Years of conventional kitchen color planning have revealed that earthy, warm, and bright colors are most effective in establishing not only a pleasant atmosphere to cook in but also a friendly one to visit.
The colors fulfill many roles. They tie the room together and reflect light. They also establish a welcoming quality, a trait not to be underestimated when it comes to selling your home.
As Lee Wallender at TheSpruce.com explained, there is much to consider when selecting the right color scheme for your kitchen.
Common Kitchen Color Rules Observed For Years For a Beautiful Design
When it comes to design, common kitchen rules have been observed for years.
For instance, very dark colors and cold neutrals such as blues, purples, greens, violets, and various hues in comparable families do not promote hunger – or so it is believed.
They are not at all considered ideal for kitchens.
Any such color would mark an interesting color strategy, to be certain, because, ultimately, the color of a kitchen should reflect the owner’s personal preferences. However, certain examples should be followed regardless.
Just like the color black, which is universally considered to be a poor choice despite having been successfully used when paired in sharp contrast with stainless steel or color in the white range.
Did you know that just about any color can become a neutral one?
All it takes is the right amount of shade or tint. You must determine the kind of neutral tone you think would work best. There’s no need to be concerned about choosing poorly and getting it all wrong.
Regarding mid-range neutrals, it’s very difficult to make a severe mistake. And although there are those who dismiss the mid-range neutrals as “dull,” it is not hard to add life to the room they occupy. Simply add colors.
The addition of red, yellow, or orange will warm up any neutral. On the other hand, it can be cooled down by colors such as violet, blue, or green.
If you want to be fabulous and add some kick to the room, a color uncommon for the kitchen may be your best bet—red. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but it can break up a bleak motif established by a collection of dark colors.
In fact, it can be the appreciated focal point in such an arrangement. With a dreary atmosphere, it may be just the medicine needed to offset the gloominess and make the unusual montage of colors a true mark of the original style.
Another theme to consider is one of rich browns. Earth-friendliness is cool, and the trend is reflected in the wealth of available earthy colors.
Brown, obviously, suggests visions of soil, the earth, and the farm; it’s a safe color even for those who are not fans of neutrals. There is an endless wealth of possibilities when it comes to brown.
There are so many shades; of course, it works flawlessly with black or green. Currently, the deeper browns seem to be in favor of kitchens.
Perhaps there is no more classic look for the kitchen than simple white. All-white kitchens have been promoted successfully for years. It’s just as it sounds – white cabinets, white walls, white ceiling, maybe a white counter… it’s all white, basically.
Of course, there are many options to offset the feeling of snow blindness, from sharp contrast to subtle ones.
But the fact is, a white-dominant kitchen is a wide-open and enjoyable palette to work with. The sky is the limit (if you add blue).
Not far from white is the toned-down version of yellow that has become a hit in kitchens over the past decade. Light yellow is casual enough that there is nothing alarming about it. It also has enough character to complement the majority of kitchen cabinet wood species.
It is reflective of ambient light, much like whites, and perfect for enlivening the dimmest of rooms. You can pair a deeper yellow with just a bit of black for a classic theme—the choices are there.
Not everyone wants their kitchen to promote cheer, nor do they want it to be drab or depressing.
There is a subtle medium, though. The use of blue, for instance, is not likely on anyone’s radar as an ideal kitchen color. It’s associated with the melancholy genre known as “the Blues,” and as if it were a symptom of depression, it does little to stimulate appetite or joy.
But blue does have something going for it: a true vintage vibe that easily provides a retro cottage-like appeal. And, used sparingly as an accent color, blue can work in just about any kitchen.
How do you know if you’ve chosen the right color?
When your choice works for you, you have no doubts or regrets. You can follow all the tips and advice, but ultimately, what you’re happy with will matter.
Bonus: See the most preferred colors by State!
