Taylor Swift wearing red lipstick is expected, never unexpected, but for interior design the current trending idea on TikTok and other social media channels is the “Unexpected Red Theory”. It’s not a new idea, but
Taylor Swift wearing red lipstick is expected, never unexpected, but for interior design the current trending idea on TikTok and other social media channels is the “Unexpected Red Theory”. It’s not a new idea, but it’s a new name for a concept that is inspiring a younger generation of interior designers. It’s also a welcome reminder to seasoned professionals that an unexpected pop of red is an empowering and positive statement for the home. One of the easiest (and quickest) ways to put the power of red in your home is with a handmade rug.
Unexpected Red Theory is credited to another Taylor – Brooklyn-based Taylor Simon @intayriors – whose enthusiastic pronouncement on TikTok included her wish that red be “declared a neutral” because “it looks good with everything”. We couldn’t agree more. Red has been a key colour of handmade rugs since time immemorial. Red often predominates in Persian and Tribal rugs and when it doesn’t predominate, shades of red usually appear as accents to highlight specific design elements within patterns. In her video Simon says “adding [red] to a room where it doesn’t match [makes the room] automatically look better”. Simon wisely avoids describing colour theory in her short video, but what she means by “doesn’t match” is the impact shots of red can make in analogous and complementary colour schemes. It’s not far-fetched to say that red can energise any room and introduce a sense of positivity.
Simon’s reel trended quickly. Of the many comments (1303 to date) one person suggested the theory should be renamed “The Cherry On Top Theory”. Introducing a rug with pops of red in it to a room is indeed the cherry on top. Another commenter described red as the “lipstick of any space”, which brings us back to Taylor Swift who is famed beyond her music (of course) for her power statement red lipsticks. An essential takeaway from Taylor Swift for interiors is that there is no one single red that is “right”. When she released her album Red in 2012 her lipstick shade was a bluish-red. When she re-recorded Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021 the red she chose for public appearances was scarlet. The same lesson applies to interiors: use red, but find the shade that speaks to you.
We don’t name the shades of red that can be discovered in our curated selection of vintage and antique handmade rugs, but rest assured any shade of red lipstick that Taylor Swift has worn – everything from Blood Lust to Dragon Girl to Ruby Woo to the dark shade of Strengthen – can be found in our vast rug collection. Swifties and fans of Taylor Simon already know the power of red. For those yet to discover it, why not give your home the gift of an “unexpected red” rug? You will find that over time red will become an expected, supportive and powerful friend.