The Power of Red (Even When You’re Not Expecting It)

There’s something about red. It cuts through. It interrupts. It sticks. In a world where minimalism and monochrome still dominate a lot of visual culture, red has managed to sneak back in—one pop at a time.

That’s the whole idea behind the “Unexpected Red Theory,” a now-viral design take that suggests adding a single red detail to a room (or layout, or graphic, or outfit) instantly elevates the whole thing. It doesn’t need to match. In fact, it’s better if it doesn’t. That red lampshade, cushion, or type accent doesn’t blend—it stands out, and that’s exactly the point.

According to designer Taylor Migliazzo Simon, who coined the theory, she started noticing red being used in thoughtfully styled spaces on Pinterest—sometimes as small as a picture frame or a book spine. But each time, it added tension, contrast, spark. A little jolt of energy.

And red’s power isn’t limited to interiors. The same principle applies across design disciplines: branding, editorial, digital, even motion. It’s the color of urgency, of human emotion, of drama and joy and rebellion. “Red is the colour of the exaggerated, the extreme, passion, fire, desire,” as filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar once said. It’s bold. It’s alive. It knows what it’s doing.

That’s the beauty of it—red isn’t always loud, but it is always intentional. In a neutral or tightly curated space, it becomes the moment your eye stops scrolling. The beat that changes the rhythm. It’s proof that sometimes the best design decisions are the ones that break the rules, just a little.

So if you’re looking to add something new to your visual toolkit, maybe start with a little red. Not too much. Just enough to shake things up.