Tan France blends dark hues with natural features to create an energetic yet elegant bathroom

Red has been the color on everyone's lips – and walls – lately. The unexpected red theory has taken the internet by storm, and we love the pops of this bold and bright shade appearing everywhere, from living rooms to kitchens.

Style icon Tan France is the latest to hop on the red trend with his sophisticated bathroom color. The Queer Eye host posted a photo of his sleek space, featuring a shiny, black-tiled shower, a custom wood sink with gold features, and of course, red-painted walls.

Sophistication stems from France's use of deep red combined with moody black; this technique is actually a tip experts highly recommend, so if we're thinking of decorating with red, we should look to follow suit. 

'For an elegant mixture, red can be used with muted tones including soft grays or deep charcoals,' says interior designer Artem Kropovinsky. 'Such combinations tone down the power of red, which results in an elegant though, lively environment.'

Artem Kropovinsky

Artem Kropovinsky, founder of the NYC-based Arsight, boasts over a decade of global interior design expertise in both residential and commercial projects. From transforming Brooklyn brownstones to reshaping Manhattan retail spaces, Arsight's portfolio showcases its design prowess on national and international scales. The firm has been recognized as finalists in the SBID Awards twice and has been acknowledged in the NYCxDESIGN Awards. 

For a less intense look, Kropovinsky suggests turning to nature for inspiration to balance out the harsher energy that red can sometimes convey.

'Natural elements and materials such as wood or stone will take the edge off red and make it a bit more balanced and welcoming space,' he says.

While it can be tempting to match red decor to painted walls, Kropovinsky actually recommends going back to basics, as to allow the existing red features to stand out.

'When styling around a red base, simplicity, and texture are what you should consider when choosing your decor,' he explains. 'Make use of clean lines and tactile textiles for the red to be a main actor but not to take over the whole space.'

Finally, it's important to consider how a red-centric room will be lit. Too dim and it can veer into nightclub-esque territory.

'When lighting a room with red highlights, go for warm, soft lighting to intensify the comfortable and intimate feeling that red naturally gives.'

Shop H&G's red bathroom edit

Paint aside; we can use this color more subtly by investing in red-hued accessories that translate to our own bathrooms. We're starting with our three favorites below.