Choosing color for kitchen

The Dos and Don'ts of Kitchen Color Schemes

Diana Hathaway Timmons

Diana Hathaway Timmons has over 10 years as a color and interior design consultant. She writes about ideas and tips for beautifying your space and incorporating decor trends into your home. She wrote the book "How to Sell Your Home Without Losing Your Zen" and has been featured in the "Huffington Post," "Better Homes & Gardens," and additional publications.

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Updated on 04/15/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Your kitchen may be the one room in your home that is the most neutral. White or wood cabinets and simple countertops make a kitchen look clean and uncluttered. An elegant and simple kitchen can also need a pop of color. Whether you are thinking about adding a new wall color, or just some colorful accents, you'll want to know the do's and don'ts of kitchen color before you get started decorating.

Dos

DO recognize that even if you have the most stunning cabinetry and counters in your kitchen, it can still benefit from color. Even the slightest tint in a wall color can transform a boring space without changing the overall vibe of the room.
DO consider adding color with lighting fixtures. No need to choose brightly colored pendants, though art glass or Tiffany style pendants can be gorgeous. The on-trend light fixture metallics now include brushed gold, bronze, and black. Just the addition of soft gold light fixtures can be enough color to add depth to your kitchen color scheme.
DO check out chalkboard paint for a kitchen wall or door. Most paint brands now offer chalkboard formulas in most colors. You can get the fun and convenience of having a space to write or doodle on the wall, with a pop of color. If you're not ready to commit to a wall of chalkboard paint color, a framed DIY chalkboard in your favorite color can work just as well.
DO learn the basics of cool versus warm colors. Being able to recognize the color temperature of any color you're considering will help you choose the right color to coordinate with your counters and cabinetry.
DO watch your undertones. Understanding how paint undertones work will save you from many problems later on with colors that don't seem to work together. All colors, even neutrals, have a color undertone that can add a gray, green, or even pink, to an otherwise neutral space.
DO have fun with color. Add a pop of color with colorful accessories and dinnerware. A stylish way to add color is to put up a wine glass rack on the wall. Fill your glass rack with colorful stemware for a cool shot of color.

Don'ts

DON’T be afraid to add vibrant color to your kitchen. Yes, that does seem to buck the latest kitchen trend of white and gray, but not every kitchen is the same. If you love color and your kitchen would benefit from a pop of color, try a fun accent wall.
DON’T hesitate to use gray wall colors in your kitchen. Gray or gray-blue works beautifully for beach-style, color schemes. Warm grays or greige look gorgeous with dark cabinetry and flooring.
DON'T overdo gray in the kitchen. Gray kitchens are a hot trend. It's easy to get caught up in the trend by choosing gray cabinetry, flooring, and counters. The fixed features of your kitchen will be around for many years, so consider using gray wall color or accents and keep one of the less-changeable features more neutral.
DON’T forget that even adding colorful kitchen linens can change the look of the room inexpensively. Kitchen linens can be exchanged in and out with the seasons, and for a quick color update.
DON'T forget adjoining rooms in your color scheme. You can add more color by choosing an accent wall for an open dining area or family room. Tie the color scheme together by sprinkling a little of the room's colors in the nearby space.

Your Guide to Kitchen Colour Schemes

It goes without saying that when choosing your kitchen colour scheme, there are options. Too many options, in fact. Even though you might know what colours you prefer, there are an infinite number of shades, tones and hues to choose from. And what about harmony? When choosing your colours, you need to keep everything in mind. A colour scheme is not only defined by the colours you choose for your walls, floors and cabinetry – even the colour of your kettle, or potplant, can make (or break) the cohesion in your kitchen.

To create a kitchen that’s magazine-worthy, you’ll have to take a step back and look at your project as the sum of many parts. Below, we take a closer look at what these parts are – and how you should make you decisions.

1. Choose your cabinet colours

There’s a reason that cabinets should be your first consideration when choosing a kitchen colour scheme. Depending on what material and hardware you use, kitchen cabinets typically consume half your kitchen renovation budget, and take up approximately 40% of the visual space in your kitchen. So it would be a good idea to use your choice of kitchen cabinets as the foundation for future colour choices.

What to do: Choose a colour, texture and material that fits your personality, budget and style of your home. Don’t overthink things just yet. Simply select cabinets that speak to you, and move on to step 2.

