Color of the Week: Tulip Red

As a color geek, it’s tough for me to describe a color as simply “red,” “blue” or “green.” There are just too many variations on each of these hues — warmer or cooler, lighter or darker, more grayed-out and neutral or undiluted and intense. Take red, for instance. There are deep, dark wine-like hues, bold orange-reds and every shade in between. Inspired by the May-blooming flowers that are suddenly popping up all around, let’s take a look at tulip red and how you can use this vibrant color to dress up your home.

Tulip red has a slight coral cast to it, which I think gives it a fresh and modern edge compared with a traditional deep red. It’s a fairly intense and bright color, so, as always when working with such hues, remember that a little goes a long way. Think carefully about the overall palette and variety of materials in the space so the color doesn’t become overwhelming.


Tulip red can be a terrific alternative to traditional pastel pink for a girl’s room, and it’s likely to have more staying power than baby pink. If you paint all four walls in this hue, I’d keep the ceiling and trim white and limit the amount of other bold colors, as done here. If this example is too much color for you, try painting just the headboard wall, or just a section (the top or bottom half) of the walls. You’ll still get plenty of fun color, but it will have a lighter feel.

Wall paint: Dark Salmon, Benjamin Moore


This tulip red bathtub is sublime. I like that the walls and ceiling were kept light and neutral so the tub is the star of the space. The curtains contribute a pretty deep-pink color — a close relative of tulip red — that helps soften the impact of the bold-hued tub to give the room a soothing, traditional vibe. The various decorative accents — the rug, the light fixture, the flowers — in differing shades of pink also soften and support the bold tub.


Here’s our featured hue used in another bathroom, this one decidedly more contemporary. Interior shutters are typically in wood tones or painted white, so I like the unexpected splash of color on this set. There are other small bits of color in the space, but overall it’s very white and light, which gives it a calm and clean feel. That small bit of tulip red adds just the right punch of color to warm up and add personality to the room.


Red-clad rooms are thought to give us a sense of warmth, comfort and connectedness, as well as stimulate conversation, so it’s a great choice in the public rooms of your house where you spend time with family and friends. Being a warm hue, the red naturally pairs well with other warm colors such as browns, oranges, tans and golds.

Wall paint: Sizzling Haute AC119R, Duron


Here’s another cheery tulip red living room, this one with a more traditional vibe. Now, even though this is a rather vibrant wall color, it doesn’t feel too intense here thanks to the large windows and the gorgeous white-painted fireplace surround, which help break up the sea of bold color.


Back in the bathroom, tulip red this time is dressing up a charming rustic-style space. The color is truly chameleon-like, able to go bold, contemporary, traditional or rustic. The important thing to know when working with this hue, regardless of your design style, is that it’s a “notice me” color that is best used to call attention to architectural details, artwork or other decorative features that are worth showing off. Here it creates a focal point and background to the delightful artwork.


Now let’s take another look at tulip red bedrooms. We already discussed that red is a stimulating color; it actually has been shown to raise one’s heart rate a notch, so it’s not the best choice in a bedroom if you suffer from insomnia or have other issues that keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. I also wouldn’t recommend it for hot climates, because it can contribute to a hot and stuffy atmosphere when the mercury rises. But if you need a boost first thing in the morning, or if you live in a predominantly cool and gloomy climate, a red bedroom can be positively uplifting.


If you plan on painting just one wall in your bedroom, choose the headboard wall. It helps anchor the bed in the space and can act as an eye-catching background to a beautiful headboard, such as the one featured here. I typically don’t decorate with shades of red and green, because it’s all too easy to end up with a Christmas-y vibe, but because this red has a coral cast and the greens used have a good amount of yellow or blue in them, it doesn’t feel like it’s decorated for the holidays.

Wall paint: Embroidered Flower, Benjamin Moore


In addition to raising our heart rates and encouraging conversation, red is thought to be an appetite stimulant. This makes it a brilliant choice in the kitchen or dining room, unless, of course, you’re looking to shed a few pounds! This all-white kitchen gets a nice kick of color with the accents in our featured hue.


Due to differences in how computer monitors are calibrated, as well as how interiors are lit to be photographed, you should always test out a paint color before committing to it.

Here are some of my top picks for tulip red, from left to right: Red Tulip from Benjamin Moore, Precious Peonies from Clark + Kensington, Whipped Strawberry from Valspar and Strawberry Jam from Dunn-Edwards.

Tell us: How have you used a tulip red hue in your home?

More: How to Use Color to Create Calm at Home

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