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Colorful kitchen ideas pictures


37 Colorful Kitchens That Are Anything But Neutral

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/07/22

Design by Pluck

There will never be anything wrong with a white kitchen. Kitchens are expensive to install and it makes sense to use classic neutrals like white, black, beige, and gray that outlast trends and will look fresh for years to come.

But there are times in life when it feels right to embrace color, turning your kitchen into a one-of-a-kind gathering space that feels personal and specific, rather than staged for an open house designed to appeal to anyone. Depending on whether you live in a temporary rental or a forever home, and your personality, preferences, and budget, colorizing your kitchen might involve adding a few choice accents or going bold by saturating the space in a statement color.

If you are hankering to add bold paint on the walls, install colorful kitchen cabinets, lay some striking kitchen floor tiles or an eye-catching kitchen backsplash, or hang some decorative kitchen wallpaper, check out these mood-boosting, rainbow-hued kitchens that embrace color in some of its infinite variations.

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(Image credit: A. Villalobos Design Studio / Kit Kemp / 82MM Photography)

The best colorful kitchen ideas look beyond form and function to create an uplifting space to cook. 

When choosing kitchen color ideas you’ll want to select kitchen cabinet colors that you’ll be happy to live with for a while to come. But you might also want to consider the decorative power of each hue; not all colorful room ideas suit every space, depending on its size, makeup and orientation.

Different painted kitchen ideas have particular benefits you may wish to exploit in your room design. Some can brighten and visually enlarge the room, while others make cleaning a less frequent necessity, for example.

Our curated collection of the best colorful kitchen ideas will inspire you to give your kitchen a bold new look.

Colorful kitchen ideas – 14 schemes as chosen by the experts

Your kitchen ideas are rife with color opportunities, from appliances and flooring, to window treatments and cabinets. Start by deciding how much of permanent commitment you are willing to make to room color ideas. 

Finding the right kitchen color ideas that you will love for years to come has never been more important, so we've asked some of the best interior designers for their expertize and advice.

1. Use punchy color to create maximum prominence 

(Image credit: Simon Brown / Kit Kemp)

Since they purchased their 1930s townhouse in central London, just over two decades ago, co-founders of Firmdale Hotels and the Kit Kemp Design Studio , Kit and Tim Kemp, have undertaken one major renovation. This was prompted by a conversation between Kit and fellow designer Robert Kime. 

‘He told me that he always advised making the best room in the house the kitchen – and it was like a light had been turned on,’ says Kit, who proceeded to transform their large, barrel-shaped dining room overlooking the garden into the kitchen, adding a conservatory leading off it for dining. ‘Which, of course, we now live in,’ she adds. Here, Kit Kemp has used saturated strong hues to give her traditional kitchen maximum prominence. 

2. Use color to unite a kitchen

(Image credit: 82MM Photography)

Carrying an accent color across the floor can help a large open-plan kitchen feel cohesively connected from every angle. 

‘As this large spacious room has very high ceilings, it was important to create meaningful points of interest within,’ explains Blakes London’s lead designer Annie Ebenston. ‘Using warm red on the pantries that frame the fireplace lifts the whole elevation to be more than just a period fireplace. ’

In isolation, the pantries could have overpowered but the custom-colored floor tiles play an anchoring role that unites them with the rest of the kitchen. ‘The matching tile color ties the room together beautifully,’ says Annie.

3. Choose unexpected color for kitchen cabinets

(Image credit: Darren Chung)

For a flexible approach that allows you to control the color in your kitchen to suit your mood, consider painting inside cabinets with solid doors. 

‘Applying bold accent colors in unexpected places, like this dresser interior, changes the initial impression of the room and instantly adds depth to the aesthetic,’ says Melissa Klink, creative director, Harvey Jones . ‘Strong colors are highly emotional but designing with them in a controlled manner ensures they liven up the overall feel of the room instead of overpowering it. Choose an uplifting shade that will put a smile on your face every time you open the doors.

4. Create a strong contrast

(Image credit: Neptune)

‘An accent color idea above eye level is a simple way to add strong contrast to a room, without overpowering. As it’s not immediately noticeable, the accent color will draw the eye up for a visual surprise,’ says George Miller, home designer, Neptune . ‘This can have particularly good results in rooms with taller ceilings or grand cornicing, accentuating either feature to great effect.’ 

