The red in the piece wasn’t loud or traditional. It was rich. Intentional. Emotional. And it immediately made me think of what designers often call red theory: the idea that even the smallest hint of red can activate a space, warming it up and grounding it emotionally.
For nearly a decade, Christmas in our home has lived comfortably in black, white, gold, silver, and soft neutrals. Calm. Clean. Controlled. But this year, I didn’t need calm. I needed feeling.
That artwork gave me permission to shift the story without starting over.
Instead of adding more decor, I let red do the work.
I was very intentional about where it showed up and just as intentional about where it did not. The goal was never to overwhelm the room. I wanted small moments that made a big impact.
