The kitchen is the central hub and meeting place in most homes. Many families spend the bulk of their time together eating, talking, playing board games, and doing homework in this room. Yet, they paint the walls and ceiling with ordinary whites and uninspired and unoriginal blues, greens, and yellows. It’s time to transform this drab-looking room into the fun, lively, and bold living space it deserves to be.
In the past, I never would have imagined painting my kitchen red. In fact, I would have thought you were crazy if you suggested it. But things have changed and I’m no longer afraid of this daring choice. Even more, this passionate color possesses power, strength, and promotes energy.
It’s the exact color needed in the kitchen, where we tend to engage in emotional and intense conversations with family members and friends.
Let’s discover the most exciting and best red paint color options for kitchens. We’ve listed our top 25 favorite reds below.
Million Dollar Red (2003-10)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This enticing color option is ideal for everyone who wants their kitchen to look gorgeous and extraordinary. It’s a combination of saturated and bold colors. This combo can truly bring your kitchen to life and illuminate the entire space with added pizzazz and flair.
Million Dollar Red is not only warm and cozy, but it’s also quite welcoming. Your family members and guests will feel right at home in this boldly painted room. They’ll have no trouble enjoying a healthy meal of pasta topped with fresh vegetables, olive oil, and other healthy toppings. Or they’ll feel just as comfortable eating a slice of pizza while messing around with their friends.
Exotic Red (2086-10)
Source: Benjamin Moore
Exotic Red is truly a tantalizing treat from premium paint provider Benjamin Moore. This color is designed to create a more sensual experience in your kitchen. It’s the perfect shade for married couples, young lovers, and anyone else in need of a quiet evening at home with their spouse or significant other.
Sit down and enjoy a five-star meal with your better half in your new exotic-looking kitchen. Who knows where the evening may take you? This hue matches perfectly with Sweet Spring and Barista in one color combination. Another exciting color combo includes Silvery Moon, Nickel, and Exotic Red.
Deep Rose (2004-10)
Source: Benjamin Moore
With a dark and intense hue, Deep Rose is part of Benjamin Moore’s color preview collection. It’s the ideal color for every kitchen that needs to be spruced up with extra style and zing. You can use this color to paint sections of the kitchen ceiling, walls, trim, and around the edges of the doorway.
Even better, make the bold decision to paint your kitchen island, the cabinets, or the door this extraordinary color. It matches perfectly with Seashell and Simply White as part of one color combination. Or if you prefer another option, it pairs pleasantly with White Wisp and Boothbay Gray. All color combinations are available from Benjamin Moore.
Heartthrob (SW 6866)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This luscious color is an excellent choice whether you’re looking to paint the interior or exterior of your home. In particular, it goes very well in kitchens when offset by the perfect paired colors. In effect, when matched with the right coordinating colors, it will really make your kitchen stand out from the crowd.
Your friends and neighbors will stand up and take notice. Along with the gorgeous shade of Heartthrob red, paint experts Sherwin-Williams believe this beautiful paint matches amazingly with three other colors. The best pairing options include Ibis White, Windfresh White, and Colonnade Gray.
Red Tomato (SW 6607)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams also recommend Red Tomato paint as an exceptional choice to paint your otherwise drab and dull kitchen. This stimulating color is part of their Rooted color collection. Homeowners will love this daring shade and how it perfectly offsets the other colors in the kitchen.
As a matter of fact, the experts at Sherwin-Williams recommend pairing this deep-colored paint with various shades of white and gray. Their expert recommendations include pairing Red Tomato with the following color combinations: Intimate White, Eider White, and Grizzle Gray.
Raspberry Smoothie (M130-4)
Source: Behr
Although more pink in tone, the paint experts from Behr consider this gorgeous color part of their red shade collection. It’s easy to visualize your kitchen walls and ceiling being painted with this gorgeous hue. Although subtle, it really adds an affectionate and loving tone to every family kitchen.
The warm and soft color provides an intimate feel that you’ll absolutely adore whenever you spend time in this room with your family members, friends, and intimate partners.
Race Car Stripe (P170-6)
Source: Behr
For those looking to make a bold color choice in their kitchen, you’ll definitely turn heads after you paint or accent the room with Race Car Stripe red. It’s the kind of color that really stands out. Everyone will notice your bright red kitchen every time they step into the room. This powerful color gives every kitchen additional energy and stamina.