2. Choose your appliance colours

It’s completely possible that you may opt for built-in appliances. Built in goods will likely be tucked behind your choice of cabinetry, in which case you can move on to step 3. If you’ll go with freestanding appliance, you’ll have to consider how the appliance fronts match with the rest of your cabinets. Your cabinetry cannot be finalised until you know exactly which appliances you intend to purchase.

What to do: When it comes to appliances, your fridge, dishwasher and sink will have the biggest impact on your kitchen colour scheme. You’ll want your appliances to look ‘part of the plan’. To do that, simply choose appliances that complement your cabinet colour scheme. Consider matching white goods with white or light grey cabinetry. Stainless Steel appliances go well with brown hues, vibrant colours and shades of grey. These things might seem obvious at first, but it’s something many people get wrong.

3. Select your countertops

Your choice of kitchen countertops is an important decision for many reasons. Other than practical and budget considerations, countertops are often close to eye-level – occupying a significant portion of your visual space. If there’s no cohesion between the countertops and cabinets, the visual harmony in your kitchen will fall apart.

What to do: When selecting countertops, first eliminate any options that are outside of your budget. Then, consider the colour of your existing kitchen floor. Matching these two colours is a fool-proof way of ensuring good colour coordination. If you intend to upgrade or replace your floors, simply use a sample of your kitchen cabinets to guide you in selecting your countertops.

4. Choose flooring

Often, adjoining rooms of your home will dictate the colour of your kitchen floors. If not, it’s sometimes difficult to know what works and what doesn’t. When selecting a kitchen floor colour, it needs to coordinate well with all the elements you’ve selected so far.

What to do: Start by selecting your material first. Hardwood, tile and laminate floors are all popular choices. A basic rule of thumb is to pick a second dominant colour (your cabinets being the other). A complementary, yet contrasting colour will shape your kitchen. A timeless combination uses classic white cabinets, and warm wood or laminate flooring – with a countertop that alternates between both lighter and darker colours.

5. Choose your wall colour

Oddly enough, kitchen walls are often the forgotten elements when it comes to defining an overall colour scheme. Walls play an imporant role in tying the room together and setting the mood. While walls are generally covered by cabinets, backsplashes and shelving, it’s still a chunk of space that becomes more noticeable when done wrong.

What to do: Select a color that balances well with the floors, cabinets and backsplash. Painting kitchen walls in off-white, cream or dove grey should complement most of your chosen elements, no matter what style you choose. Vibrant colours are also an option, just be sure that your floors and cabinetry have a more subtle palette.

6. Choose hardware colours

Beauty is in the details. Elements like taps, cabinet handles and lighting fixtures will be installed at the very end of your project, but have the potential to put the cherry on the cake of your renovation. While there are no ‘hard and fast’ rules about coordinating hardware colours – it does help to create a space that looks more planned than most.

What to do: When it comes to kitchen colour schemes, just stick with styles and finishes that complement each other. The easiest way of ensuring a streamlined look, is to use one type of hardware material throughout. Take a look at your metal elements – match them up and see them in use with your choice of cabinets.

Creating a flowing kitchen colour scheme might seem like a daunting task at first. Choosing a starting point, and moving your way through all the elements in your kitchen one-by-one will ensure you end up with a beautiful, cohesive space. For more design inspiration and thoughts about selecting your kitchen floors, cabinets and everything else, go here.

How to choose the color of a kitchen set, taking into account the style, preference for color combinations

11/06/2019

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The perception of the environment is perhaps most strongly influenced by its color palette. Indoors - this is decoration, furniture, accents. Therefore, the color of the kitchen set should be chosen especially carefully, it is he who allows you to create a harmonious positive space.

Factors affecting color choice

First of all, you need to take into account the preferences of the hostess, who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, and of course, the wishes of the rest of the family. It happens that some color is categorically unpleasant for someone from the household. Naturally, it is better to refuse to use it.

And what kind of cuisine should be the result? Few options:

calm, soothing;
balanced;
positive and cheerful.

It is advisable to take into account the advice of psychologists when choosing. A certain color can affect emotions, appetite, and even the subconscious.

Kitchen dimensions. If the room is small, then it is better to choose a light color scheme, it will visually enlarge the space. A darker range will make the kitchen warmer, more comfortable, but visually it will appear smaller.

The position of the window must also be taken into account. If the window or windows in the kitchen face north, a warm color of the kitchen set would be preferable, and if there is a lot of sun in the room, cold shades would be more appropriate.

It is desirable to take into account fashion trends. At the very least, it will not be superfluous to view photos with design solutions, then it will be easier to choose the color of the headset for the kitchen.

