Cooking With Colour: What Shade Suits Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Can't settle on a favourite shade? Take a look at these gorgeous rooms to help you decide
Amanda Pollard
17 June 2017
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
One of the easiest ways to revamp your kitchen is to paint your cabinets – but which colour should you go for? The options are endless, so we’ve found a selection of stunning kitchens that are sure to inspire you.
Wood units are the easiest to paint, but any surface is paintable (including laminate, high-gloss and factory finishes) if you have the right primer. With the latter materials, an adhesive primer is recommended. As a rule of thumb, cabinets need one coat of primer, followed by two layers of topcoat. And with previously painted or varnished wood you will need to rub it down with fine sandpaper before applying primer and paint.
Wood units are the easiest to paint, but any surface is paintable (including laminate, high-gloss and factory finishes) if you have the right primer. With the latter materials, an adhesive primer is recommended. As a rule of thumb, cabinets need one coat of primer, followed by two layers of topcoat. And with previously painted or varnished wood you will need to rub it down with fine sandpaper before applying primer and paint.
Say yes to sunny yellow
It’s a bold and fashionable choice (think Emma Stone’s dress in La La Land) but, if you’re brave enough, a yellow kitchen can look stunning. It works well in this 1960s house, with its flat, mid-century-modern-style units, and is set off beautifully by the bright-white benchtops. The patterned tiles help bring the whole look together.
With an energising shade such as this, the key is to keep the rest of the room uncluttered and calm. That means storage is crucial.
It’s a bold and fashionable choice (think Emma Stone’s dress in La La Land) but, if you’re brave enough, a yellow kitchen can look stunning. It works well in this 1960s house, with its flat, mid-century-modern-style units, and is set off beautifully by the bright-white benchtops. The patterned tiles help bring the whole look together.
With an energising shade such as this, the key is to keep the rest of the room uncluttered and calm. That means storage is crucial.
Go for elegant dark green
Green in all its various hues is hugely popular right now. If you’re after a sophisticated scheme, dark green could be for you. This heritage-style kitchen, with its classic joinery, has been given a modern edge thanks to the dramatic bottle-green shade. The designers have contrasted the matt units with a glossy white benchtop, and elements of metal, wood and rattan give the space a touch of industrial chic.
11 ways to work deep, dark green into the kitchen
Green in all its various hues is hugely popular right now. If you’re after a sophisticated scheme, dark green could be for you. This heritage-style kitchen, with its classic joinery, has been given a modern edge thanks to the dramatic bottle-green shade. The designers have contrasted the matt units with a glossy white benchtop, and elements of metal, wood and rattan give the space a touch of industrial chic.
11 ways to work deep, dark green into the kitchen
Try a modern shade of grey
The beauty of this dark lead grey is that it goes with everything. It works well here with the red fridge and smaller red accents, but would look equally good teamed with soft pastel shades. This chameleon colour also lends itself to all types of styles – from retro to contemporary and country. The sloped roof of this kitchen could have made the room feel boxed in, but the decision to only use grey on the base units, and not on the wall cabinets, makes it look more spacious.
The beauty of this dark lead grey is that it goes with everything. It works well here with the red fridge and smaller red accents, but would look equally good teamed with soft pastel shades. This chameleon colour also lends itself to all types of styles – from retro to contemporary and country. The sloped roof of this kitchen could have made the room feel boxed in, but the decision to only use grey on the base units, and not on the wall cabinets, makes it look more spacious.
Opt for timeless grey
A classic choice for your kitchen cabinets is a paler shade of grey. A colour like this is also a great option if you don’t want to overwhelm a space, but crave something more inviting than brilliant white. If you’re worried it might feel bland, layer up different greys as they’ve done here. The designers chose a very pale hue for the outer cabinets and a slightly darker one for the island, which gives an added depth to the room.
A classic choice for your kitchen cabinets is a paler shade of grey. A colour like this is also a great option if you don’t want to overwhelm a space, but crave something more inviting than brilliant white. If you’re worried it might feel bland, layer up different greys as they’ve done here. The designers chose a very pale hue for the outer cabinets and a slightly darker one for the island, which gives an added depth to the room.
Keep calm with a powder blue
Pale blue is another option if you’re looking for a colour that doesn’t overpower a space. Here, the pretty pale blue units evoke a wonderfully peaceful feel and work well with the warm tones of the wooden benchtop. And the quirky tongue-and-groove splashback helps the pale blue to pop out.
Powder blue is also a good choice for a small room as it helps to create a feeling of space.
Pale blue is another option if you’re looking for a colour that doesn’t overpower a space. Here, the pretty pale blue units evoke a wonderfully peaceful feel and work well with the warm tones of the wooden benchtop. And the quirky tongue-and-groove splashback helps the pale blue to pop out.
Powder blue is also a good choice for a small room as it helps to create a feeling of space.
