By mid-December, the garlands are usually up, the tree’s already shedding, and the fairy lights have lost a bulb or two. But festive styling isn’t a finish line, it’s a mood. And red? Red lingers.
Used cleverly, rich red notes can feel indulgent, fashion-forward and ever so slightly rebellious. It’s a colour that doesn’t pack itself away with the wreaths. It works just as beautifully in January, into Valentine’s, or frankly, all year long, if you know how to use it.
Below, our notes on weaving red into your home in ways that feel fresh, personal, and anything but expected.
Red That Holds Its Own.
A little red goes a long way. It doesn’t need to dominate the room to set the tone. A cherry linen tablecloth. Crimson silk napkins tied with vintage ribbon. A slash of red lacquer on a tray or a frame. These aren’t grand gestures but they hold the eye and shift the atmosphere.
What makes red feel luxurious rather than loud is the mix of textures around it. Try raw linen alongside lacquered wood, or soft red velvet with rattan, brass, or natural timber. That balance between rich and raw keeps things grounded.
We often pair red with structured, sculptural pieces in darker tones. The Barker Coffee Table, with its angular silhouette and mix of dark timber and polished metal, anchors red beautifully. It brings strength and modernity to softer styling, and gives seasonal touches like a bowl of blood oranges or a ruby Murano ashtray real presence.
And don’t feel boxed in by the Christmas palette. Red works just as well with chalky neutrals, sage green, cool blue, or even lilac. In spring, it pairs with blush. In summer, terracotta and lemon. The trick is to keep it unexpected.
Cherry-Toned Seating = Instant Atmosphere
We’ve always said a good chair changes the mood of a room. But a red chair? That’s theatre.
There’s something utterly seductive about a seat in red. A cherry velvet armchair tucked under the window. A dark pink dining chair breaking up a sea of neutrals. A rust-toned bench at the end of the bed. Red seating doesn’t ask for permission, it belongs.
But beyond the colour, it’s the placement that matters. We’ve seen people style armchairs near the tree or fireplace, others prefer a red moment in the hallway, paired with a leaning mirror and bowl of clementines for something subtle yet deeply inviting. Wherever it sits, a red chair pulls focus. And with good reason.
For dining rooms, we’re partial to something unexpected, like The Clifford Dining Chair, upholstered in a marbled pink velvet that shifts beautifully in the light. It’s bold, patterned, and full of character, without ever overpowering the table. A little bit playful, a little bit polished.
A Touch of Bazaar Red
Here are three Bazaar pieces we keep returning to this season: The Wilson Armchair, with its tailored silhouette and quiet confidence, feels especially inviting in red mohair or boucle, made for Negronis by the fire. The Ellison Armchair, curvaceous and low-slung, suits smaller spaces and wears deep reds like currant or merlot with total ease. And The Haley Bed? Its sculptural, classic fluted-edge headboard looks spectacular wrapped in patterned velvet or layered shades of red, anchoring the room with softness and strength.
At Bazaar London, every piece is made-to-order in the UK and fully customisable, so whether you lean toward Bordeaux, brick or any patterns, we’ll help you find your perfect red.
Red Drinks, Red Dishes, Red Mood
Colour needn’t stop at the cushions. Try layering the table with edible shades of red.
Pomegranate molasses in the glaze. Poached pears with cranberry sauce. A cluster of radicchio leaves, loosely tossed with orange zest and champagne vinegar. These aren’t just recipes, they’re design moments. Edible décor.
Consider red in glassware too. Vintage ruby Murano. A ruby-cut carafe. Even a bottle of Barolo, decanted with ceremony, becomes part of the visual story.
And of course, texture always matters. A crushed linen tablecloth in off-white or blush. Mismatched napkins in oxblood or rust. Red doesn’t need to be everywhere, it just needs to feel considered.
Let the Art Do the Talking.
December is for hosting, yes! BUT it’s also for remembering.
Amid the dinner parties and gift wrap chaos, there's something contemplative about this time of year. Our walls, often overlooked, can be the quietest storytellers. And when styled well, red in artwork creates energy.
If your home is your gallery (and we believe it should be), now’s the time to rotate in bolder works. It’s December, bring it out! Abstracts in carmine or coral create a modern backdrop for candlelight, especially when paired with muted greens, blushes, or burnt orange. Red and sage? Divine.
Red in artwork brings heat and vitality into a room. And paired with grounded hues, moss, cream, blush or slate, it’s arresting in the best way. The Gohil Stool, with its plush velvet seat and chevron-patterned backrest in cream, offers just the right balance, understated, textural, and quietly luxurious. We’re also seeing a shift toward tonal styling: red artworks layered against blush walls or rust textiles, with subtle shifts in hue and depth.
Red, Reimagined
At Bazaar London, we don’t believe in seasonal styling that expires on Boxing Day.
Red, when used with thought and texture, has staying power. It can feel crisp in summer, cocooning in winter, and entirely your own when paired with the right materials. Whether it’s through a single velvet chair, a hand-dyed tablecloth, or a framed artwork with just a flash of crimson, red becomes more than festive. It becomes personal. And that’s where we come in.
Each of our pieces is crafted to order in the UK, and customisable to the finest detail. If you’ve got a very particular shade of red in mind, or want to experiment with less obvious pairings, we’d love to help bring it to life.
Explore customisation or speak to us about a project.