A few more general rules:

even a small but dark set in a small kitchen will look bulky;
if the room is very small, pastel cold shades remain the only acceptable option;
in small kitchens, lacquered facades of one or more mixed colors look more appropriate.

When choosing a color palette, you need to pay attention to lighting: how the shades behave in artificial and natural light. Most often, metamorphoses, moreover, not entirely pleasant, occur with red and pink hues.

Sparkling shades or metallic glosses reflect light, so classic bronze tones, warm golden ones are a good solution for small spaces.

A neutral range with white, cream, beige shades does not clutter up even a small space, so it will be comfortable with it in any room shape.

When choosing a mixed palette, you need to consider that white, black and gray are combined with any shades. If this option is not suitable, the choice of color can be done according to the color wheel in the following ways:

monochrome combination. Only one tone is used, but with different saturation;
adjacent color. Two close colors on the color wheel are chosen, for example, orange and yellow;
contrasting color. Effective contrasts are used, for example, yellow and brown.

You should not choose too many shades: soon such a variegation will begin to tire.

Bright facades can be muted with calm light wall panels.

With light facades of kitchen furniture, you can choose bright wallpapers or panels. Changing them if necessary is easier than changing the color of the facades.

A bright furniture set will enliven the space and give it dynamism.

If the room is small, you should not use a contrasting design method, but for spacious rooms it will be optimal. If the kitchen space is too large, it can be reduced by a combination of light and dark tones, or pastels with rich, bright ones.

Color and style

Often a certain interior style requires a certain range of colors.

For example, the classic does not accept contrasts. The classic design of the kitchen uses natural wood shades, coffee and chocolate colors. In neoclassical style, pastel colors are often used.

In calm romantic styles of kitchen design, such as country, Provence, natural, calm colors interspersed with rich accents are used.

The design in the loft style requires the use of dark tones and natural shades.

Minimalism is conciseness not only in the decor, but also in the palette. The most popular solution is a combination of gray with white and black.

Scandinavian style is a white color scheme as a base, and bright accents as accessories.

Preferred color combinations

A convenient way to decide on the choice of a kitchen set is to use the RAL color chart, it will show everything very clearly.

Beige is a universal color, combined with all variants of brown, blue, gray. It looks beautiful with any metallic finish. Discreet color is always in fashion and emphasizes the good taste of kitchen owners. Bright colors help him to fully reveal his potential. The background color beige is chosen, as a rule, in small kitchens. Warm beige is optimal for classic stylistic trends, and cold beige for modern ones, in particular for the Scandinavian style.

White in the kitchen has always been considered a win-win option. It can be dominant, as it can emphasize even the smallest details of the interior. White is an elegant and strict color, but so that the furniture set does not look sterile, like medical equipment, it is advisable to choose its warm shade, for example, creamy, ivory. A small room will become visually more spacious with white furniture. However, this option requires owners to be careful, as even a little dirt will be noticeable on white surfaces. You can combine it with black. The severity of white is compensated by purple, pink and orange. Metallic silver can be used instead of white. It's a trendy neutral color that goes with the same palette as white, but is also more practical.

The green color of the headset is a good solution for the kitchen. It gives wisdom, improves appetite. But designers do not recommend using several shades at once. It is better to combine it with black, brown or white. Bright and glossy green surfaces are suitable for modern styles, olive and pistachio shades are ideal for Provence style. For the classics, grassy and emerald greens are suitable in combination with beige or gray.

Gray is the best neutral base color. Combined with blue, beige, bright red. If you want to make the interior elegant and discreet, you can combine gray with purple, pistachio, brown. To revitalize the interior, combinations with yellow, red, pink are suitable.

Black - goes well with almost any color. The most popular combinations: orange, red, white.

A basic orange kitchen set is a positive solution that is very popular, especially in modern interiors. Orange is a color that gives energy and warmth. But if it turns out to be too much, it can begin to irritate, so in the kitchen it is good to combine it with cream, terracotta, brown. A bright orange gloss goes well with a gray base color.

Blue in combination with white, lilac, mother-of-pearl is a universal combination for any interior.

Color and appetite

The effect of price on appetite has been proven by clinical studies. How to choose the color of the kitchen set so that there are no problems? Clean cool tones reduce appetite, while warm and bright ones increase it, so anyone who watches their diet needs to find a balance in the color palette.

Light shades of yellow, pink, will reduce increased appetite and addiction to heavy fatty dishes. If there are small children in the house, or people with a lack of weight, it is advisable to use warm saturated colors in the kitchen.

