Top Ten Picks for Red House Paint!

Perfect Red for Painting a Room by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Thinking of painting a room red? Here are some great shades of red to try from top interior designers. Red is a great way to add energy to your home decor.

As interior designer Anthony Baratta says in House Beautiful, “Nothing makes me happier than a red lacquered room. Think of candy apples and firecrackers on the Fourth of July. We’ve done many rooms in red, and they’re exciting and cozy at the same time. A red room always keeps the blues away!”

Tulip Red: “I prefer the warm, vibrant reds to the historic reds, which are beautiful but sedate. This is a daring red, a real fire engine red. It has a playfulness that reminds me of a little red schoolhouse.” –Ruthie Sommers Pictured, Fine Paints of Europe

Tuscon Red: “This is a very bricky red. I prefer the warmth of earth tones to the bluer reds, which are trickier — some make me think of nail polish. I’m fine with bluer reds on my toes, but not necessarily on my walls.” –Alexa Hampton Pictured, Benjamin Moore

Salsa: “Red is the color of excitement, and I tend to go for corally orange reds. With red, you know you’ve arrived and you glance in the mirror and realize how great you look and breeze right in.” –Keith Irvine, Benjamin Moore

Ruby Red: “Red is a neutral for me. Like red nail polish, it’s classic. It goes with everything. I actually had that Coco Chanel red lacquer nail polish matched, and I painted the floors of my living and dining rooms with it. They’re the most fun floors I’ve ever had.” –Alison Spear Benjamin Moore

Red: “All my life I’ve pursued the perfect red. I can never get painters to mix it for me. It’s exactly as if I’d said “I want Rococo with a spot of Gothic in it and a bit of Buddhist temple” — they have no idea what I’m talking about.” –Diana Vreeland Benjamin Moore

Moroccan Red: Benjamin Moore recommended by designer Paula Perlini.

Million Dollar Red: “It’s a true, deep red. I like the temperature of it: it’s a bit cooler. But a little red goes a long way. It’s good in areas where you don’t spend much time or in boring areas that need a strong burst of color.” –Roderick Shade Benjamin Moore

Lattice Red: “Red never goes out of style. It’s full of life — always fresh, always fun to wake up to. We go for reds with less blue in them and more orange because they’re happier to live with.” –William Diamond and Anthony Baratta Ralph Lauren Paint

Chili Pepper: “This is a really deep coral, kind of like a cheerful Chinese red. Pinks and reds to me are synonymous with frozen drinks and relaxing.” –Richard Mishaan Benjamin Moore