Color of the Month: Red Pepper

An interior living area featuring a fireplace painted in red color called Red Pepper.

December is a time for get-togethers with family and friends. It also means weather that’s perfect for snuggling up indoors with a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa. Behr paint color Red Pepper PPU2-02 captures the colors of a dried chili pepper or smoked paprika powder, both which are perfect for recipes that help warm the body and soul on a cool December day. This paint hue spices things up in just about any room house all year ’round.

An open can overview featuring wet paint tinted in red color called Red Pepper.

Red Pepper adds its creative spirit and intrigue as an exterior door color. This shade pairs well with just about any house color, especially when framed by white window and door trim. Black decorative elements such as wrought iron railings also look stunning with a dark red door in the background.

A siding home exterior featuring a main front door painted in a red color called Red Pepper. Metal mailbox mounted on siding wall, wrought iron railings and lamps — Door: Red Pepper PPU2-02

As an interior wall color, Red Pepper warms things up for an environment of pleasant conversation. Red Pepper dining room walls work well with just about any decor style, including eclectic blends of furniture. Pair wood elements such as a buffet cabinet and bent wood dining chairs with a retro modern pedestal table and a gray area rug for a look that’s surprisingly cohesive. Add a few potted plants to bring a hint of the outdoors in.

A dining room area featuring eclectic furniture and decorative elements. A mid-century modern buffet table with oversize decorative pieces including a lamp, a potted plant and a large painting. Walls are painted in red color called Red Pepper. — Walls: Red Pepper PPU2-02

Red Pepper is also a great color to use with an open floor plan. Paint the dining area red, for instance, to set it apart from the beige portion of the space designated as a living room. This look works incredibly well for a craftsman home with exposed wooden beams, wood floors and wooden dining furniture.

A Craftsman style home interior featuring a dining area with eclectic furniture. Ceiling with wooden beams. Walls are painted in red color called Red Pepper. — Walls: Red Pepper PPU2-02

Add visual interest by using Red Pepper to create focal points in the living room. This color creates a stunning floor-to-ceiling backdrop for a fireplace in an otherwise white or light-hued room. A wood fireplace mantel painted Red Pepper looks like a beautiful picture frame around an otherwise nondescript fireplace.

A living room featuring a brick fileplace painted in red color called Red Pepper.
A sofa fabric sofa and leather chairs decorated with multi-color pillows. — Brick Fireplace: Red Pepper PPU2-02

Red Pepper also works amazingly well in unexpected places, such as a nook beneath a staircase. Add a sideboard or other piece of furniture to the nook to maximize available floor space. A few smoky red elements in the room, such as a throw blanket and a patterned area rug, create a cohesive vibe for the space.

An interior living area featuring a staircase and nook below it, wall painted in red color called Red Pepper. Several eclectic furniture and decorative elements featuring pops of warm red tones. — Inset wall: Red Pepper PPU2-02

For a look that’s completely surprising, add Red Pepper as a focal element to a bathroom otherwise decorated in neutrals. A freestanding bathtub in this deep hue is bound to start a few conversations the next time friends pay a visit.