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July Fourth is around the corner, but I promise that has nothing to do with what I’m about to reveal: Red and blue are having a moment in interiors. From tableware and lighting to kitchen cabinets and flooring, I’ve clocked this duo—usually presenting itself as powder blue and cherry red—all over lately. And I’m not the only one smitten with summer’s hottest color combo.
“Pairing a red with a dusty or powder blue gives an elevated look to a very familiar color palette we’ll be sure to see more of in the next couple of years,” Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, shared with me when I asked her how she was feeling about spotting the hues together. British interior designers in particular are putting red and blue spaces to work. Alice Palmer used them to bring some spark to a cavernous laundry room, while Laura Stephens made classic bathroom millwork feel super playful. Here are our favorite ways to pull it off, plus our favorite products to get the look.
Bring Life Into a Laundry Room
“I wanted to add some interest and character into a space that is so often an afterthought and quite sterile in its design,” Palmer explains her reasoning for going with a not-so-average palette in this laundry room. Because nearly everything is tucked behind a curtain or cabinet, it was the perfect opportunity to embrace bold color and patterns without worrying about the room feeling cluttered. She opted for a high-gloss red paint on the cabinets to help reflect light and a floral blue wallpaper print from her own brand, Alice Palmer & Co., to soften up the richness of the red.
Set the Tone
On paper, the two bathrooms in this London home have a lot in common: fluted red vanity doors and blue wall paneling. But in reality, Stephens’ made them feel unique by leaning into a cool toned combo in one setting and dialing up the brightness in another. Which direction you go can be the difference between a chic guest space and a fun hub for kids.
Throw It Back to the 1950s
There’s something very retro about red and blue, especially in a kitchen. While the curved cabinets (painted Sherwin-Williams’ Bluebird Feather) and cement counters in this Pittsburgh kitchen go along with the mid-century architecture, the zellige tile backsplash brings it up to speed.
Skip the Rug
Red and blue are so eye-catching together that they can really define a space. That’s a good thing when you want to draw guests into a particular area (like a dining room) that’s got a specific use (gathering).
Make Sleep a Priority
Fariz Mamedov, founder of FM Interiors, drenched his client’s tiny bedroom nook in a calming shade of dark blue, but defined the 77-square-foot area from the living room by marking the trim with a matte red paint.
Get the Look
Red and blue’s summery reputation lends itself to outdoor furniture. Sunbrella’s collaboration with L.A.-based brand Block Shop is the latest to hit shelves. The motifs, including this key design, are all inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Los Angeles (circa 1919), giving them a timeless appeal.
Straight from NYCxDesign: Hudson Grace’s collaboration with designer Peter Dunham. Each of these paisley-patterned plates is hand-painted in Italy.
Consider this slightly nautical striped shower curtain the no-demo answer to Stephens’ playful bathroom designs.
We’ve long loved Nickey Kehoe’s Tuxedo sofa, but realizing it comes in this Americana-inspired colorway was like discovering the couch for the very first time again.
We were ahead of the curve when we designed this ruffle pillow in collaboration with Heather Taylor Home in 2023.
Another European designer who is loving this color combo? Beata Heuman. Her Direktörs Lampa has an articulated joint beneath the shade that allows you to achieve the perfect lighting angle.
Backdrop’s spring wallpaper drop included the Draper Stripe, a playful take on pinstripes and men’s suiting fabrics. If you look closely at the lines, you can make out a hint of blue.
Swedish rug brand Layered’s Rollakan collection is a celebration of traditional Scandinavian women’s craftsmanship, making this wool rug an extra special pick.