How to design a red kitchen

Red kitchen décor can be achieved on your walls via paint, splashbacks or even bricks.

Bold wall accents such as an on-trend terracotta red is an exciting way to add drama to a room, especially when accentuating interesting architecture such as pillars and high V-shaped ceilings. It draws attention to the eye and pulls you right into the kitchen.

Let red be the star of your kitchen by incorporating playful pops of bold red hexagon wall tiles, an easy-to-clean acrylic splashback, or a rustic red brick wall as a feature for your dinning area. You can have fun and use as much colour as you like, depending on the style and design of your kitchen.

Remember: pare it-back with neutral cabinetry and flooring to ensure the space isn’t overpowered.

Neutral spaces such as cream units and pale walls can be livened up with a kick of colour via a splash of red kitchen accessories. These energetic accent pieces add a touch of personality and fun to your design, as well as creating a retro look.

There are so many ways you can incorporate splashes of red into your kitchen, especially with pieces such as crimson bar stools, post box red pendant lights and ruby red appliances like a classic range cooker.

If you’re looking for a subtle addition, how about simply adding a large red wall clock, polka or gingham red tea towels and smaller appliances such as a toaster, coffee machine or kettle?

Whites, greys and even soft sage greens marry perfectly with red kitchen accessories, as well as stainless steel appliances and chucky timber worktops.

There are a few ways you can add red to spice-up your cabinetry. For a big and bold look, go all out and splash the hot colour palette across all your cabinets. You can create the ‘wow’ factor in your space by colouring the island or tower units with juicy orange/red tones or subtle pinks.

If you have plenty of natural light in your space, you could opt for an all-over aubergine coloured kitchen – it’s a timeless look that offers a rich aesthetic, as well as being super impactful and cosy. Co-ordinate it with ice white quartz worktops and real wooden flooring for a balanced look.

For a less intense flair, opt for two colours with your red palette such as sugary creams or urban greys. Or for maximum impact a teal colour looks stunning next to it. Think wall cabinets in a retro brick orange paired with deep teal units, beautifully accessorised with retro pull handles and a brass tap. This breaks up the red and keeps it from becoming overwhelming.

Traditional red colours tend to have more deeper and darker undertones such as dusky aubergines, classy merlots and pretty ruby reds. These can often make a room look darker, but if it’s used in certain amounts, these hues can really anchor and energise your whole design.

For a totally traditional kitchen design, consider using the warming Country Ermine or Shaker style. Red can highlight features such as a butcher’s table complete with a chunky timber worktop, or a feature unit perfect for displaying plates and vintage glasses.

It creates a peppy contrast beside traditional white, putty or even sage/earthy green coloured units which can be brought to life with marbled quartz worktops - not forgetting, of course, a traditional Belfast sink and a range cooker splashed in red, which just screams country style.

To bring the look together, red polka dot or gingham are the perfect patterns for soft furnishings and blinds.

For an eye-catching contemporary space, a glossy Handleless or Milano design is the perfect partner, as its clean sleek lines are a blank canvass for brighter and pastel shades such as hot crimson, retro raspberry and playful coral.

For the brighter shades, combine it with a mid-century wood colour such as Wren’s Milano Elements Italian Walnut or Ocean Cypress. And for the pastels, continue the airy, playful theme with fresher hues such as cashmere creams and Italian oak.

Or for a playful touch, why not go for two similar crimson or rust shades? Have the darker shade on your units and the lighter shade on the cabinets. This designer look will create a real statement, as long as you combine it with simple finishing touches such as a graphite bar handle and a metallic black swan tap.

Enjoy the journey of creating your red hot masterpiece and you can start by checking out this easy-to-use online kitchen planner for ideas and inspiration, or for expert advice book an appointment with a kitchen designer.