Unexpected Red
I first heard of the Unexpected Red Theory was last winter in an article in the style section of The New York Times. Taylor Migliazzo Simon, a Brooklyn, NY based interior decorator, coined the term. She said the Unexpected Red Theory is "basically adding anything that's red, big or small, to a room where it doesn't match at all, and it automatically looks better."
I agree. One of my designers and I mismatched red flowers years ago for her wedding bouquet. (Design trendsetting is not listed on my CV.) When Brittney got married in April 2018, she chose a spring color palette that highlighted all of the local flowers we had available at the time. There were peaches, pinks, corals, yellows, greens AND a pop of red. The palette was beautiful, and the red was unexpected.
We added red anemones as an accent in all of Brittney's personal flowers, ceremony arrangements and centerpieces. They did just what the Unexpected Red Theory said they would do - it didn't match and it improved the look. The few red anemones elevated the arrangements and made it feel more energetic and dynamic.
The Unexpected Red Theory has staying power. Since Brittney's wedding, I've used this color palette often. It can work in all seasons. You can add a red zinnia in the summer, a red dahlia in the fall or a red tulip in the winter.
In my online community, FlowerMore, our members are exploring this theory for themselves. Vera Smail, owner of Patch and Petal Farms in northern California, gave this trend a shot in a recent design. She shared the results in a post. "Tried it today alongside quicksand blush roses, white anemones and astilbe. I love it! ❤️ I’m loving how a touch of red can transform an arrangement. I would have never tried it myself had you not written about it! I had a lot of fun making this one!"
Design inspiration can come from anywhere. Taking the advice of a professional published in a major publication is not much of a risk. Getting ideas and validation from a trusted community can be a push to try something new. Vera's arrangement without the ranunculus would be lovely. With them, she gets published in a flower newsletter read by multi-thousands of flower friends and basks in floral glory. Go Vera!
