soulful and layered.”

— Anna Haines, Designer (Vogue)

The takeaway

As a bold and emotive color, red is poised to make a major impact on interior design in 2026. By balancing the intense hue with natural textures and materials, designers are showing how to incorporate red in a sophisticated, grounding way that breathes new life into spaces and reflects personal transitions.