Terracotta & Earthy Red Paint: The Newest Colour Trend That's Cosy & Versatile

When you think of red, the first thing that more than likely springs to mind is Heinz tomato ketchup - not exactly a colour you'd want painted on your walls. But there's a new shade that's capturing the hearts of interior lovers and is fast becoming the newest colour trend on the block - terracotta and earthy brown reds.

I myself am obsessed, using it not only in my own home but in the homes of my interior design clients across the UK. But why exactly is this hue so popular? And which brand colours should you choose when decorating your home?

Why you should paint your walls terracotta

1. It suits a variety of design styles

With earthy brown undertones, terracotta paint is perfect for boho and farmhouse-inspired rooms - but there's plenty of other styles it works with too.

My clients wanted their kitchen/dining/living space to be fun and colourful, without drifting into 'Alice in Wonderland' territory. This gave me the idea to work with more muted tones rather than bright, primary colours - which wouldn't give them the sophisticated vibe they were after.

They also wanted a sage green kitchen, which I knew I wanted to contrast with a coloured wall paint to make the cabinets pop. As red is on the opposite side of the colour wheel to green, it was the perfect excuse to use my new favourite colour!

So if you're working with a more contemporary space and prefer colour and retro touches, don't shy away from brownish reds. It might not be the obvious choice, but it just works.

2. It adds warmth to a room

If you want to make a space feel warm and cosy, look no further than terracotta paint. Red is the colour of fire, so it psychologically exudes heat and turns up the temperature in cold, north-facing rooms.

G&CO Interiors

Colour-drenching smaller spaces automatically creates cosiness, but brownish red paint can work wonders in larger rooms too. Open-plan living areas can often feel cold and unwelcoming, so getting the paint colour right is essential if you want your home to feel warm and inviting.

Take my client's kitchen/dining/living area... can you imagine how different it would look and feel if the walls were white? Larger rooms can pull off darker colours - and often need them to feel cosy - so don't be afraid to go bold with terracotta paint.

3. It looks great in different rooms

So we've seen that earthy red paint looks great in kitchen/dining/living areas, but what about other rooms? Truly, I don't think there's a room it doesn't look good in! The shade is both energising and calming, making it equally suited to a home office and a bedroom.

Into Home Decor

Speaking of bedrooms, I painted my own in the same colour as my client's open-plan living area (told you I was a fan!). I wanted my bedroom to look like a boutique hotel but feel like a relaxing cocoon I could retreat to after a long day. Painting it a dark terracotta was one of the best decisions I made when designing my home.

The best terracotta & brownish red paint colours

• Lick – Red 03: A mid terracotta paint with warm pink and brown undertones.

• Farrow & Ball – Red Earth: An earthy terracotta blending red and yellow pigments.

• Lick – Red 01: A burnt red that I used in my bedroom & my client's open-plan space.

Have I convinced you to give terracotta paint a try? What are your thoughts on this new paint colour trend? Let me know in the comments below!

Need help choosing the colour palette for your home? Book a free discovery call today to find out how I can help you create your dream home!