Continuing the accent color across different surfaces and planes – for instance, the cooker hood here – has a blocking effect that feels modern and can help smooth out any awkward architectural junctures.

5. Establish a primary focus

(Image credit: Forbes Rix)

‘When planning a kitchen paint scheme, we generally choose the dominant color first, to anchor the space and provide a sense of calmness. We then look at shades that will “pop”, to make it more dynamic,’ says Natalie Forbes of Forbes Rix . Here, that impact comes from Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow on a floor-to-ceiling cupboard. ‘We recommend a maximum of three colors to keep it from becoming too busy.’

6. Balance bright colors

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

‘Strong, bright colors can energize and illuminate a modern kitchen, creating an uplifting living space that really boosts your mood,’ says founder of King Celia Studio , Jess Piddock, who designed this colorful kitchen for her own family home. Jess handmade the tiles, and has since developed the brush mark pattern, called Pool Party, for textiles and prints. 

‘The emerald green is a semi-transparent film that enables the grain of the plywood to shine through while providing a protective coating that’s easy to clean,’ she adds. ‘Bright tones benefit from a grounding shade. In this case terracotta adds depth and warmth.’

7. Choose a favorite color crush

(Image credit: Middleton Bespoke)

Worried your current colorful kitchen crush won’t last? ‘The beauty of a hand-painted kitchen is that in time, should fashions or your taste change, it’s simple to create a new look, especially if you restrict your bold choice to one unit, like a kitchen island or dresser,’ says Jasper Middleton, design director, Middleton Bespoke . 

‘When choosing bold shades it’s important to consider the architecture of the space as a whole in order to give the color room to breathe,’ he adds. ‘Here the bold pop of orange is balanced by the soaring ceiling and simple backdrop of polished concrete and blue-grey hues. ’

8. Introduce color to your floor

(Image credit: A Villalobos Design Studio)

Eye down: this year's most dynamic kitchen trend is underfoot. 'Energizing, interesting kitchen flooring ideas are becoming a must,' says Alberto Villalobos, principal of New York-based design studio A. Villalobos . 'The kitchen floor is the perfect place to be more daring, and introducing strong pattern will give your cooking space incredible depth and dimension.' 

The latest flooring is working extra hard thanks to ever-innovative installation techniques. Forget fluid connections; material or color switches at unexpected junctures feel more modern. For example, the alternating tile formation lends extra punch to this terrazzo floor designed by A. Villalobos. 'The flooring adds color, excitement and texture, enlivening this kitchen,' says Alberto.

9. Add drama with shades of red

(Image credit: Middleton)

Our love affair with dramatic dark kitchen cabinet ideas is far from over but this year things are warming up. Move over blacks, deep blues and greens, because rich red kitchen ideas are radiating their way into the heart of the home.

Pure primary reds are still a bit 1990s; instead, this trend steers us towards muddier tones with tints of nature-led orange and brown. 'Perhaps it's a yearning for the light and warmth of Southern climes that's behind the current demands for reds, burgundies and terracottas,' suggests Merlin Wright, design director at Plain English . 'Warm colors are positive and inspiring and complement other Mediterranean hues such as blues, greens and yellows. Experiment with different tones to suit the light and scale of your room.'

'Reds and burgundies are rich, traditional shades that lend character and coziness,' says Jasper Middleton, design director, Middleton. 'Soften strong tones on floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with glazed sections that reveal mellow, yellow interiors.'

10. Take color to the ceiling

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

Maximize the impact of your painted kitchen cabinets, as demonstrated in this stunning design by Huntsmore, with exquisite decorative room ideas and bold ceiling ideas. Using the ceiling, the 'fifth wall', as a  decorative surface can bring color and drama to a room, but it is also worth drawing attention to the finishing touches in a colorful kitchen.

Here, the simple lines of the Shaker-inspired joinery are enhanced here with elegant brass handles that accentuate the tapered-edge door detailing as well as providing tactility. The metallic theme is followed through in the normally unnoticed brackets that support the two eye-level shelves, accentuating the richness of the solid walnut and the daring green of the ceiling color, courtesy of Little Greene’s Hopper. And tying it all together beautifully is the simply styled but all-important kitchen tap, in a brushed brass that gives it a practical and visual beauty

11. Introduce complementary shades

(Image credit: Lowe & Bespoke)

Color can bring joy and individuality to any kitchen, whatever its size and shape, and there is no rule book that says everything must match. Ruth Andrews, co-director of Lowe & Bespoke , suggests how to start. 