Black - significantly reduces appetite, however, this color is used to decorate restaurant halls. Its nobility and elegance speaks of the high quality of the furnishings. A black kitchen set is a great option to make an impression, and you can eat with appetite in a dining area with a more positive design.

White - creates a feeling of freshness, not without reason the refrigerator is traditionally painted in this color. However, the color can provoke overeating, as food looks easy to digest on a white background. Eating delicious meals in a white beautiful kitchen, it is recommended to periodically think about whether you are really hungry.

The green color of the furniture promotes a healthy appetite. In a green kitchen, you want to cook healthy green salads and eat right. However, the main thing lies in the details. So, if the green turns out to be pistachio, an increase in appetite is guaranteed, and the swamp shade will make even tasty food unattractive.

Kitchens of different colors in the interior - designers' advice on choosing colors for the kitchen and 95 photos

The choice of color for the kitchen set depends on how you would like to see the kitchen after all the work is completed. It can be calm or tonic, effective or calming, bright or gentle. Consider in this article the basic rules and advice from designers on choosing colors for the kitchen.

Designer tips on how to choose the right kitchen color and what to watch out for:

* Do not use more than two colors in one kitchen set.

* If the kitchen set is designed in two colors, then the color of the upper cabinets should be lighter in tone than the lower cabinets.

* A monochromatic kitchen looks better when it is made of colors ranging from light beige to dark brown, pleasant, calm and not too flashy. A plain kitchen looks good if the kitchen space is not large.

* Only one color should be the dominant color in the headset if the headset is made in different colors.

* Different colors of the kitchen unit must be combined with each other.

Furniture should be the starting point in kitchen interior design.

If you are planning to buy brightly colored furniture, it is advisable to make walls in calm, neutral colors.

And vice versa, a monochromatic and not bright kitchen set requires more catchy, contrasting walls and surrounding decor.

The following color combinations are popular in one set: black and white, black and pink, black and red, black and orange, red and gray, red and white, yellow and blue, beige and gray, green and light yellow, dark brown and light brown, brown and beige, orange and dark brown, lilac/purple and yellow, burgundy and light pink, green and brown.

* In a small kitchen space, you do not need to use dark saturated colors.

Remember that a light color visually enlarges the space.

* A room with a large area will become more comfortable if the light suite is supplemented, "diluted" with bright accents.

* Too dark a kitchen set, even in a large kitchen, can create a gloomy atmosphere.

* The colors of nature are best suited to the color of kitchen furniture.

The best color combinations in one kitchen set:

- White - goes well with almost all colors. Best with blue, red and black;

- Beige - matches blue, brown, gray and white;

- Gray is a neutral color that can be used as a base color. Pairs well with beige/cream, pink, red, purple, brown, blue;

- Pink - brown, white, olive, gray, turquoise matches this color;

- Red - ideally combined with yellow, white, green, blue and black, combination with gray is also possible;

- Brown - with bright blue, cream, pink, green, beige, light brown;

- Orange - with blue, blue, lilac, violet, green;

- Yellow - with blue, lilac, light blue, gray, black, lilac;

- Green - matches golden brown, yellow, black, light beige;

- Blue - to red, gray, orange, pink, white, yellow;

- Blue - to purple, green, yellow, orange, red;

- Lilac - to yellow, green, brown, beige;

- Black - universal elegant color. Looks good with all colors. Best combined with orange, pink, green, white, red, yellow.

Color plays a huge role in human life, it affects well-being, mood, performance, relationships. The kitchen is an important part of our home, we spend a lot of time there, so choosing the color of the walls for this room should be taken seriously.

Basic rules for choosing wall colors for the kitchen:

A large pattern visually reduces the size of the room.
A small pattern, on the other hand, makes the room appear larger than it really is.
Geometric patterns on the walls of the kitchen in the form of intersecting stripes, like the ornament on Scottish kilts, create the illusion of a continuous space.
Vertical pattern "raises" the ceilings, visually "increasing" the height of the room.
The horizontal pattern and horizontal stripes on the walls expand the kitchen while reducing its height.
Diagonal lines on the walls bring dynamism to the kitchen interior, creating the illusion of movement.
Textured wallpapers look very extraordinary. By endowing the surface of the walls with new qualities, they are able to create an additional dimension in the room. Thanks to the play of shadows and partial shadows, curious color nuances and unexpected alternations of textures, you can get a lot of interesting effects.
When choosing the color of your kitchen, keep your own tastes and preferences in mind.
Undoubtedly, the kitchen set must be in harmony in color with other design solutions of the room: ceiling, walls, floor. However, first of all, its color should cause you only positive emotions. Psychologists do not get tired of repeating that the coloring of the things around us directly affects the character, mood, well-being and even performance.