Whenever you enter the room, you’ll feel more awake, alive, and ready to tackle the day.
Begonia (2083-40)
Source: Benjamin Moore
Although not as bright as some of our other options, Begonia is a special tone nonetheless. It’s reddish-purple enough that it makes your kitchen stand out. But it’s also muted enough that you won’t feel overwhelmed or blinded by the bright hues that typical fire engine red shades possess.
Homeowners have options when pairing it with other colors. The first set of colors to pair perfectly with Begonia includes Marble White and Soot. Another alluring color combination includes Old Straw Hat and Manor Blue. All of these colors are available online or at your local Benjamin Moore retailer.
Stiletto Love (P160-7)
Source: Behr
This intense color is just what the doctor ordered if you’re looking to create an exciting and exotic feel in your kitchen. Behr really outdid themselves when mixing this lipstick colored shade. It pairs beautifully with different pinks, purples, and salmon colors. According to the experts at Behr, you can’t go wrong pairing Stiletto Love with Cupcake Pink, Guava Jelly, or Sultana.
Red Chipotle (S160-7)
Source: Behr
You’ll never go wrong choosing a classic color like Red Chipotle. Although slightly on the brown side, this dark red paint will really add depth to your kitchen. It’s not very bright or shiny, so it isn’t too distracting.
And it doesn’t overpower the entire room either, which some homeowners prefer when compared to other shades of red. Behr feels strongly about matching Red Chipotle with other colors that coordinate well with this hue. Their expert recommendations include Island Hopping, Deep Merlot, Perfect Penny, Green Agate, Tsunami, and Buff Tone.
Red Obsession (SW 7590)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Part crimson and part candy apple, the scarlet sensation known as Red Obsession will give your kitchen the striking color that it deserves. You’ll love spending time in the ruby-red hub that makes up every home. You and your family will feel inspired and enthusiastic every time you step foot in this room. Family game night and homework will never be the same now that Red Obsession has taken over your kitchen for good.
Positive Red (SW 6871)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
The name really says it all. Positive Red provides energy and stamina to the walls and ceilings of every kitchen graced by its presence. This bright individual hue catches the eye and stimulates the senses. It’s the perfect color for those trying to attract attention to their gorgeous kitchen furniture and beautiful stainless steel appliances.
Your loved ones will adore the feelings of goodwill and positive attitude they experience when spending time in your cherry red kitchen.
Cherry Tomato (SW 6864)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This color is bright, deep, and incredibly powerful. It’s the kind of color that can energize a room. It’s the kind of color that makes you want to jump out of your chair and begin dancing and singing. It’s the kind of color that showers you in love, warmth, and feelings of good tidings. Cherry Tomato paint by Sherwin-Williams is the perfect choice for anyone looking to make their kitchen the center of attention.
Milano Red (1313)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This versatile color is glamorous, beguiling, and right up your alley if you’re looking for a rich European shade of red. Even more important, it’s slightly on the lighter side and it contains a pink hue within the shade. Homeowners will have no trouble sprucing up their kitchen by pairing it with the right color combinations.
Milano Red goes great with Lemon Ice, Northwood Brown, Mountain Peak White, and Gray Sky, all available from Benjamin Moore.
Tropical Hibiscus (M130-6)
Source: Behr
It’s relatively purple in hue but definitely has a rosy red feel to it nonetheless. This tropical color adds beauty, complexity, and a feeling of peaceful serenity to every room. In particular, it’s an excellent color for kitchens because they tend to be chaotic, stressful, and out of sorts.
This color will create a measure of peace and tranquility in the kitchen and help the occupants feel calm, stable, and serene while they eat their breakfast, lunch, or dinner and everything in between.
Whip Lash (P150-6)
Source: Behr
Not quite crimson and not quite pink, this dark salmon color looks perfect in every kitchen when paired with the right color combinations. You wouldn’t want dark salmon-colored walls and yellow cabinets, right? Absolutely not! Instead, you’ll appreciate pairing Whip Lash with better color combinations including Green Energy, Coral Fountain, and a Cameo Stone in one exciting combo.