‘We always work with the primary color element, whether that be an existing floor, our client’s favourite hue or a piece of furniture passed down through the generations,’ she says. ‘We then work outwards from there to develop a balance of colors that work well together.’ 

Ruth recommends using the color wheel to identify complementary (opposite) colours that make each other pop, like the off-pastel pink and green used here.

12. Max out color in a galley kitchen

(Image credit: British Standard by Plain English)

In smaller kitchens, it can be tempting to play it safe with neutral hues, but you may find it more successful to do the opposite, especially when you're devising a color scheme and decor for galley kitchen ideas. 

‘Bright and playful hues add personality and an instant uplift,’ advises British Standard by Plain English design manager Adrian Bergman. ‘Don’t be afraid to use a bold colour, as the beauty of hand-painted cupboards is that they can be changed over time should you wish. ’ 

In this hardworking galley kitchen, sunny yellow cabinetry is offset by cool white walls, while accents of wood and a darker stone floor ground the look. 

13. Layer matt and shine in your color choices

(Image credit: Pluck)

Layers of color and texture can add depth and interest to a kitchen, as George Glasier, co-founder and designer of Pluck , explains. ‘Colors and material finishes all reflect and absorb light differently, so there isn’t a homogenous feel to the scheme,’ he says. 

In this design, custom-colored, matt high-pressure laminate has been used to create contrasting cabinetry. The layering continues with the introduction of the glossy backsplash tile ideas, while a section of fluted glass cupboard doors is framed in richly colored timber. 

‘Objects on the worktop and shelves add more texture and color,’ says George, noting that organizing kitchen countertops can be an additional element in your overall design. 

14. Use tile to add pattern as well as color

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

For added impact, consider combining pattern with color, perhaps by teaming painted cupboards and shelves with a splashback of joyously patterned tiles, in shades that enhance the cabinetry.

‘While of course much depends on your personal taste, generally if you have a very colorful kitchen, it is good to opt for tiles that help to break up the scheme and provide other points of visual interest,’ comments Richard Moore, design director of Martin Moore. 

The key is to create a sense of balance with your kitchen tile ideas. Similar strengths of color tend to work better together, rather than one that dominates. ‘It is important to choose tile patterns and colors that don’t overwhelm an already colorful kitchen,’ adds Richard. 

How can I make my kitchen colorful?

There are many beautiful ways to make a kitchen colorful, from kitchen art ideas to statement flooring ideas, however, well-chosen paint ideas are the easiest way to add statement color. Painted finishes work well for timeless schemes, and of course, can be updated at a later stage if you’re confident enough with a paintbrush. 

'Playing it safe with color on a long-term investment like a kitchen is entirely understandable,' says Fiona Duke, director, Fiona Duke Interiors .  

'But first, ask yourself: will it ever really make an impact, and will you end up wishing you’d been braver? Committing to a colorful kitchen requires time, effort, and a whole lot of tester pots. Bear in mind that you’re looking for a shade that will make your heart sing every time you’re in the kitchen. Once you’ve narrowed it down, put your chosen color on a trial door or very large sample and live with it for a few days to make sure it’s the one.’ 

What color is the most popular for kitchens?

Green is 2022's most popular color for a kitchen in terms of kitchen trends, but it's true to say that blue is just as popular for those daring enough to add color to a kitchen. 

However, the most popular kitchen color in terms of what we buy is white: it's enduringly popular because it's so easy to redecorate around – and future house buyers you may have in mind when remodelling your home will embrace a white kitchen enthusiastically. If you would like to choose a neutral that isn't white, gray is a very popular color for a kitchen, too.  

'It’s important to consider the level of natural or artificial light in the kitchen, as this will play an important role in determining the overall feel of the space. Darker shades, for example, are renowned for absorbing light, and the application of such colors needs to be carefully planned,' says Hayley Robson, creative director at Day True .

'An effective way of integrating darker colors into your kitchen color ideas is to create contrast by adding darker tones on low cabinets, combined with white or gray worktops. This helps to reflect illumination off the horizontal surface, resulting in a colorful yet light interior.'

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space.  Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

With contributions from

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