A Guide to Stunning Red Dining Room Wall Colors
Red has always been a designer go-to for making a bold, dramatic statement. A beautiful, lush red surpasses trends with a timeless, classic feel that never goes out of style. But there’s more to the color red than meets the eye.
Red is a fiery, passionate color that we associate with feelings of love and devotion, power and lust. The color red has physical and psychological effects on us too. It boosts our blood pressure, raises our metabolism, and increases our appetite, which makes it an ideal dining room color.
Being surrounded by a saturated, gorgeous red adds a regal sense of luxury and sophistication. Your guests will feel like they are being treated to a special occasion any time they dine with you. Painting your dining room red elevates the space, and gives it a sense of distinction from the rest of the home.
We’re going to dive into the best of the best, tried, tested and designer-trusted red paint colors that will transform your dining room into an elegant and refined jewel box you’ll want to entertain in.
If you’re kicking off a dining room refresh, check out our post, “12 Designer Tested Tips For A Stunning Dining Room” that will walk you through the design process from start to finish for a successful, and sophisticated dining room you’ll love to share with your friends and family.
Understanding Red Dining Room Walls
Just like there are a million different whites to choose from, there is great variety in the spectrum of reds available. Red paint can range from earthy terra cottas, to vibrant Christian Louboutin red, to luscious cherry, and deep burgundy reds.
Depending on the undertone of your paint color, and the lighting in your room, certain reds will look better than others. The most important factor in choosing the correct red dining room color for your space is your natural light.
Want to learn about the deeper meanings of the color red? I joined Sarah Jane Semrad with the Living Mandala Podcast to discuss the historical, psychological, and cultural meanings of the color red and the do’s and don’ts of using this color in interior design.
How Light Affects Red Dining Room Wall Colors
Every color rests on a spectrum, and all colors have what is called an “undertone.” Colors can have either warm, or cool undertones. Warm undertones mean your color can look more red, pink, yellow, or orange when daylight hits it. Cool undertones mean your color can look more blue, purple, or gray when in shadow.
Warm undertones in red can range from an orange or brown base like terra cotta. Red and orange, or red and yellow mixed together make a fiery hot red that will make a red dining room wall come alive.
Cool undertones in red range from a blue or purple base like a burgundy. Blue and red mixed together create a deep, wine red with a hint of purple underneath.
The lighting in your room will determine if a warm or a cool undertone will look best in your dining room. Take a look at the windows in your dining room and note which direction they face. Each direction your light comes from will have a different color tint to the light that will affect how your red dining room wall color looks.
Need an expert guide to determining the best color for your dining room? Check out our post, “Expert Guide To Nailing The Perfect Dining Room Color” for a step-by-step easy guide to learning which color works best for your dining room.
North-facing light will be grayer and have a cooling effect on your red paint color. Northern light will pick up on any blue undertones in your paint. They will make cool undertone red look bluer, so make sure to color test and lean towards a slightly warmer red if you have a north-facing light source.
South-facing light sources are warmer and will pick up more orange and yellow undertones in your red dining room color. South-facing rooms don’t get a lot of morning light and can feel dim until they brighten in the afternoon. Balance out this extra bump of yellow with a slightly cool base in your red paint.
East-facing rooms have inconsistent lighting. They’re more bright and warm in the mornings, and cooler and gray by midday and in the evenings. Balance these rooms out with a warmer red color that can look good in both scenarios.
West-facing rooms typically begin with subtle light in the mornings, and graduate to more intense, warm light by the afternoon. Western lit rooms can handle both cool and warm colors, but less bold, softer toned red will work better in the stronger afternoon light. Go for a deeper red, rather than a bright, hot red for the best effect.
Just remember that any color will look brighter in direct sunlight. If you have a room with abundant natural light, lean towards deeper reds rather than brighter colors so your red dining room wall color doesn’t suddenly become harsh or blinding.
Let’s take a look at a range of warm and cool undertone reds that have been used by top designers to transform boring dining rooms into stunning, rich and dramatic space.
