I never thought red would work in my blue living room – until designer Heidi Caillier proved me wrong with this subtle yet totally unexpected color pairing

I’ve always loved the calming, cocooning effect of blue. From deep navy to soft sky blue, the shade has long been my go-to for creating a space that feels both timeless and tranquil.

But as much as I’ve experimented with texture and tone-on-tone layering in my blue living room, I’ve steered clear of pairing it with one color in particular: red.

To me, this unexpected color combination has always felt too bold, too primary – better suited to a patriotic holiday than a cozy family space. That was until I saw designer Heidi Caillier’s latest living room design, part of a project in Colorado, that has convinced me to rethink everything I thought I knew about decorating with red and blue.

In Heidi Caillier's patterned mixed space, a red gingham upholstered sofa sits comfortably alongside walls with a softly limewashed, denim blue finish, complemented by matching painted woodwork.

Adding to the color drenched effect, Heidi and her team have peppered the space with further blue accents like a mohair throw blanket, plaid pillow, and floral skirted ottoman. To add a contemporary contrast, she's then added a graphic monochrome rug that cuts through all the sweetness of the florals and folk prints.

As bold as it might sound on paper, there’s nothing jarring or overly contrasted about the pairing; instead, it feels warm, elevated, and utterly comfortable. Red and blue room color ideas can feel overpowering when they’re too saturated, but when you dial back the intensity and add plenty of layered, vintage style, it creates a subtle palette that still has plenty of personality.

She's got me eyeing up ways to bring a little unexpected red into my own pale blue living room – whether it’s with a pop of red gingham or smaller accents like patterned pillows, a cozy throw, or an ottoman.

And as it turns out, this snug family room isn’t the first time she’s worked her magic with this palette. In another one of her recent projects, seen above, Heidi leans into the same red-and-blue pairing in a wood drenched living room.

Here, another red sofa grounds the room, while an indigo striped rug adds rhythm without stealing focus. It’s a masterclass in how to layer colors that traditionally feel high-energy in a way that’s warm and enveloping.

Color doesn’t have to shout to make an impact. Pairing opposites like blue and red can add depth and tension when done thoughtfully. Pulling in muddy tones, soft textures, and natural materials, this living room color combination suddenly becomes comforting and cozy instead.

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These unexpected two colors, when handled with intention and softened through texture, print, and tone, can bring a room to life in the most comforting way. And while I’m not rushing out to redecorate my entire living room, I am inspired to experiment with adding some pops of red – I'll be adding that gingham ottoman from Amazon to my basket to bring some coziness into my space for fall.