Until very recently, Farrow & Ball's Etruscan Red was an archived paint color. Now, this deep red paint has made its way back into the paint brand's palette, and it's given us a fresh appreciation of how stylish it is.
Even more so, since Farrow & Ball took to Instagram to share three different ways to decorate with this dark red paint, which demonstrates just how liveable and sophisticated it is.
Below, we've rounded up each of these decorating ideas to give you some inspiration for your own red room ideas.
'Red is linked to passion, energy, and action. The color is also associated with increasing our metabolism, hence its popularity in dining rooms. At the darker end, a reddish-brown shade like Etruscan Red can look elegant and dramatic in a bedroom and deliver a super cozy warm aesthetic,' explains Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball.
If you're looking for a red paint that's not too saturated, Etruscan Red makes a stylish choice. Its brown tones give it a sophisticated and warming feel that adds lots of depth to rooms.
1. Use it in a kitchen
While kitchen color ideas often reflect a palette of warm neutrals for a light and airy look, there's just as much reason to go bolder in these social spaces. In Farrow & Ball's recent Instagram post, Etruscan Red is used in a color-drenched kitchen scheme, creating a rich and warming look. While some dark paints could feel jarring when used in large amounts, the muted quality of Etruscan Red keeps things mellow.
Here, Etruscan Red is used as the wall color, while the white kitchen cabinets create contrast and uplift the scheme. If you're looking for a way to add design appeal to your own kitchen, consider using this red paint for a playful yet refined take on color.
2. Take this red paint to your home's exterior
Etruscan Red isn't only a stylish choice inside the home, but outside too. Here, Etruscan Red is used on the exterior windows at Hotel The Monica – one of Farrow & Ball's recommended ways to use this red paint in its Instagram post.
Again, this red paint almost reads as a dark neutral, making it a stylish and timeless exterior paint color that adds depth and interest without going too colorful.
3. Use it in unexpected spaces
Farrow & Ball's final recommended way to decorate with Etruscan Red is to use it in smaller, hidden spaces for an unexpected hit of color, such as in a pantry. This is an especially good choice if you enjoy neutral rooms but want to add a playful color, without committing to the main spaces.
Homes & Gardens' Style & Trends Editor Charlotte Olby recently followed a similar approach in her own home remodel. Below, she explains why Etruscan Red made the perfect choice for a freestanding cupboard in her kitchen:
'I've just completed a huge kitchen renovation (using the term 'completed' loosely here) and chose it to add a hit of unexpected red to my off-white cabinetry. I painted a freestanding cupboard in this ruddy not-quite-red, not-quite-brown hue to complement the terracotta tiled floor we chose for the space and it adds such a grounding warmth to the kitchen that was missing previously.
'I swatched a few different moody reds but they either felt too red-red or leaned a little too purple whereas Etruscan Red for me felt like the perfect earthy, brown-based red. It pairs lovely with brass fixtures thanks to its inherent warmth and because it is quite muted for a red, it sits back and lets your styling do the talking. I love using it alongside this season's trending butter yellow hue and earthy green shades.'
Whether you use this color sparingly for an unexpected pop of color or use it boldly to add drama to the home, Farrow & Ball's Etruscan Red is versatile and liveable, providing a timeless way to decorate with red paint.
