What is the ‘Unexpected Red Theory’ and why is it taking over Australian homes?

Australian home style enthusiasts are embracing an adventurous new interior design trend that’s a far cry from the beige and white styles that were so popular just a few years ago.

Stylists are getting creative with colors and turning to adventurous shades of red to make a space look more luxurious.

The ‘Unexpected red theory‘ was popularized by American interior designer Taylor Migliazzo Simon on TikTok earlier this year and has taken the design world by storm.

She described it as when you “add something that’s red – big or small – to a room where it doesn’t all go together, and it automatically creates [it] looks better’.

But many go beyond small red accents – and decorate walls, ceilings and sometimes entire rooms with the striking hue.

Interior designer Kellie Richardsonfrom Melbourne, told FEMAIL she is seeing an increase in homeowners experimenting with colour, and said red can be used to bring a space to life.

“Red is one of those colors that is very powerful in many different ways, especially in the psychology of color,” she said.

‘Adding something quirky in a hint of red to a room will definitely add more texture to the room. It makes the room speak much more.’

Many of Kellie’s clients love incorporating red into their homes, and in some cultures it is often associated with money, love and prosperity.

“If you’re standing in a room and you see something that’s red, your eyes are automatically drawn to that color and that object,” she said.

‘If that’s what you wanted from your room [tell] a story about the people who live in that house, red is the way to do it.’

Kellie said she tends to opt for more muted, earthy reds, such as a “rich” burgundy.

‘It’s a beautiful bold color and a way to integrate the red by adding more brown tones to soften the drama. You can use burgundy with black, pink and light blue and the color will pop much better,” she said.

‘The new thing that is coming back is not so fiery; it’s a lot softer and still has that richness.”

Fans of bold fire engine red or those not brave enough to commit to the color can add playful dashes in any room to add interest.

‘You can do it with some cushions, throws and artwork. You can combine it with other colors and different shades so that it stands out, speaks for itself and tells the story of the room,” Kellie explains.

“Cushions, throws and artwork aren’t overly expensive these days, and as our styles change over the years, you can put them away and swap for a different color.”

Levix recently announced the residential finalists of its yearbook Color awards and proved the impact of red and how much it has taken over the Australian corporate identity.

Homes from across the country were shortlisted for their designers’ innovative use of color.

There are spaces that show how the ‘Unexpected Red Theory’ can add an element of surprise or sophistication through the subtle use of art and household items.

Others fully embraced red, experimenting with different shades on walls and large pieces of furniture.

SJB Interiors’ Gold Coast apartment did both, adding ruby ​​red chairs in a sunny yellow dining room and cladding the entryway walls in a unique vermillion shade.

Brooke Aitken Design went all out with deep red in the master bedroom and cohesive accents peppered throughout the green hallways and crisp white living room.

Kellie said people shouldn’t be afraid to play with color and said they should start with neutral large items and add vibrancy to the smaller details.

“You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a nice house, you can do it on a budget, you just have to be smart in the way you do it,” she said.

“As long as you have your most important items, like your sofas and your coffee tables, in a fairly neutral color palette, the colors and things you can put together can be great.”