My passion for red started at a young age when I first saw former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland’s elegant New York apartment designed by the great decorator, Billy Baldwin. It was always described as the “garden in hell.” To me, it was just heaven. The sofas and chairs were covered in red chintz and the walls were upholstered in red chintz. Beautiful red roses and amaryllis filled every container on every table. She was always the epitome of style. Often photographed dressed in a safari jacket with beautiful ivory bangles and always sitting in her beloved red room.

Billy Baldwin – Red Room

Red is not for the timid. Because it is intense, dramatic, and eternally flattering, designers often rely on a pretty scarlet color to liven up quiet rooms and take the drama up a notch in others. For those who feel intimidated, even the tiniest amount introduced in a room will get noticed. In fact, you can make a big impact by adding small doses on various pieces throughout a room. A smaller space with a cozy atmosphere, such as an entrance hall or library, is an ideal place to introduce red.

Red Room Decorated for Christmas

How to Use It

Finding the right shade of red is critical, But getting the contrasting colors in the room to complement it is just as important. Dark chocolates, charcoal grays, and rich caramels all have enough strength to balance strong vibrant reds. Rich neutrals such as all olive greens and deep blues also set them off well.

When using red on your walls, carefully consider the accent and trim colors. If you have white trim work with red walls, a white ceiling will work best to offset their dramatic wall color. But if you want a deeper moodier look, consider using darker tones on the ceiling. Natural wood ceilings, deep neutral paint colors, and even gold or silver frames or accessories greatly enhance red walls.

Red is well-suited for the rich fabrics associated with winter, such as wool, cashmere, velvet, and leather. Silks that incorporate reds can be some of the most decadent fabrics. Because they tend to be heavier fabrics, they work well as accents.

Tartan and Fresh Greens in the Red Room

My Red Room

I wait all year to bring my red library to life and December is the month I enjoy the most. Having painted it now some 20 years ago with a custom color produced by Ben Moore. I had my painter add five coats of glaze to the walls to give them that shiny lacquered effect. I chose a Bennison fabric, jubilee stripe red on beige for the curtains valance and round table skirt. The round table holds a beautiful French black metal urn that I fill with amaryllis and fresh greens. To anchor the room, I found an old Chesterfield and an antique store in London and had it refurbished and upholstered in a chocolate brown cashmere. A bookcase was designed to house a huge collection of leather-bound books, family pictures, and tartan everything. I have collected tartanware for many years and my collection keeps on growing. Years ago I found a small red chinoiserie book table, the perfect thing to go next to my Chesterfield. This was the finishing touch to a room that truly comes to life for one month of the year.

No matter how the color red is used it brings about a festive feeling that’s perfect for the celebratory season. After all, red is a traditional color of hearts and love. So what better time of the year than the holidays to cover your home in this warming color!

See below my video on using fresh greens for the Holidays in my red room!