How to Effectively use Colour in the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so making sure the environment is just right is essential. Most popular designs still tend to be white or cream, but remember you have a palette of colours, from subtle off-whites to moody graphites and everything in between, at your disposal.
Harvey Jones, the provider of Shaker kitchens, has provided these insights into how to effectively use colour throughout your kitchen.
Sometimes a hint of colour is all you need
Don’t feel the need to play colour safe – a hot pink linear island will add real punch to the environment, for example. While most of us probably won’t opt for a bold green or bright pink over the whole kitchen, adding accents with the use of selected pieces of furniture, surfaces and accessories can be a great way to be a little more adventurous. Stronger shades such as deep blues, dark greys and warm reds are increasingly popular right now. Colour needs to be used carefully though – don’t follow trends exactly.
If you’re not feeling brave, try just a little of your chosen colour to see if you can get used to it. Remember too that colours will affect the mood of a room. In general, warm colours that ‘advance’, reds and yellows for instance, tend to be energising and stimulating, while cooler ‘receding’ shades such as blues and greens will feel calming and soothing. Whilst this may not have a huge impact, it’s certainly worth considering.
There are new neutrals in town
If you don’t want to choose a bold colour, you have the choice to opt for ‘new neutrals’ instead.
Colours like Farrow & Ball ‘Elephants Breath’ and ‘Charleston Grey’ blues are good choices. They’re great on their own but also work in conjunction with a bold hit of colour — neon pink for an island, for instance, or dark graphite grey on a bank of cabinetry.
These subtle shades let you add colour without altering the overall appearance of the room and also work well with all work surfaces and flooring, so they are easy to update if your style changes.
Neutral colours are particularly susceptible to change at different times throughout the day – looking quite different in natural and artificial light. Use this to your advantage by opting for shades that will appear fresh by day and welcoming by night. If you’re not sure, make sure to test a shade out in both the daytime and the evening to see how both work.
For north-facing kitchens, it’s best to try and avoid cool colours, as the combination can make the room look cool. If you’ve got no natural light, choose lighter and neutral shades to make the most of the light.
I’ve learnt so much about kitchens, having ours redone, it is really interesting to see all the different designs out there, what sort would you go for?
*This is a collaborative post.
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I am looking to change up my kitchen with color.
My hubby has to be the blandest person there is and always likes a neutral colour scheme but even I get bored of that lol
I am in the process of thinking about our kitchen as it needs to be ripped out, walls replastered, floors re-levelled etc. I hate the thought of the boring stuff, but am getting quite excited looking at paint and cabinet colours!!
My kitchen is at the back of the house and doesn’t get much light it’s in need of overhauling. It’s a boring cream colour at the moment. I do like the white and I’d love some yellow tiles round the sink and the cooker or even lime .
I LOVE colorful kitchens. I think most colors work unless they’re like burgundy or something too bold and dark.
Most people have mono chromed kitchens but I think the kitchen is the best place to add colour! 🙂 x
We have successfully renovated our kitchen and it is a combination of cool tiles (grey and white) and warm wood counters and white cupboards. The clean look sometimes crave some colour, and when I feel like it needs it a nice pop of colour from some flowers and towels does the trick! Nice to have a bit of colour from time to time!
Abbi
Out kitchen is all neutrals but then I will add a pop of color with the dish towels, decorative bowls or oven mitts. That way I can inexpensively change things up every season!
It always stands out to me when I’m reading something from a Brit or Canadian the little differences in English spellings. Like “Colour” is “Color” here in the States. A few years ago dark wood and granite kitchens were all the craze and it is interesting now to see how colorful themes have replaced them in popularity and those updates from a few years ago already appear dated.
we’ve recently talked about bringing colour into our rooms to theme them. I quite like the idea of a plain kitchen with coloured accessories.
I am lucky that my kitchen has so much light and I have a little of colour which is awesome.
Great tip about considering your colours based on how the sun hits your kitchen. I think the amount of natural light a room gets has a big impact on design choices.