Best Red Dining Room Wall Colors
Heritage Red by Benjamin Moore
It’s no accident that I chose this drop dead gorgeous, intense red as the first, and most impressive red in the group. Benjamin Moore’s Heritage Red takes no prisoners. It’s saturated but balanced. Heritage Red has a beautiful warm undertone for a powerful, floral poppy red look. Heritage Red works so well because it doesn’t lean too warm, or too cool. Designers love using this color for a “take your breath away” effect in dining rooms.
Deep Rose by Benjamin Moore
Shakespeare couldn’t have said it better, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Benjamin Moore’s Deep Rose certainly delivers on his promise. This luscious red picks up a bright orange undertone for a vibrant and exciting effect. Deep Rose has a provocative drama that pairs beautifully with crips white trim to balance this rich, potent shade.
Red Rock by Benjamin Moore
Just as the name implies, Benjamin Moore’s Red Rock has an earthy, orange undertone that gives a hint of terra cotta to it. This color looks amazing in North, East, and West facing rooms to help balance out cooler light tones. Enhance the orange undertones of this red dining room wall color in a South facing room for a cozy, structured feel with a spicy effect.
Red Bay By Sherwin Williams
Red Bay is the perfect barn red dining room wall color. This deep red still has a warm undertone, but moves a little closer to a cooler base than the previous reds. This versatile red can cross successfully between North or South facing rooms because of its balanced, neutral undertone.
Fireweed By Sherwin Williams
Bold, but muted. Earthy with a hint of fire. Sherwin Williams Fireweed is a beautiful blend of deep, warm red with a grounded brown base. In South and West facing light, this red comes alive, becoming a hot, spicy pepper red. In North and East facing rooms, Fireweed tones down for a more practical, subtle hue.
Chinese Red By Sherwin Williams
What I love about Chinese Red is the antique feel it gives to a space. This red is intense, but also soothing and romantic. Chinese Red is favored by designers because it plays well with other bold colors and warm whites.
Raspberry Truffle By Benjamin Moore
This red dining room wall color is as delicious as it sounds. As expected, Raspberry Truffle has a slightly cooler undertone for a rich, bold feel. This juicy red gives a sumptuous, deep look that wraps your dining room in exquisite opulence. Use Raspberry Truffle in East facing rooms for an appetizing design.
Crushed Velvet By Benjamin Moore
Crushed Velvet has that divine mix of pomegranate red with a cranberry twist. Leaning deep into the cool undertones with an almost purple base, Crushed Velvet gives a bold, wine red look. Turn this purple up a notch by using it on North facing dining room walls. Use Crushed Velvet’s cool undertone to balance and moderate yellow tinted South facing light.
Hodley Red By Benjamin Moore
Hodley Red is saturated cool red with a hint of fire underneath. At first glance, Hodley Red seems like you could fill your wine glass with the intense, lavish tones of deep purples. But on further inspection Hodley Red has a warm, firey tint hiding underneath. Bring out the heat in this elegant red by using it in South or West facing rooms. Transform it back into a smokey, luxuriant delicacy by intensifying it’s cooler base notes in North or East facing rooms.
New London Burgundy By Benjamin Moore
This color dives deep into rich, seductive cool tones. New London Burgundy is one of those gorgeous colors that could be a brown, a red, or a purple depending on the light that hits it. If you want a more earthy feel, use New London Burgundy in South or West facing rooms to bring out the warm brown undertones. If you want a regal and luxurious burgundy red, use it in North or East facing rooms to enhance the deep purple base.
Conclusion
Each rich red on this curated, designer tested list can transform your dining room into a gorgeous, show stopping moment that your guests will love to dine in. By knowing the direction of your light, you can use each color to your advantage to create the perfect red dining room wall color.
About The Author
Nicole Cullum is an interior designer and fine artist. Her passion for color, pattern, and balance are expressed through her hand-painted line of wallpapers and textiles available at ColorCaravan.com.
Contact Nicole at hello@ColorCaravan.com for help with your next design project, e-design services, or a custom wallpaper or textile design.
