what colors go with red

What Colors Go With Red? (13 Perfect Colors)

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Red is a color that is strong, vibrant, powerful, and energetic. It demands attention and evokes a passionate and determined feel that creates a loud statement.

Using this color in a decor is invoking and daring but with the correct color palette, you can easily achieve a stimulating interior design that will soon become your favorite space to hang out.

Whether it’s a muted, natural, or intense shade of red, these tones can quickly be matched with complementary and contrasting colors for a decor that is pleasing and inviting.

The best colors that go with red are warm colors such as brown, orange, mustard yellow, gold, mink, and cream, or cool colors such as grey, navy, teal, green, and purple. Black and white also pair well together with red for a striking visual. 

All of these red color combinations work well together to design a space that is stunningly beautiful and boosts your creativity, energy, and excitement.

If you’d like to explore each and every color that goes well with red to inspire you to create your dream decor and color palette, here are more details about the various red color combinations:

Best Colors That Go With Red

1. Brown

Red and brown decor

From light to dark shades of brown, this color can be used to tone down or enhance any particular shade of red. 

This warm and natural color immediately brings warmth into a room that enhances that cozy and comfortable feeling. 

Since brown and red are two warm colors, they work especially well together to create a decor that is wholesome with the right combination of vibrance and simplicity. 

Brown can be used in many ways along with the color red in a decor. 

For instance, furnishing with natural wood can be a great choice if you have mainly a red color scheme. 

This could be having light/dark wooden floors, coffee tables, or cabinets but pairing it with a red sofa and cream walls for an elegant and exquisite living room color scheme.

2. Orange

This is another strong and powerful color that tends to pair well with red. 

Both colors can create a striking and detailed decor that is full of warmth and color that may even spark creativity and joy. 

It would be best to use various shades of orange to create further interest but adding an additional color can help tone things down to decrease the intensity of these two vivid colors.

If you’d like to create a warm yet dark and moody decor, go for muted tones of orange and red instead rather than bright shades for an interesting look.

3. Cream

Red and cream color scheme

When cream and red are used together, this creates a decor that is rich, beautiful, warm, and elegant. 

Having touches of red throughout a cream decor looks absolutely stunning and this is the perfect shade to add that burst of color to a neutral decor that makes it stand out.

Both colors are appealing in their own way but when used together, this is an ideal color palette for a bedroom or living room that will influence your mood positively.

See also: What Goes With A Cream Couch? (Colors & Accessories)

4. Mustard Yellow

Red and yellow go really well together but since these colors are also intense and vibrant, having a more toned-down yellow like mustard yellow will be better suited for this combination.

The red and yellow won’t try to compete but rather will complement each other instead which will make a room look energetic, positive, and fun. 

Pairing these colors with a rich brown,  light teal or black can add an interesting and creative feature to the space that will make this decor a statement piece.

If you don’t want the walls of a room to be red or yellow, consider opting for a more neutral color such as white, grey, or cream to help create a balance. 

5. White

Red and white color palette

As you may know, white is a versatile color that matches most colors but it can look too sterile and clean.

Pairing white with red will create a bold and striking decor that is interesting and appealing. 

Simply having small touches of red throughout a white decor can make a space more noticeable. 

This can also be used the other way around. 

If you’d like to have a contrasting element to a red decor, having white as a secondary color will make a room look rich, expensive, and detailed.

6. Mink

There are various shades of mink but the one that leans towards a pinkish-brown will go really well with any shade of red. 

Even a light, muted shade of pink will match the red since they are pretty much in the same color family. 

This color palette can be used to design a room that is feminine, passionate, and romantic.

As red is a rich pigment, pairing this color with a soft and delicate shade will add that perfect contrast that complements each other.

It’s the perfect color scheme for a bedroom decor as you can have a light pink or mink for the walls while accessorizing with red and adding a few touches of white or a light brown for an interior that oozes charm and elegance.

7. Black

Black and red is definitely a popular combination that has been around forever. 

These two colors can be used to create a dark, moody, yet rich and expensive interior that will evoke a powerful and mysterious aura.

You can use this color to accessorize a red decor or have a balance between the two colors. 

To make a space with this color combination look even more sophisticated and classy, add a few silver accessories or ornaments to the decor.

Even though black matches red rather well, it is important to note that too much of black can have a negative effect on mood and energy. 

Black can be overwhelming or it may evoke feelings of gloom and sadness while also making a small room appear smaller. Its best used in limited quantities to enhance the space.

8. Grey

Red and grey color scheme ideas

For a neutral color that will match well with red, go for grey. 

This is a common color choice for most interiors as this is a cool and simple color that makes a space look timeless and spacious if used correctly.

Grey on its own can look gloomy and dull but when you add a vibrant color like red, this instantly makes it more appealing. 

Consider having light grey walls as a neutral base for a room and then adding the red color throughout for items like duvet, pillows, or chairs in a bedroom.

9. Navy

Red and navy color scheme

Another great color scheme for a moody and dark theme that is rich and elegant, navy with red go incredibly well together.

Both are strong and interesting colors that when paired together, look like a powerhouse. 

You can easily create a color scheme and decor that is electric and dramatic with tones of this blue throughout the space.

10. Teal/Light Blue

Red and light blue decor ideas

Teal, red, and white look absolutely stunning together. 

Whether it’s for a bedroom, kitchen, or living room, these colors will create a room that is the perfect combination of warm and cool. 

For an interior that feels exciting, calming, and refreshing, having a mix of these colors together will be a great choice.

11. Purple

Add a stable and calming presence to a vibrant and energetic red with the color purple.

This color exudes luxury, elegance, and peace but when paired with red, these two colors create a beautiful and cohesive color palette.

It’s an ideal match for a bedroom but it can also work well with a living room.

The great thing about this color combination is that it may be paired with additional colors such as white, brown, cream, or black.

12. Green

Green and red color scheme

Green is another color that goes well with red but the specific shades are light green or mint green to a muted green such as olive green or a darker green such as emerald green.

These greens can enhance red to create a decor that is vibrant and bold.  

Since green is generally known to be a relaxing and soothing color, this will help calm the energetic and busy quality of the red.

Green and red color combinations are also known to be colors used for festive seasons so this is the best blend to stir up feelings of excitement and high energy.

13. Gold

Red and gold color combination

The best way to accessorize a red decor is with gold. 

This color emphasizes wealth, luxury, and royalty that will make any interior look absolutely gorgeous.

Whether you’d like to achieve a modern edge or a traditional finish, having touches of gold throughout the red room will create an irresistible statement piece.

See also: What Goes With A Red Couch? (Colors & Accessories)

Conclusion

If there’s one quality that makes red so enticing is its unique and attractive appeal that transforms an otherwise dull and boring decor into a striking and bold look.

However, red can be an overpowering color, it’s best used in small doses but it can definitely be used as the main color, for instance, creating a dark and moody decor with the color scheme of a muted red with its complements. 

So, if you love the color red, there are many ways to incorporate it into your home with other equally beautiful colors for a well-balanced decor as mentioned above. 

If you enjoyed these ideas, you may want to check out similar posts like these:

What Colors Go With Burgundy? (Top Color Combinations)

What Colors Go With Grey? (11 Best Options)

What Colors Go With Orange? (Best Combinations)

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