We’re all trying to make our homes more interesting without trying too hard. It’s evidenced by a catalogue of “cool girl” apartments that flood social media.
If you’re chronically online, you might have come across the viral Unexpected Red Theory, which claims that an unexpected pop of red can transform any space.
While tempting for those of us on a tight budget, is it actually true? I spoke to Sarah Seung-Mcfarland, a licensed psychologist with a particular focus on design and identity about the trending design theory to understand how it started and if red really holds that power.
How Did Unexpected Red Theory Come To Be?
“Well, of course it’s a little bit of a marketing gimmick to create hype, to say any space [would be improved with a pop of red],” Sarah says. “ I don’t think that’s something new, but I think it’s just being marketed in a different way.”
Sarah suggests that great marketing (and styling) might be to thank for the theory’s success online. However, she doesn’t think it’s a bad thing and is very clear on the psychological benefits of red in design.
“I get where it’s coming from,” she continues. “Red is a stimulating colour. It energises. So if you have a pop of that in it, it creates interest.”
Does Unexpected Red Theory Work?
To Sarah, red theory works beyond the neutral spaces used as examples online. She says: “It’s not even a neutral that you have to use for it to pop. Even if you use something on the same side of the colour wheel, like a very pale pink and then a red, that’s different.”
She also suggest that different shades of pink and red like coral can work well here. Earlier in the episode, she refers to the colour wheel; close colours on the colour wheel look great together. The key is to vary the vibrance of the colours, she explains.
“That’s not what you would expect,” she continues. “so I think there’s different ways to do it and it does make things pop if it’s done in the right way. I guess that’s where [unexpected red theory] is coming from.”
You can watch the full episode with Sarah at Broke in Tweed’s Youtube channel and subscribe to be the first to know about our podcast, home tours and special episodes.
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