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Red is a bold move for a kitchen. I understand why it’s not the most popular, but I think you’ll like some examples we have in our gallery below. Only 1.25% of the 907,259 kitchen designs we analyzed are red.

It’s not a common, nor popular kitchen color. However, in my view, it’s not a bad kitchen color, but then I like red in interior design including red kitchen cabinets.

Red kitchen color chart

Here’s a simple chart setting out the various shades of red you can incorporate into kitchen design.

Red Kitchen Ideas (Photos)

Here's a luxurious kitchen with modern red kitchen cabinets throughout including on both islands. As you can see this uses high-gloss cabinet finish which showcases the red extensively. There are two islands - an outer curved island with range and breakfast bar plus a small octagonal island with sink. — Here’s a luxurious kitchen with modern red kitchen cabinets throughout including on both islands. As you can see this uses high-gloss cabinet finish which showcases the red extensively. There are two islands – an outer curved island with range and breakfast bar plus a small octagonal island with sink.

Close-up of bright red kitchen cabinets with chrome hardware. There's a green tile backsplash and a reddish wood floor. I'm not big on the green backsplash, but I do like that partcular hue of red. — Close-up of bright red kitchen cabinets with chrome hardware. There’s a green tile backsplash and a reddish wood floor. I’m not big on the green backsplash, but I do like that partcular hue of red.

Large U-shaped kitchen with bright red cabinetry and stainless steel appliances with white countertops and white ceiling. I think the reddish wood floor fails to offer sufficient contrast... I think a light wood floor would look better. — Large U-shaped kitchen with bright red cabinetry and stainless steel appliances with white countertops and white ceiling. I think the reddish wood floor fails to offer sufficient contrast… I think a light wood floor would look better.

Long red galley kitchen with red and orange tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances all under a white ceiling with large wood beams.

Luxurious red wood cabinets make up this dramatic kitchen design that also includes a reddish wood floor. Black countertops give it a darker look throughout. It's definitely an eye-catching kitchen design. — Luxurious red wood cabinets make up this dramatic kitchen design that also includes a reddish wood floor. Black countertops give it a darker look throughout. It’s definitely an eye-catching kitchen design.

Here's a white kitchen with red island which I think looks really great. — Here’s a white kitchen with red island which I think looks really great. If you don’t want to full red throughout, consider something like this. Designed by Lincorp / Borchert

HIgh gloss deep red cabinets in a small galley kitchen with a fabulous chrome backsplash, chrome cabinet hardware and stainless steel appliances further offset with white countertops. I love all the chrome in this kitchen – it’s a good combination with red. Designed and photographed by David Churchill.

Here's an example of red wood kitchen cabinets in a kitchen. — Here’s an example of red wood kitchen cabinets in a kitchen.

Minimalist kitchen design with modern red cabinets as well as natural wood cabinets. I think the wood cabinets make the design confusing. It would be better either all wood or all red.

Small apartment red kitchen in a contemporary design with white countertops and light blue backsplash.

L-shaped kitchen with modern glossy red kitchen cabinets, gray countertops and white walls. I think the floor should be white as well.

Spacious red cabinet kitchen design with glass-faced upper cabinets and a red paneled refrigerator. The dark wood flooring works well, but the kitchen table doesn't work well, especially with the green chairs. Something white for the kitchen table would work better to tie in the white subway tile backsplash and white ceiling. — Spacious red cabinet kitchen design with glass-faced upper cabinets and a red paneled refrigerator. The dark wood flooring works well, but the kitchen table doesn’t work well, especially with the green chairs. Something white for the kitchen table would work better to tie in the white subway tile backsplash and white ceiling.

Deep ruby red luxury wood kitchen cabinets and red wood floor give this kitchen a red color scheme to it. I like the earth-toned backsplash and granite countertops; it's a good match for the wood tone in this kitchen. — Deep ruby red luxury wood kitchen cabinets and red wood floor give this kitchen a red color scheme to it. I like the earth-toned backsplash and granite countertops; it’s a good match for the wood tone in this kitchen.

Another deep red-brown cabinet kitchen with matching island offset with light beige backsplash and granite countertops. Check out that matching ornate wood range hood.

