The Internet’s Favorite Design Trend Just Showed Up at IKEA

If you follow design news, then you probably heard about the “unexpected red theory” last year. The idea is that almost any room can benefit from a surprise pop of red — and this is especially true of clear, pure reds and kicky tomato hues. Once you’ve seen rooms that demonstrate the power of just a dash of red, it’s hard not to agree. (If you want to read about why a pop of red feels so right, writer Ingrid Fetell Lee dove deep on the science behind unexpected red theory.)

Whether there’s real science behind the power of a dash of red or it’s just a cute TikTok trend, I love any interior design idea that embraces adding color and a moment of surprise to a home.

I have a hunch the product designers at IKEA took this trend to heart, too. It’s true that IKEA has long favored primary hues. But as the 2025 product launches have rolled out, I can’t help but notice the product lineup seems especially red-heavy. Often, those red things are exactly the kind of small accent that you can weave into a room as your unexpected dose of scarlet (think: side tables, lamps, and accent chairs). 

Whether IKEA’s designers were purposefully designing for the “unexpected red theory,” or learning about the theory has made me unusually attuned to red accents, I’m happy to have a lot of inexpensive ways to add a little red to my home. Here, you’ll find some of IKEA’s new red pieces that caught my eye. Maybe you’ll want to try a few in your home, too. 

And stay tuned for more red! IKEA’s press team says that the ENSMÄRKE lamp will be available in red come fall, and that’s probably just the beginning of seeing red in the IKEA aisles.