The best red paint colours are rarely the brightest. The reds that look good on a wall for years are the complex ones: crimsons deepened with a little black or blue, and earthy reds softened with brown. Our favourites include Farrow & Ball's Incarnadine (248) and Radicchio (96), Little Greene's Baked Cherry (14), and the earthier Red Earth (64) and Scarlet 'n' Rust (316).
Red is a colour people are often nervous of, and with good reason: the wrong red can feel loud and flat. The right one is warm, enveloping and surprisingly easy to live with, particularly in rooms used in the evening.
Below, we group our favourite reds from all three brands by character, then cover where they work best and how to pair them.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Incarnadine (248)
How to choose a red
Before looking at individual colours, it helps to know which family of red you are drawn to.
- Crimsons and burgundies lean towards blue. They feel rich, formal and a little glamorous, and suit dining rooms, libraries and hallways.
- Bright, clean reds are lively and modern. They work best in small doses or in rooms you pass through.
- Earthy reds lean towards brown or terracotta. They are the most relaxed of the three, and can behave almost like a warm neutral.
Farrow & Ball put it simply: lighter reds suit a relaxed, inviting mood, while deeper reds give a more elegant, sophisticated look.
Deep, classic reds
- Incarnadine (248). Farrow & Ball call it their richest crimson, similar to the deep glossy red David Hicks used in the 1970s, and describe it as unashamedly classic and glamorous.
- Eating Room Red (43). A rich burgundy with an aged feel. Farrow & Ball describe it as their most elegant red, named after the red damasks popular in dining rooms in the mid 19th century.
- Very Well Red (426). A deep, traditional red from Paint & Paper Library that suits a library or dining room.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Radicchio (96)
Brighter, more modern reds
- Radicchio (96). Named after the crimson leaves of Italian chicory. Farrow & Ball explain that it contains less blue pigment than Eating Room Red, so it is brighter and more contemporary, filling a room with energy without the brashness of a true, clean red. Note that it is one of their archive colours, made to order.
- Bamboozle (304). A bright red that Farrow & Ball say brings rooms to life. Lovely in a cloakroom, a hallway or on a kitchen island.
- Atomic Red (190). Little Greene's vivid, unapologetic red, best on a door, a piece of furniture or a single statement wall.
- Carmine (189). For something closer to pink, Little Greene's Carmine is a vibrant, dusky pink with the energy of a red but a softer, more playful character. It is wonderful on a single chair or a piece of furniture.
Earthy, softer reds
- Red Earth (64). Farrow & Ball note that a muted red like Red Earth adds a relaxed feel. A whole room in it reads almost like a warm neutral.
- Rectory Red (217). A rich, clean red that Farrow & Ball describe as a blackened and aged version of Blazer (212), and a warming colour that intensifies in a small space.
- Scarlet 'n' Rust (316). A deep red with a rusty, earthy edge from Paint & Paper Library, handsome with natural wood and linen.
- Baked Cherry (14). A warm, mellow red from Little Greene that sits comfortably in older houses.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Scarlet 'n' Rust (316), Mink (297), Clean White (101)
Where to use red, and what to pair it with
If you are unsure, Farrow & Ball suggest starting in a room you spend less time in, such as a cloakroom, hallway or guest bedroom. Red also comes into its own in dining rooms, where it is flattering by lamplight.
- Classic: a deep red or burgundy on the walls with white woodwork. Farrow & Ball pair Incarnadine and Eating Room Red with Dimity (2008), a warm, pale white.
- Tonal: several reds together, which softens the room because there is no harsh contrast.
- Statement: red with black, green or pink. Farrow & Ball suggest Incarnadine with Tanner's Brown (255) woodwork for a lavish hallway.
Reds are strong, deep colours, so start from the correct primer and undercoat and allow for two full topcoats. Sample generously and look at your boards by daylight and lamplight before deciding. Our guide to choosing colours by room orientation explains how your light will change them.
Questions we are often asked
Will a red room feel too dark?
Deep reds make a room feel enclosed and warm, which is often the aim. If you want lightness, choose an earthy red such as Red Earth, or keep the ceiling pale.
What is the most classic red?
For a traditional dining room or library, Eating Room Red and Incarnadine are hard to beat.
Which finish suits a red room?
A flat matt such as Farrow & Ball's Estate Emulsion or Little Greene's Absolute Matt Emulsion shows red at its richest. In a busy hallway, choose a tougher, wipeable matt such as Modern Emulsion or Intelligent Matt Emulsion.
