This week we’re revisiting our favorite stories from 2024, like this one:
OK, OK, we’re weighing in on Unexpected Red Theory.
You may have seen the idea crop up in your Instagram feed (or on TikTok, if you’re really up to date). It started with TikToker/designer Taylor Simon, who suggested that adding a dose of red—”big or small, in a room where it doesn’t match”—makes the whole scheme more interesting. (Watch the original video here, if you care to.) Then Farrow & Ball weighed in (and shared a glimpse of The House on Dolphin Street), and we started noticing the principle in some of our favorite projects.
Much like the Wrong Shoe Theory (the idea that choosing a surprising, slightly off-looking shoe can make an outfit), the effect is probably more due to adding something unexpected rather than the color itself. Still, these examples make a strong case for adding a bit of red….
