Colour Spotlight: Cranberry Is The Joyful Hue Your Home Is Craving

H&H contributor Emma Reddington shares which hue she’s crushing on right now.

A gorgeous, saturated shade with ruby red undertones, cranberry is our winter color crush. Use it on wooden furniture, either in a layered antique finish or straight from the can. Paint a feature door, buy lacquered or upholstered furniture and use accents or textiles in this lively hue. Pair it with navy or off-whites to make it pop.

Soft: No More Drama (P140-7) by Behr.
Deep: Neon Red (2087-10) by Benjamin Moore.

Pair It With: James White (2010) by Farrow & Ball.
Pair It With: Black Of Night (251) by Sherwin-Wiliams.

Cranberry is a strong, optimistic color that you can have fun with. In a playful blend of old and new, Tom Scheerer uses a painted cranberry door as the exclamation point on his vacation home kitchen in Maine. Combined with wooden chairs and checkerboard flooring in the same berry hue, the layered look is a balance of rustic and preppy.

House & Home November 2021

Upholstery in varied tones of cranberry has grown-up appeal, especially when set against a pretty salmon-colored wall (Behr’s Coral Serenade, 180D-4). A Persian rug picks up on the rosy palette.

House & Home September 2013

A large-scale floral painting by West Coast-artist Bobbie Burgers contrasts nicely with the rich blue upholstery of her low settee.

House & Home May 2015

Play up a black and white palette with dynamic shades of red. A Turkish rug with tones of pink, pale blue and purple softens the space.

House & Home January 2020

Plenty of striking objets ornament the wall of this neutral living space, but none energize like artist Alex Katz’s radiant red Ariel print.

House & Home May 2018

Designer Theresa Casey used the bold colors, like cranberry, found in this homeowner’s art collection as inspiration for the living room’s palette. The finished space feels cozy, comfortable and packed with personality.

House & Home March 2017

The cranberry, navy and cream Ralph Lauren rug in the family room was the first item the homeowner carried into the house when the family moved in.

House & Home March 2018

A cranberry-toned rug adds color underfoot in this Spanish-inspired home. Patterned cement tile on the fireplace and arched mirrors underscore the home’s aesthetic.

House & Home March 2017

In a moody space like this sitting area, cranberry accents add to the rich and layered feel. A privacy screen covered in an abstract wallpaper brings a subtle infusion of color and pattern, while an antique rug adds historical patina.

House & Home September 2013

Toronto designer Shirley Meisels brings new life to a family’s living space by adding luxe cranberry velvet Beetle lounge chairs. A light plum rug grounds the space without being too matchy-matchy.

House & Home April 2019

In this old world kitchen, an apothecary-style counter, bespoke cabinets and trim stun in forest green. Cherry red bar stools are a bold design choice that designer Jack Creasy pulls it off with ease.

House & Home March 2020