Here's an example of a red kitchen where only the walls and ceiling is red. — Here’s an example where only the walls and ceiling is red.

This is absolutely fantastic. I love the light wood with the red kitchen cabinets that is contrasted with the black countertops. This is an example to create a red kitchen that is not overbearing with red. Designed by Winkleman Architecture.

Single wall kitchen with red cabinets and black island. The red is tied back in to the scheme with modern red kitchen island stools.

Great use of curves in this red kitchen with bright white countertops. The small round island matches the cabinets throughout the kitchen. This is a fun and whimsical kitchen design.

Minimalist modern red kitchen design with red backsplash and white countertops, ceiling and walls. You could simply refer to this as the red and white kitchen.

Fabulous small red apartment kitchen. Notice how only the lower cabinets are red and the uppers are light gray. I think that is a fabulous way to incorporate some color without it being overbearing.

Here's a casual small red ktichen in a condominium. — Here’s a casual small red ktichen in a condominium.

Close up photo of a small L-shaped red kitchen with black countertops.

Cute apartment kitchen with red cabinets and white appliances. There's also a bright white kitchen table with four white chairs as well as white walls and ceiling. The red and white scheme works really well. — Cute apartment kitchen with red cabinets and white appliances. There’s also a bright white kitchen table with four white chairs as well as white walls and ceiling. The red and white scheme works really well.

Example of a red kitchen without red cabinets. This example has some red splashes such as red island stools, red small appliances, red decor elements, red area rug and red sofa.

Close up of a contemporary red kitchen with chrome hardware and white countertops.

Small u-shaped apartment kitchen with all red cabinets and white countertops. There's also a white breakfast bar. There is quite a bit of glass incorporated into this design which works really well. — Small u-shaped apartment kitchen with all red cabinets and white countertops. There’s also a white breakfast bar. There is quite a bit of glass incorporated into this design which works really well.

Large red and white loft kitchen. Notice how the fronts of the cabinets are red and the sides are white. The extensive white offsets the brightness of the red. I think it's done really well. You get that industrial look with exposed pipes in this renovated loft apartment. — Large red and white loft kitchen. Notice how the fronts of the cabinets are red and the sides are white. The extensive white offsets the brightness of the red. I think it’s done really well. You get that industrial look with exposed pipes in this renovated loft apartment.

There are many ways you can express yourself in color when designing a kitchen. You can add elements of the color with furnishings and décor, or you can paint the walls the color of your choice. While red kitchen design ideas are not that popular, less than 11,350 out of 900,000 kitchens surveyed were red, and it is a bold color choice.

Choosing the Best Red

If you want a red kitchen, you must first choose which color of red you want to use. The direction that the kitchen faces can help influence the color palette for the kitchen. A kitchen that faces the south or southwest lends itself to more fiery colors, such as bright red.

Red is also a good color for kitchens that face northwest, but instead of fiery reds, they should be deeper in color. A cranberry or maroon red is often best for kitchens facing that direction. The design style of the kitchen can be a consideration as well.

Red in Kitchen Designs

Mid-century modern kitchen designs can be perfect for the color red. You can choose a retro look by selecting 1950s elements like a Formica table with chairs covered in bright red vinyl. Then, you can add red appliances like a red stand mixer, toaster, or red pots and pans to match the theme.

Red would also go well in eclectic kitchens, especially if you add elements like a copy of Andy Warhol’s soup can painting, or collectible items from Coca-Cola or other companies who use red as one of their primary colors. For kitchens with a more formal style, a deep red, like a wine red, may be the best color for the kitchen.

You can paint the walls with the darker red or perhaps just one wall as an accent color for the kitchen. It can also be incorporated by choosing a dark red wood stain for the cabinets and other wood elements in the room. Here are some red kitchen design ideas you may wish to incorporate in your home.

Use Red Carefully

Red can be an overwhelming color if you are not careful using it in the kitchen. Bright red walls may be too intense for many people, and red attracts heat, so your kitchen can be too hot during the summer months if you use it everywhere. However, with a subtitler approach, red can be a great color for your kitchen.