Red Kitchen Design: Ideas, Walls, and Décor

Want a red kitchen? Just how red do red kitchens go?

To be honest, red is a pretty strong color, and it is undeniably associated with food.

The warmth of red signals food that is fresh and delicious.

So, having red kitchen accents or red kitchen walls isn’t all that uncommon. You can even go with combinations, such as a red and white kitchen, red and black kitchen, or just put some black and red kitchen décor.

Image source: Rysso Peters

Accent walls in kitchens can also be red, and you can get red kitchen counters, red kitchen cabinets, red kitchen countertops, red kitchen curtains and all other kinds of red kitchen decoration.

You can find red kitchen ideas online, and you will also find some decoration ideas as well, to help you finish the red kitchen. These cabinets and accessories, and any other red décor for kitchens in general, will brighten up the interior, and make things look stunning.

Image source: Design a Space

Red cabinets, small decorations, and even a kitchen with red walls, regardless of whether it’s just accent walls in kitchens, look great with a lot of other decorating colors and shades. Red appliances, racks or flower pots look stunning with black, white or gray color tones, and stainless-steel appliances.

Image source: Gritton & Associates Architects

The elements in your kitchen that are red should coordinate with the other things, the ones you already have in your kitchen. And, matching your kitchen design will harmonize a modern interior.

Image source: J M Interiors

You can also use red accents with a black and white color scheme to give your kitchen a great retro look. Finding red tableware, kitchen utensils, planters etc. is a pretty easy thing to do.

Image source: Candlelight Homes

Red, however, should be used in moderation. A dramatic accent wall with red paint, or red wall tiles, looks impressive and bright. Red accents, combined with neutral-colored floors, ceilings and cabinets, will create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Image source: Roselind Wilson Design

A cherry-red lacquer on the cabinets will add a modern touch, and if you have gray concrete countertops and flooring, the reflective surface will bounce light and work very well. A frosted-glass cabinet door with a stainless-steel backsplash coordinates well with concrete and appliances, and will brighten the back wall.

Image source: Roots Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms

If you’re aiming for a sophisticated look, go for burgundy tones, farmhouse red, or muted maroon. You can balance this with deep chrome and cheerful fabric. If you don’t want to disrupt the refined rhythm of a deep red kitchen, go for bronze hardware and copper fixtures instead of chrome.

Image source: Lands End Development – Designers & Builde

Sometimes, all you need is nothing more than a small splash of red. This amplifies the feeling of warmth, without going overboard. There are a few ways to do this, and below you will find a couple of suggestions that may help you get started.

• Cookware: this is by far the easiest way to add a touch of red. A red pot, for example, can look great, and warm up the kitchen.
• Stools: red stools will look wonderful in kitchens such as a cottage or teal kitchen. In a teal design, when combined with gold, you get a look at how versatile red truly is.
• Stove: In a clean, white kitchen, a red range, such as Bertazzoni’s, can look incredible.
• Door: A red door can be of a great benefit, especially to a clean, simple, white kitchen.
• Wallpaper: Wallpapers can look amazing when used carefully, and a red wallpaper in a kitchen can look great if done right.
• Red backsplash: When you start to commit a bit more, a red backsplash can be bright and warm, but not take over the entire kitchen. If you have a traditional taste, go with a Victorian red backsplash.
• Wall: If you have the entire wall red, you’re stepping up your game.
• Surrounding wall: This will define you an open kitchen, and it will make it feel cozy and comfortable.
• Accent wall: An accent wall can anchor, and center your modern, open kitchen.
• Island: This is for those who really, really love red. Do you love it so much you’d use a red island?
• Nook: A red nook can define a kitchen, yet not overwhelm it.
• Countertop: Another one for the committed, you have a splashy, glamorous countertop, and you can use gray cabinets to calm it down a little.
• Cabinets: Mix cabinets with another colors, but keep them modern. Or, go for a kitchen full of red cabinets.

Image source: Corvallis Custom Kitchens & Baths

How to decorate with red tiles on the floor?

Regardless of whether you want the orangey-red tones of terracotta, or the screaming red hue of a fire engine, you can achieve a truly striking effect with a red tile floor. Red will invigorate and energize, and the key to decorating is to let the floor take a leading role, and be careful with other colors.

Image source: Johnson Berman

Don’t repeat the red, not on large surfaces

Regardless of how much you love the red floor, red shouldn’t be repeated on other large surfaces, such as countertops, walls, furniture and appliances. It is a strong color, and you actually can have too much of a good thing.

Image source: Highland Design Gallery

When you walk into a kitchen, and see a sea of red, your eye won’t be drawn to a single red element, such as the floor.

Do repeat the red, in accents

However, putting a few small red accents will make the entire floor pop. A red tea kettle, or canisters can be used, or go for a patterned fabric that incorporates red for the windows, chairs or placemats. If you have open shelves, or cabinets with a glass front, paint the back walls red.

Image source: New England Design Elements

Make a grid with red tiles, that will make for an interesting backsplash.

Add other colors as well

Unless you want a bland look, other colors should be mixed into the room as well. Three colors will be enough, and that works great with a lot of interiors, especially with the 60-30-10 rule. This implies using 60% of the dominant color, and 30% and 10% for the second and third color, respectively.

Image source: The Renovation Broker

Unless you have a lot of wall space, you should assume red is your dominant color. Stained woods, metallic finishes or earthly shades of stone and ceramic don’t count as colors. Light neutrals, such as tan, ivory, white or light grey don’t necessarily count either, but you could use them as colors if you want to.

Image source: Architrix Design Studio Inc.

For example, in a retro kitchen where you have red, aqua and yellow, your white cabinets and walls are backdrops. However, in a modern red, white and light gray kitchen, white and light gray are already colors.

Image source: Peg Berens Interior Design LLC

Colors such as black, dark brown and dark gray are much trickier, but it basically depends on how much you choose to use on a single element. An accent wall with black chalkboard paint is a backdrop, but painting every wall black, makes it a color.

The eye should be drawn upward.

A red tile floor will usually serve as a focal point, but you don’t want people looking at it at all times. The eye can be drawn up with a gallery wall of framed artwork, or by filling your display cabinets with a collection of vintage porcelain.

Image source: Arnal Photography

Art-glass pendant lights can be hanged over the island, or you can even hang a chandelier over your breakfast table. Window treatments are to be considered with top details, for example fringed valances.

Summary

A red color can bring a striking accent and vibrant energy into your kitchen design and décor. Reds are powerful and exciting, and add a lot to the functional interiors made for cooking.