Unexpected red theory
{{Short description|Design theory and internet aesthetic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
File:Red items in china cabinet.jpg]]
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The unexpected red theory is a design theory asserting that incorporating red-colored home accessories can enhance interior design.{{Cite web |last=McCaughan-Hawes |first=Charlotte |date=February 20, 2024 |title=TikTok's 'unexpected red theory' is an interior designer trick you need to know |url=https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/unexpected-red-theory-design-ideas |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=House & Garden |language=en-GB}} Coined by Taylor Migliazzo Simon, a designer based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn,{{Cite news |last=Kircher |first=Madison |date=February 16, 2024 |title=What Is 'Unexpected Red'? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/style/what-is-unexpected-red.html |access-date=February 20, 2024 |work=The New York Times}} the theory first attained popularity on the social media platform TikTok in January 2024, and eventually received widespread coverage across various design magazines.{{Cite web |last=Dowling |first=Amber |date=January 30, 2024 |title=See Why Experts Think Unexpected Red Theory May Be The Next Home Trend You Need |url=https://www.hgtv.ca/unexpected-red-theory-may-be-the-new-home-trend-you-need-this-spring/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=HGTV |language=en-CA}}
Critical analysis and reception
Design journalists and publications have created listicles to highlight interior spaces, such as houses and hotels, that reflect the theory.{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2024 |title=50+ Rooms That Prove 'The Unexpected Red Theory' Really Works - The Nordroom |url=https://www.thenordroom.com/unexpected-red-theory-interior/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |language=en-US}}
In Real Simple, journalist Morgan Noll wrote that "red is one of the most visible colors in the color spectrum so it has a strong ability to grab attention and attract the eye."{{Cite web |last=Noll |first=Morgan |date=January 25, 2024 |title=The "Unexpected Red Theory" Could Elevate Your Home and Fashion Game |url=https://www.realsimple.com/unexpected-red-theory-trend-8549833 |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=Real Simple |language=en}}
In The Daily Telegraph, Sophie Robinson, a designer, criticized that “you can’t just add red to any room – it’s just not that simple. It can look jarring.”{{Cite news |last=Newton |first=Hannah |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Why 'unexpected red' is trending in interiors – and how to do it right |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/interiors/home/unexpected-red-theory-tik-tok-red-kitchens/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}