Colour in the kitchen

The middle of January calls for some colourful inspiration, and since I have kitchens on my mind, let’s talk about how to design kitchens with colour. Kitchens are often designed to be neutral (safe), and yes, well-designed neutral kitchens can be absolutely beautiful. But if you are facing the dilemma of opting for a sensible neutral kitchen vs going bolder with the design, then this post is for you. Even if you already have a white or grey kitchen, perhaps some of the ideas in this post will give you food for thought!

ONE COLOUR KITCHENS

Where you want all the kitchen cabinetry to be one colour, dark or muted colours in the cool spectrum (blues and greens) are a fail-safe option, but there’s a dusky pink beauty below to shake things up.

Muted blue kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — This muted blue kitchen strikes the perfect balance between fresh and moody. Image: Kirstina Crestin Design

Muted green kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — A gorgeous sage green that will definitely stand the test of time. Image: Sugar and Charm

Green kitchen by Plain English || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Gorgeous dark green bringing drama and style. Image: Plain English

Dusky Pink Kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — I am surprised by how much I love this pink kitchen! It’s such a beautiful warm dusky shade. Image via Lila Halo Decoration

Blue lacquered kitchen with marble || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — The blue lacquered cabinets really pop and look amazing teamed with marble and brass. A great lesson in how to pack a ton of pizzazz into a modestly sized space! Image: Barlow and Barlow

If you’re going for a modern style and want a fun look, pastel shades are lovely. From minty green to powder blue, or even blush pink to lilac if you love those colours, kitchens in ice cream shades look like such happy spaces. Some pastel colours also lend themselves well to a classic cabinet style as you’ll see in the pale blue kitchen below.

Mint green kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Minty fresh. Image: Three Birds Renovations

Pale pink kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Pale pink kitchen – would you do it?? Image: Custom Fronts

Powder blue Shaker kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Classic, but also cute! Image photography: Ashley Capp

TWO COLOUR KITCHENS

This is where you can really have some fun with colour if you want to. Keep one part of the kitchen a neutral colour and go bold as you dare with the rest.

White kitchen with bold blue island || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Going a step further with the bold blue island by painting the stools in the same colour. Image: Plain English

Grey kitchen with yellow island || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Did you ever expect to see yellow in a kitchen?? This is a kitchen that doesn’t take itself too seriously and really makes me smile. Image: British Standard

Black and dusky pink kitchen || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Black, dusky pink and gold – a glamorous combination. Image: Bolig Pluss

Red-orange kitchen with black island || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Usually it is the island that is painted the bolder colour but this Plain English kitchen flips that idea around!

STATEMENT APPLIANCE

Sometimes the only statement you need to make in your kitchen is a range cooker or fridge-freezer in a delicious colour.

Grey kitchen with orange range cooker || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — The Lacanche range brings a stunning punch of juicy colour to this kitchen. Image: Tom House

Grey kitchen with blue Lacanche || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — The blue Lacanche takes centre stage in this lovely kitchen. Image: M. Elle Design

SPLASHBACK TILES

Coloured tiles can completely change the vibe in a kitchen as these examples show.

Grey kitchen with sky blue tiled splashback || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Sky blue tiles make this kitchen look so cheerful. Image: The Shaker Kitchen Company

Pale pink kitchen with dark blue tiles || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Dark blue tiles temper the sweetness of this pink kitchen. Image: Topps Tiles

Green tiled splashback || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Green triangular tiles jazz up this kitchen. Image: British Ceramic Tile

Grey kitchen with blue Lacanche range || Colour in the kitchen — Pretty mosaic tiles tie in with the grey and blue of the kitchen. Image: Yankee Custom Builders

WALL PAINT

The power of paint never ceases to amaze me. Just look at how these kitchens with white cabinets have been completely transformed by moody paint colours on the walls!

White kitchen with F&B Hague Blue walls || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Image: Garden Variety Design

White kitchen with deep mossy green walls || Colour in the kitchen - FIRST SENSE — Image: Neptune

So let’s hear it, what are your thoughts on colour in the kitchen? Yay or nay?

14 Comments

Juan Sandiego
January 21, 2019 / 10:56 pm

The image from Topps Tiles is my favourite. I think I’m more minimalist when it comes to kitchens. I have a shaker-style one now and I’m ready to move forward in the… far future.

- Meera
  Author
  January 22, 2019 / 1:18 pm
  
  I like your style, Juan! I am still a big fan of the classic shaker style but done in a more modern way, and now I am left wondering what you will think of my new kitchen because it is going to be a shaker style! 🙈😂
  
sarahaelsley
February 1, 2019 / 4:51 pm

Yes I love them all! I’d have any of the above Though I think my favourite is the dark blue units.

- Meera
  Author
  February 2, 2019 / 10:14 am
  
  Yay, great to hear you’re for colour in the kitchen, Sarah! I absolutely love the dark blue units too, the whole design is stunning!
  
sarah stacey
February 3, 2019 / 10:17 pm

Thank you for including our green kitchen! We love the trend of using a color on cabinets so much.

- Meera
  Author
  February 4, 2019 / 11:02 am
  
  Your kitchen is SO lovely, Sarah! Absolutely love that green on the cabinets! xx
  
Louisa (@LouisaInsideOut)
February 8, 2019 / 1:01 pm

We are having a kitchen makeover this year and colours have been playing on my mind. I want a bold colour but worry that navy will date quickly and am considering a sage green. I really like the pink kitchens as well, so many decisions! #homeetc

- Meera
  Author
  February 10, 2019 / 10:09 pm
  
  Personally I think navy/dark blue is as timeless as grey! They’ve become very common lately but that’s because they work really well! I totally feel you on the many decisions to make, but ultimately go with your instinct, no matter whether it’s trendy or not. xx
  
Steph @ Renovation Bay-Bee
February 27, 2019 / 12:44 pm

We’re currently planning a house extension with a new kitchen and I really want Navy, but then I saw the dusty pink! That is so pretty but I worry it will become dated. It’s so hard to make a decision isn’t it!

- Meera
  Author
  February 27, 2019 / 2:38 pm
  
  Ah I fully understand that, Steph! It took me months to settle on my kitchen colours, I was to-and-fro-ing so much. Eventually it helped to just block out the noise of social media – as inspiring as it can be, it can also feel like an overload – to figure out my own style. If I was choosing between navy and dusky pink, navy would win for a more timeless design.
  
Caro | The Twinkle Diaries
March 2, 2019 / 4:29 pm

Aaaaaaaah kitchen kitchens, kitchens….. I started reading your post them fell down a rabbit hole (the Plain English website!!)!

We’ve been to look at a couple of kitchen showrooms but are pretty set on what we want now, since going to DeVol. We’re having a combination of off white units, with a coloured island and white quartz worktops.

Seeing the kitchen plan has really, really brought the extension to life!!!!! It;s SO BLOODY EXCITING!!!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Cannot actually wait to start building!!!!!

- Meera
  Author
  March 4, 2019 / 10:55 am
  
  I often fall down the rabbit hole that is the Plain English website! 😍 I’m taking a lot of inspiration from them for my own kitchen design. Sooooo excited for you and your deVol kitchen, Caro! It’s going to be amazing! 🙌🙌
  
Lins Drabwell
March 4, 2019 / 11:12 pm

Hehe well it’s probably quite obvious where I stand now 😉 I always love your inspiration Meera, you collect such wonderful images X

- Meera
  Author
  March 6, 2019 / 1:50 pm
  
  Your kitchen is a wonderful example of using colour in the kitchen, Lins. I love what you have done! And thank you very much, so pleased you like the inspiration here 🙂 x