If recently trending colours like sage green, dusty pink and light teal served as tentative indicators of the end of white, clinical kitchens, the arrival of 'aubergine' is the official confirmation. This deep purple hue is about as bold as it gets – and much more compatible than you might expect.
Aubergine kitchens topped Pinterest's spring trend report, with searches soaring at a nearly 500 per cent increase in the 'home and renovations' category. This may feel like whiplash (we've only just got used to pastel-coloured kitchens, after all) and out of place for the spring and summer season, but designers say it's been a long time coming.
'I think people are finally feeling confident enough to bring their personality back into their homes. We've had years of very safe, neutral schemes, and while that will always have its place, there's a real appetite now for richer, more expressive colour,' says Lisa Hensby, founder and creative director of her eponymous design studio.
And it's not just about colour confidence and the pursuit of deeply personal spaces. Laura Townsend, design manager at kitchen manufacturer Magnet, argues the way we see interiors has changed.
'There's also a perception shift at play: for years, light and white were sold as the only way to make a kitchen feel bigger, but homeowners are increasingly choosing depth and drama over square footage, using bold colour as a way to make a room feel intentional and personal rather than simply large,' she says.
It makes sense for aubergine to lead the charge; it's the most dramatic a shade can be without tipping into intimidating or garish. 'It's bold without being brash,' adds Lisa. 'It has all the depth and drama of a dark shade, but it's warm and cocooning too, so it never feels cold or clinical.
'Compared to the greys and stark neutrals we've lived with for years, it feels genuinely luxurious, and it's a colour I'm seeing clients ask for with real confidence rather than nervousness.'
How to style aubergine kitchens for a rich, elevated look
Materials
Aubergine is more versatile than people may expect, working well with a range of materials and tones. Designers recommend a dual-toned scheme, paired with natural materials like walnut, oak and veined stone and finished with brass, bronze or unlacquered metal hardware to keep the scheme elevated rather than heavy.
Style
Aubergine also works within different interior styles. 'For a more traditional home, I'd pair it with Shaker-style cabinetry and a classic stone worktop,' Lisa says. 'In a contemporary kitchen, it works just as well with clean-lined cabinetry, sleek surfaces and minimal detailing, so it really does flex to suit the house it's in.'
Colour palette
Before committing to a shade as bold as aubergine, ensure your existing furniture and appliances will match the scheme. So, in terms of the overall colour palette, you'll want to offset aubergine's dark drama with contrasting, lighter shades. 'Soft pinks, earthy greens, warm creams and muted browns all sit beautifully alongside it,' says Lisa.
'The trick is balancing the depth of the aubergine with warmth and texture, so the finished scheme feels layered. That's the bit I always spend the most time getting right with clients: it's never just about picking a colour, it's about how it lives with everything else in the room.'
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