Confession: I used to think a purple kitchen would feel like a themed restaurant — fun to visit, exhausting to live in. Then I saw an aubergine kitchen done right, all deep plum cabinets and warm brass, and I haven’t looked at my plain white cupboards the same way since.
The secret is that aubergine isn’t loud. It’s moody and velvety, closer to a ripe fig than a grape soda, and it makes everything around it — cream walls, marble, warm wood — look richer. It also slides straight into the cozier months, especially layered with the textures in our fall kitchen decor guide.
So whether you’re painting every cabinet or just flirting with plum bar stools, here are fifteen ways to wear the color — starting, of course, with the cabinets themselves.
As an Amazon Associate, Decor and Dish earns from qualifying purchases.
Aubergine Kitchen Cabinets: Pinterest’s Boldest Trend
Cabinets cover the most visual real estate in any kitchen, so they’re the highest-impact place to go bold. Matte finishes keep the look sophisticated rather than shiny, and deep plum pairs beautifully with warm metals.
1. Full Aubergine Cabinetry in a Matte Finish
Nothing commits to the trend like floor-to-ceiling plum. Choose a matte or satin finish in a deep aubergine shade — glossy finishes can read flat under kitchen lighting, while matte absorbs light for that velvety, expensive feel. Pair with warm white walls and light countertops like butcher block or creamy quartz so the room stays balanced. Keep your styling simple: a few ceramic pieces, one trailing plant, and let the color do the talking. If you’re nervous about resale, remember that cabinet paint is far easier to change than tile — this is commitment with an exit plan.
2. Two-Tone Cabinets: Aubergine Meets Warm Cream
Can’t decide between bold and safe? Have both. Paint lower cabinets in deep aubergine and uppers in warm cream or soft white for a look that’s dramatic yet airy. The dark base grounds the room while light uppers keep it feeling open — a designer trick that works especially well in galley kitchens. Tie the two tones together with matching hardware in brushed brass. If you love high-contrast looks, our black and white kitchen ideas show the same two-tone principle taken to the extreme. For a festive twist on painted cabinets, our christmas bows on kitchen cabinets guide shows how to dress them up for the holidays.
3. An Aubergine Island as the Showpiece
If painting every cabinet feels like too much, paint just one: the island. A plum island becomes the crown jewel of your aubergine kitchen, adding drama exactly where guests gather. This is also the smartest budget move — one island takes a single quart of cabinet paint and a weekend. Style it with two or three velvet bar stools, a trio of brass pendants above, and a large wooden cutting board leaning against the backsplash for warmth. The contrast between the dark island and lighter perimeter cabinets creates depth that makes even builder-grade kitchens look custom.
4. Glass-Front Cabinets That Show Off
Swap a few solid cabinet doors for glass fronts and suddenly your plum cabinetry becomes a display case. Style the shelves with cream ceramics, amber glassware, and a stack of linen napkins — the warm tones glow beautifully against the dark aubergine backdrop. Add puck lights inside the cabinets (battery-operated ones take minutes to install) for a jewelry-box effect after dark. Keep what’s inside curated: this look rewards editing, so decant everyday items into matching containers and let the pretty pieces shine. Architectural Digest‘s kitchen tours are full of glass-front inspiration worth stealing.
Moody Jewel Tones & Dopamine Décor
Once the cabinets are set, layer in jewel tone kitchen styling through tile, textiles, and wall color. This is where dopamine decor shines — rich, saturated color that makes you happy every time you walk in.
5. A Jewel-Tone Backsplash
Zellige tiles in emerald, sapphire, or deep teal turn the wall between your counters into art. The handmade texture catches light differently across the day, so the backsplash feels alive. With aubergine cabinets, jewel tones create a tone-on-tone richness that reads incredibly luxurious — like the inside of a jewelry box. If real zellige is out of budget, peel-and-stick versions have gotten remarkably convincing. Grout in a warm greige rather than stark white to keep the moody feeling seamless.
6. Plum and Berry Textiles
The fastest, cheapest transformation in this whole list: textiles. Swap in curtains, a runner rug, and dish towels in plum, berry, and wine tones. These plum kitchen accessories soften all the hard surfaces and let you test-drive the palette before committing to paint. Choose washable fabrics — kitchens are messy — and repeat the deepest shade in at least three spots so it looks intentional, not random. A striped berry runner down a galley kitchen adds instant coziness underfoot.
7. A Moody Purple Pantry Wall
Have a pantry wall, a breakfast nook, or one stretch of open wall? Paint it the deepest plum you dare. This dark purple kitchen decor move creates a focal point that makes everything in front of it — open shelves, a coffee bar, a leaning mirror — pop. Style a coffee station against it with brass accents, amber glass canisters, and a small piece of art. The dark backdrop makes even everyday items look styled, and it’s only one wall, so the commitment stays small while the impact stays huge.
8. A Dark Floral Wallpaper Moment
Wallpaper is back in kitchens, and dark floral prints are its moodiest form. A botanical print with deep plum, burgundy, and black blooms behind open shelving or in a breakfast corner adds pattern without clutter. Choose a wipeable vinyl made for kitchens — steam and splashes are real. The Spruce has wonderful guides to hanging wallpaper in high-moisture spaces like kitchens if you’re new to doing it yourself.
Brass & Gold Accents for Your Aubergine Kitchen
Here’s the Neo Deco secret: deep purple plus warm brass equals instant luxury. These brass accents are the jewelry of the room — small, shiny, and transformative.
