The Dark Cabinet Paint Color You'll Be Seeing In 2026

Choosing a cabinet paint color is an essential step in establishing a kitchen aesthetic that suits your preferences and lifestyle. Light paint colors are great for making your space feel brighter and more airy and are a popular choice with many homeowners due to their versatility and simplicity. However, they can sometimes lack the personality and depth that you get with darker paints. Black, dark brown, and gray are some of the most neutral options. However, there's one especially elegant cabinet color trending right now (and looking to be a popular color in 2026) that's a bit different, and that's burgundy. Dark reds like purple-tinged burgundy bring a luxurious warmth to kitchens and can suit both contemporary and traditional interior design styles. These colors supply a level of richness that looks nice alongside the more natural elements of the heart of the home, such as wood finishes and stone countertops. To top it all off, dark red tends to look bold and intentional without being too artificial.

Dark burgundy in a matte finish is the sort of color that pairs well with classic decor elements, such as bricks, antique tiles, or old wooden furnishings. In other words, it's gorgeous alongside a host of vintage kitchen trends that we'd love to see being used today. The same red color with a glossy finish, however, will often look significantly more modern. In so many circumstances, using a deep burgundy on your cabinets is a great way to give a home unique personality. Interestingly, this still holds true despite the fact that this color is continuing to trend upwards in popularity.

There are a handful of smart ways to highlight the beauty of your dark red and burgundy cabinets. First, consider your hardware. A shiny gold or brass finish for your cabinet handles and drawer pulls is sure to stand out against the paint's rich hues. Classic cup pulls, in particular, can look especially nice. However, there are many other types of cabinet hardware to choose from; knobs, T-pull handles, and edge pulls could all look stunning depending on the kitchen's style and your desired level of function. For surrounding materials, using lots of natural wood throughout your space will create an elegant contrast with the red. Installing butcher's block countertops are a great option if you're currently in the middle of a renovation project. To temper the burgundy, you might also want to find a few opportunities to incorporate neutral colors in your space, such as white or cream. Avoid darkening the room too much with colors like gray and black. This may make the room feel smaller than it actually is.

If you're going to use burgundy red in your kitchen to stay on trend in 2026, you don't necessarily have to cover all of your cabinets in it. You might use the red to highlight a focal point, such as your kitchen island or an accent wall or backsplash. Alternatively, you could use dark red in combination with another color to set up one of the best color combos for two-tone kitchen cabinets.