The kitchen truly is the heart of the home, a pop of colour is a great way to make the design your own 🙂
Top information here, putting colour into a kitchen can be hard work, as it is such a delicate balance 🙂 x
It really is one of those things you have to get right, to little and it can be too stark, too much and it is over bearing.
I’d really love to include color in my kitchen. I rent so I can’t change the paint but I can change my accessories.
Accessories can most definitely make for a great way to add colour to the room.
I tend to go for colours in the accessories as opposed to on walls as I have so much stuff coloured walls would make it look cluttered x
It’s easy to change your colour choices when you do that as well 😉
My kitchen is okay as it is right now, however, it could probably benefit from a color make-over. I’ve been seeing suggestions for accent walls. I like those things but I just don’t know if it will work for a kitchen.
I think accent walls are a nice way to bring something into a room without it being over bearing.
We have been thinking about a kitchen renovation but it would be until maybe a year or a year and a half from now. Choosing the right color will be a tough choice though. Thanks for the tips.
Good luck with your kitchen makeover when the time comes I hope it goes well!
My favorite way to add color is with accents like you said. My cabinets are kind of boring, but what about a fun back splash?!
It is a nice way to do it without over powering yourself with too much colour I think.
Great to see that you have included Farrow and Ball in here- I absolutely LOVE their paint! xxx
I usually stick with neutrals in the kitchen for the major stuff and add my color with accessories such as towels and pictures. I don’t know that I could go with a pink island because I always change my mind about colors and switch things up.
I could definitely use a new kitchen! I love white cabinets and then I’d have color in my small appliances!
These are really nice tips! I’m thinking to change the way my kitchen looks. I’ll definitely apply your tips.
I love using pastel shades and blending
I hate redecorating the kitchen especially choosing colours. Always go for boring old white me. 😛
Haha nothing wrong with that at all, if it’s what you know and like then go for it )
I love adding pops of color to my rooms. It’s such a happy, bright feeling. These are wonderful ways to add a pop of color to the kitchen.
It can be hard to pick the right colors for your kitchen. I do love Charleston grey though, it’s very pretty.
We redid our kitchen a few years ago and it’s mostly white. Although there are pops of color scattered throughout in the way of small appliances and also flowers in the windowsill. There’s something about them that makes everything feel seasonal and fresh!
I like the idea of choosing ‘new neutrals’ and then contrasting them with a bolder colour. That would be a great way to make your kitchen look inviting x
I am horrible with picking colors for rooms so this post is helpful! I will have to paint my entire house one day, after my kids grow up and stop destroying everything!
I love color for every room. It doesn’t have to be a bright loud color, but I think every room should have it’s own personality.
I have to admit I often go for just a hint to give each room it’s own identity.
I love that pop of orange colour with those bricks, Im glad our kitchen is big enough that we have a black chalk with white writing style wall and it still looks light and airy!
Oh wow that is amazing I would love a huge kitchen ours is quite small, but a lot larger than the smallest I’ve ever had.
Unfortunately I currently live in a rented flat, I can’t wait to buy and give myself a lovely colourful kitchen though!
Aw hopefully one day you will be able to enjoy the kitchen of your dreams!
It’s funny that you mention this because I am looking to change up my kitchen with color. I will definitely keep everything you said here in mind.
Ohh good luck with your colour change in the kitchen, I hope it all goes well 🙂
Our kitchen is pretty boring at the moment. In a few years I’d like to get it done. Nothing too crazy, but probably brighter colors at least. Right now it’s just various shades of brown.
Good luck in getting it done in a few years, I am sure it will look amazing!
Color is something I struggle with. So I was very interested in what colors to choose for the kitchen. Didn’t think about which way the kitchen faces etc. Good information I hadn’t thought of.
It is interesting all the different things that factor into the colours you should go for.
My kitchen is French country, but the people who had the house before us did it. I love their use of yellow and blue in there.
Oh I bet it is really lovely!
Great information
Our kitchen has lots of light
I’m always worried about adding colour too