Be cool with dark blue
Fancy something totally on-trend, but elegant too? It’s inky blue. This sumptuous and, yes, sexy shade may be all the rage, but it’s a classic too. Give this statement shade a chance to standout by teaming it with white walls. Add in a marble benchtop for full-on luxe and the blue will help to bring out the dark veining of the marble.
A dramatic blue paint we can’t get enough of
Fancy something totally on-trend, but elegant too? It’s inky blue. This sumptuous and, yes, sexy shade may be all the rage, but it’s a classic too. Give this statement shade a chance to standout by teaming it with white walls. Add in a marble benchtop for full-on luxe and the blue will help to bring out the dark veining of the marble.
A dramatic blue paint we can’t get enough of
Bring in a bright blue
A blast of bright blue is truly invigorating. Keep it on the classic side by opting for a royal blue. Of course, you don’t have to go the whole hog like the owners have done here. Instead, dip your toe in by just painting the island or pairing blue base units with white wall cabinets.
A blast of bright blue is truly invigorating. Keep it on the classic side by opting for a royal blue. Of course, you don’t have to go the whole hog like the owners have done here. Instead, dip your toe in by just painting the island or pairing blue base units with white wall cabinets.
Stay fresh with duck egg
This one is for all the pastel fans out there or for anyone who wants to breathe new life into their kitchen. Duck-egg blue is also a smart move for an open-plan kitchen, as the colour will brighten up the rest of the space without being too dominant.
This one is for all the pastel fans out there or for anyone who wants to breathe new life into their kitchen. Duck-egg blue is also a smart move for an open-plan kitchen, as the colour will brighten up the rest of the space without being too dominant.
Make it mint
Another pastel hue we love is mint green. There’s something so relaxing about this soft green, especially in a kitchen. The cabinets in this space create a country ambience, but mint green can just as easily evoke a retro or modern feel depending on the style of the units.
Another pastel hue we love is mint green. There’s something so relaxing about this soft green, especially in a kitchen. The cabinets in this space create a country ambience, but mint green can just as easily evoke a retro or modern feel depending on the style of the units.
Pick punchy purple as an accent
Lovers of bright colour could try adding a bold purple to their kitchen. It’s a shade that can really take over, so it might be a good idea to bring it in gently. Choose a few cabinets or just an island or larder and paint it in a wonderful bright violet, as the owners have done here. These floor-to-ceiling units pack a punch in this modern space, but add just enough colour without being too much.
Browse more boldly coloured kitchens
Lovers of bright colour could try adding a bold purple to their kitchen. It’s a shade that can really take over, so it might be a good idea to bring it in gently. Choose a few cabinets or just an island or larder and paint it in a wonderful bright violet, as the owners have done here. These floor-to-ceiling units pack a punch in this modern space, but add just enough colour without being too much.
Browse more boldly coloured kitchens
Paint it black
Deep colours can definitely be a shortcut to luxury, so why not gain some glamour points by opting for a beautiful charcoal shade. Choose a paint with a matt finish to avoid getting a 1980s look and amp up the chic factor with sleek pendants and silver details.
Deep colours can definitely be a shortcut to luxury, so why not gain some glamour points by opting for a beautiful charcoal shade. Choose a paint with a matt finish to avoid getting a 1980s look and amp up the chic factor with sleek pendants and silver details.
Stick to neutrals
Of course, it’s not obligatory to choose a bold colour. And if greys or pastels aren’t your cup of tea, you can always fall back on a neutral such as a cream, stone or a muted mushroom hue as seen here. This mushroom hue is warmed up by a wooden floor and island surface, and the kitchen is full of character courtesy of quirky accessories like the oversized clock and lamp-style lighting on the benchtops.
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Of course, it’s not obligatory to choose a bold colour. And if greys or pastels aren’t your cup of tea, you can always fall back on a neutral such as a cream, stone or a muted mushroom hue as seen here. This mushroom hue is warmed up by a wooden floor and island surface, and the kitchen is full of character courtesy of quirky accessories like the oversized clock and lamp-style lighting on the benchtops.
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation!
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#Rachel Russell - the only advice I can give you is not to try to pack too much into your tiny space. Less is more. You might have to chose between appliances and storage. Can you have a pantry cupboard somewhere close enough to be convenient but not taking up all your cabinet space? Think about clearances, make sure you have enough room to work and use it properly. Shaker style sounds perfect for the age of the property. Pastel colours are lovely. Think about how the kitchen colours will tie in to the rest of the space. Think about how to hide the bin or if thats not possible then commit to putting the rubbish out daily. Trip hazards are another thing to avoid when space is limited. I hope you get a beautiful tiny kitchen.
My favourite kitchen was in a flat I lived in just over a decade ago. It was very simple but bright and the walls were a lovely shade of yellow. I love the yellow cabinets in the first kitchen but I'm thinking of going for a yellow wall again - my kitchen is very bright - and then trying to figure out what colour to go with for the cabinets.
I love this dark green in the 2nd photo!