To mix things up, you can swap Green Energy for Vintage Velvet, Meteorological, or Cocoa Nutmeg to keep things fresh and inspiring.
Tea Room (S150-2)
Source: Behr
Even though it’s pinkish in appearance, this light shade of red is a wonderful option for everyone looking to make their kitchen brighter and more inviting. The muted blush tones add a hint of calm serenity to every kitchen. If your kitchen is typically frenzied, the soothing Tea Room tone will provide a comforting presence to make it look and feel quite peaceful.
You just might fall asleep and drift off into a beautiful dream if you aren’t careful.
Flirt Alert (P150-7)
Source: Behr
Love is in the air! Am I right? At least it will be once you transform your kitchen into the sexy haven that it deserves to be by painting it Flirt Alert red by Behr. Most people rarely think sexy when they walk into a kitchen. But you aren’t like most people.
And you want to feel heightened sensuality whenever you step foot in this room. Combine Flirt Alert red with healthy servings of chocolate, strawberries, and oysters and you’ll turn up the heat in your kitchen with this tantalizing color.
Morocco Red (PPU2-17)
Source: Behr
Stylish and simple, Morocco Red has shades of brown mixed in for a deeper feel. The muted shade is welcoming in its simplicity. For those who love red but don’t want their kitchen to feel too shiny and bright, this paint color is an excellent substitute and offers the best of both worlds.
According to Behr, it combines well with Sultana, Pink Elephant, and Smoke Bush Rose. Or mix things up and ditch the Sultana for Antigua as an intriguing alternative.
Poinsettia (SW 6594)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Stunning and enticing for the flower lover in all of us, Poinsettia will make every kitchen a more welcoming and inviting place. Since kitchens tend to be a central meeting place within the home, filling the room with this ruby shade of red will create a friendly environment for all to enjoy and appreciate. For decorative purposes, this color combines beautifully with Ibis White, Midnight, and Egret White.
So, if you intend to overhaul your kitchen, consider choosing these colors during the renovation.
Gypsy Red (SW 6865)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Painting your kitchen Gypsy Red is an exciting alternative when compared to choosing typical whites, blues, yellows, and greens. This bold and bright color will make this room stand out like nobody’s business. And best of all, this color creates exciting and energetic sensations in every room.
It makes the occupants feel powerful, strong, and ready to take on the world. You can’t go wrong combining Gypsy Red with Dromedary Camel and Urbane Bronze from Sherwin-Williams.
Fire Cracker (PPU2-16)
Source: Behr
This color creates a unique experience in every room in the house. It’s particularly interesting in kitchens because it’s a room that typically isn’t painted red. Fire Cracker is a deep crimson with a burgundy hue to match.
It’s very powerful in appearance, and just like the name says, it creates an explosion of comfort, warmth, and sizzling energy. It combines beautifully with Deep Merlot, Cupcake Pink, and Red Pepper. Or consider swapping out the Deep Merlot for Thermal, another gorgeous option from paint pros Behr.
Royal Fuchsia (2078-30)
Source: Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore outdid themselves when they created Royal Fuchsia. The color detail is truly exquisite. It’s a combination of cherry-red, luscious purple, and mixed with a healthy hint of pink.
It’s the perfect color to paint your kitchen ceiling, walls, or the accents and trim. Consider combining Royal Fuchsia with other tantalizing colors to really make your kitchen pop. Our favorite options include Patriotic White, Baby Blue Marina, Frostline, and Winterwood.
Spring Azalea (2077-40)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This gorgeous pinkish-red paint color looks stunning no matter what room you happen to choose. As far as kitchens go, Spring Azalea adds the feeling of sunshine and warmth to this room in spades. You’ll love spending time in the kitchen with your family while enjoying tasty meals, lively discussions, and fun activities together.
It will always feel like springtime in your home after you paint your kitchen using this sunny, luminous hue.
Coral Rose (SW 9004)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
A rose-colored pink/red paint really catches the eye. You’ll love the soft tones and the inviting feel that it brings to your kitchen. When I think of Coral Rose, the word serenity immediately springs to mind. This color is peaceful and tranquil. It provides a welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy and cherish together. Your kitchen will feel like a Zen garden or a meditation room as soon as you paint it, Coral Rose.
