The Once-Dated Kitchen Color Trend That's Making An Unexpected Comeback

Choosing a new kitchen color is an experience that can completely overwhelm any homeowner. A place in which the family spends chunks of the day, the kitchen is much more than a space for mealtime preparation: It's where conversations and entertaining take place. While most kitchens tend to gravitate toward neutrals, the appeal of the all-white kitchen seems to be fading. If you're tired of boring white walls and are looking for a bolder color palette, now is the perfect time to explore the luscious shades of dark red, which are making a stunning comeback in kitchen design.

We called it back in 2024: Red would be a bright and bold color trend in 2025 — and we were right. Once considered outdated, the color has returned to the good graces of designers and homeowners. But before you throw yourself headfirst into the trend, note that designers are recommending darker and moodier shades this time around. Injecting doses of deep red to your kitchen walls, cabinets, furnishings, accents, or even appliances can rejuvenate a neutral palette and give your kitchen a boost of modernity, energy, and elegance.

With this year's trending colors leaning towards warm and earthy, the reds you choose for your kitchen should reflect this design direction. Be inspired by the muted matte redness of brick or the intensity of garnet. Paint brand Behr's Color of the Year is a deep ruby red named Rumor, and it offers up a dramatic palette whether used on walls or as an accent color on kitchen cabinets. Sherwin-Williams included Borscht, a rich raspberry shade, in their selection of 2025's leading color trends. Meanwhile, a vibrant cherry red is also making waves on the color front: It's bright enough to stand out, but stays within the boundaries of atmospheric moodiness. If you're pondering over the best paint finish for darker paint, choose matte over glossy for a more sophisticated look.

However, you don't have to rely solely on painting walls or cabinets when going for a dark red, as there are other tasteful ways to apply this color trend to your kitchen. Bring in dark red accent pieces like bar chairs, hanging lamps, or statement homeware and cookware pieces. Introduce the color into the room with textiles in the form of banquet upholstery, rugs, or runners. You could also swap out your current cabinet faces for red ones, or create a dark red accent wall to highlight the color without overwhelming the entire space. If you're due for a kitchen rehaul, there are many red-toned kitchen appliances like refrigerators or stoves that can reshape and modernize your kitchen.