Each person has an individual approach to the choice of color, so you should figure out what will be relevant for the kitchen, and what can hardly be called the right decision.

Let's take a closer look at the main color options:

Red - This color is considered one of the most intense, bright, impressive and eye-catching. However, do not forget that it can not only arouse appetite, but also inappropriately increase blood pressure. Psychologists say that such a solution for the kitchen is preferable for people who are strong-willed, self-confident and able to always keep any situation under control. Psychologists have come to the conclusion that bright red furniture should not be installed by those who regularly diet, wanting to lose weight.

Pink - This shade of red can have different effects on a person - it all depends on the saturation. However, he is not so aggressive, but, on the contrary, carries a tendency to calm and tranquility. Pastel shades of pink are able to improve mood, give a feeling of lightness and tenderness, but crimson ones - awaken appetite, increase tone, excite, make people more emotional.

Orange - If the lady of the house chooses this color for her kitchen furniture, she will always win. The fact is that it is orange shades that moderately increase appetite, and communication in such a bright environment is always relaxed and easy. This is one of the reasons why such tones are chosen in many modern cafes and restaurants. They are considered the key to movement, dynamics and communication. Who should choose such a solution? First of all, those people who are used to quick snacks are active and purposeful.

Yellow - A yellow kitchen will be filled with light, warmth, comfort and boundless good mood all year round. This choice is most often inclined to cheerful and loving people who love to start their day with beauty. Even in cloudy weather, when it is autumn or winter outside, it will always be sunny and clear in a yellow kitchen. Experts say that this color awakens the "muse" in creative people, and also contributes to the manifestation of imagination, prompts a desire to experiment, including in culinary business. A variety of shades allows you to choose the best one, but it should be borne in mind that too bright contributes to anxiety, and dim - a breakdown.

Green - Green has long been considered the most pleasant color to perceive. It evokes a feeling of calmness, and the interior in such colors gives people comfort and a sense of security. In addition, it is a symbol of growth, life, development, relaxes, protects from stress, nervous overload. Choosing a green kitchen is for those people who do a lot of work, read, work, and also regularly experience psychological or physical stress. In addition, scientists have found that this coloring is able to reduce pain in the abdominal cavity, harmonizes the general condition of the body.

Blue - A blue kitchen is sure to give its owners a sense of calm. It is natural that such an environment will evoke associations with relaxation, sea, sky, water. Well, how can you not relax here? Paradoxically, scientists have found that the popularity of blue shades increases at times when a country or the world as a whole is experiencing crises, including economic ones. It's easy enough to explain. It is the heavenly colors that are a sign of security, trust and even devotion. If there are those in the house who want to say goodbye to excess weight forever, then it is worth acquiring a kitchen in a bright blue color, since, unlike red, it perfectly fights hunger, dulling it.

Violet/Lilac - Violet kitchen is always a bit of a daring option, which always reeks of brightness. Many are inclined to this choice, knowing about some mystical properties of such shades - to attract wealth, strength and power. Nevertheless, it is the purple color that is considered an expression of sensuality, subtlety. To make such a kitchen look luxurious and stylish, you should pay attention to the right combination of shades and accessories. Calm tones, in turn, will create a unique romantic atmosphere in this corner of the house, where it will be pleasant not only to cook and eat, but also to receive guests with a cup of fragrant tea.

Brown - In most apartments today you can find kitchens in brown made of wood or "under it". This is not surprising, because such a color gives a feeling of confidence, stability, trust, comfort. In addition, it is considered the most neutral, since, in most cases, it does not affect the general well-being or mood. It is worth noting that brown is one of the most combinable colors, as most of the others are combined with it.

Black - Kitchen in black is, as they say, an amateur. The fact is that many modern people are prone to prejudice and consider this color to be mournful, mystical, dark. However, designers prove the opposite and, with a skillful combination of accessories, turn the black kitchen into a stylish and presentable room, which, in addition to everything, looks spectacular and harmonious. This is a classic that will remain relevant and in demand at any time. Most often, black is combined with white, red and orange.

White

The indisputable advantage of such a kitchen is the visual expansion of space. Also, this color is able to soften combinations of any, the brightest shades. It is known that it is completely impractical, but it always looks stylish, spectacular, expensive. However, you should not get carried away too much, as the abundance of white can cause eye strain and even headaches.