9. Brushed Brass Hardware
Swap standard pulls for brushed brass bar pulls or knobs and watch your cabinets transform overnight. Against aubergine, brass glows — it’s the single highest-impact hardware swap you can make. This is a perfect Saturday project: one screwdriver, one afternoon, whole new kitchen. Measure your existing hole spacing before ordering, and buy one extra pull for the inevitable where-did-that-go moment.
Shop brushed brass cabinet hardware on Amazon
10. Statement Brass Pendant Lights
Lighting is jewelry, and brass pendants are the statement necklace. Hang two or three dome or globe pendants over your island at 30 to 36 inches above the countertop. It’s no wonder brass accents are the backbone of the Neo Deco trend — the warm metal bounces a golden glow onto the plum cabinetry below, a combination that photographs like a magazine spread. If hardwiring feels daunting, plug-in pendants with fabric cords give the same look with zero electrician. For more metallic inspiration, our chrome home decor ideas show how mixed metals can work together.
Shop brass pendant lights on Amazon
11. Gold-Framed Open Shelving
Replace one upper cabinet run with gold-framed open shelves — thin brass brackets with warm wood shelves. Against a moody purple kitchen wall, the combination is pure boutique-hotel. Style with restraint: stacks of cream bowls, a few amber glasses, one trailing plant. The negative space is the point; cramming every inch kills the effect. Dust shelves weekly — open storage shows everything, which is both its charm and its chore.
12. A Gilded Faucet Moment
Yes, the faucet can be a moment. A brushed gold or unlacquered brass faucet against an aubergine backdrop and a white fireclay sink is the kind of detail designers photograph. Unlacquered brass develops a living patina — it tells a story over time. Pair with a matching soap dispenser and be done; two brass pieces are a theme, five is a collection. Houzz‘s kitchen galleries are full of real-home examples of brass fixtures done right.
Aubergine Kitchen Decor Ideas on a Budget
Love the look but not the renovation? These purple kitchen ideas prove you can capture the trend for the price of a dinner out.
13. Purple Small Appliances & Accessories
Start with plum kitchen accessories: a stand mixer, a kettle, amethyst glassware. This dark purple kitchen decor approach builds the palette through objects, not paint — perfect for renters. Group three purple pieces together on one stretch of counter so they read as intentional styling rather than random purchases. These little swaps bring the aubergine kitchen look home for less, and when the trend evolves, small appliances are the easiest thing to change, which makes this the lowest-risk entry point of all.
Shop purple stand mixers on Amazon
14. Velvet Bar Stools in Deep Plum
Two velvet bar stools in deep plum do more styling work than almost anything else in this list. The texture catches light beautifully, the color echoes the cabinets, and they’re endlessly useful — extra seating, a perch for morning coffee, a spot for little helpers. Look for wipeable performance velvet if your kitchen sees real life. Tuck them fully under the island when not in use to keep walkways clear. For broader styling ideas, our home decor ideas hub is full of pieces that pair beautifully with bold color.
Shop purple velvet bar stools on Amazon
15. Seasonal Styling: Fall Touches in Your Purple Kitchen
Here’s the seasonal secret: aubergine is autumn’s perfect base. Layer in copper pumpkins, dried wheat in an amber vase, and a eucalyptus garland along the island for fall — the warm harvest tones sing against cool plum. Our fall kitchen decor guide has the full seasonal playbook, and when spooky season hits, halloween kitchen decor ideas layer right over the purple beautifully. Come spring, swap the pumpkins for blush peonies — our pink room decor proves pink and purple are a match made in heaven.
FAQs About the Aubergine Kitchen Trend
What is an aubergine kitchen?
An aubergine kitchen is a kitchen designed around aubergine — a deep, brownish-purple shade named after the eggplant. On Pinterest, searches for the look are up 495%, making it the platform’s biggest kitchen color trend. Think matte plum cabinets, brass hardware, and jewel-toned accents layered into a moody, luxurious whole.
What colors go well with plum cabinetry?
Warm metallics are the dream pairing: brushed brass, champagne gold, and copper all glow against deep plum. For balance, add warm creams, natural wood, and soft sage. Avoid cool grays and stark whites in large doses — they can make the purple feel flat instead of rich.
Is aubergine the same as eggplant?
Yes! Aubergine is simply the British word for eggplant, so an aubergine kitchen and an eggplant kitchen describe the very same deep-purple look. American brands usually label the shade “eggplant” or “plum” — search both names when shopping paint.
How can I try the aubergine trend on a budget?
Start with textiles and accessories: plum dish towels, a berry runner rug, and purple small appliances capture the feeling for under $100. Peel-and-stick backsplash tiles in jewel tones are the next step up. Paint is the biggest commitment — save it for last, once you know you love living with the color.
Will a dark purple kitchen make my small kitchen feel smaller?
Not if you balance it. In a moody purple kitchen, keep countertops light, add under-cabinet lighting, and use a large mirror or glass-front cabinets to bounce light around. Painting just the island or lower cabinets gives you the drama while the upper walls stay bright and open.
Your Dream Aubergine Kitchen Is Waiting
You don’t need a full renovation to fall in love with the boldest color of the season — just one of these aubergine kitchen ideas, layered with intention. Start small this weekend with brass hardware or plum textiles, and watch how quickly your kitchen starts to feel like you.
Which idea will you try first? Tell me in the comments below — and don’t forget to save your favorites so they’re ready when inspiration strikes. Here’s to kitchens with drama, warmth, and just the right amount of plum, from all of us at Decor and Dish!
