Design Trends: Making Room for Colour in the Kitchen

For years, the kitchen was dominated by variations of white, beige, and grey. Practical, yes. But lately, homeowners and designers have been bringing a little more personality to the room – and we’re here for it.

A colourful kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean painting every cabinet a different shade. The trick is knowing where to introduce colour, how much to use, and what to pair it with. When done well, even the boldest kitchen can feel considered rather than chaotic.

Start with the cabinetry

Kitchen cabinets cover a significant amount of visual space, which makes them one of the easiest ways to introduce colour.

Deep greens, earthy reds, rich blues, and warm yellows can all make a kitchen feel more distinctive. Softer shades such as sage, dusty blue, or muted pink offer colour without dominating the room.

The important thing is to consider the elements you aren't changing. Countertops, flooring, and other permanent finishes should help guide your colour choices. Looking at their undertones – whether warm or cool – can make the difference between a palette that feels cohesive and one that feels slightly off.

The design move: If you're nervous about committing to colour everywhere, paint the island. It creates a good focal point without requiring the entire kitchen to become a statement.

Don't forget the walls

A painted wall can create an entirely different mood, particularly in kitchens with open shelving or minimal upper cabinets. Try a saturated shade behind open shelving, or use a softer version of your cabinet colour to create a layered and tonal effect.

If your kitchen opens onto a dining or living area, repeating a colour elsewhere in the room – perhaps through a chair, artwork, or pendant – can make the spaces feel connected without making everything match.

Two colours can be better than one

A two-tone kitchen is an easy way to introduce contrast without going completely maximalist. One colour can be used for the island while another appears on the cabinets, or lighter upper cabinetry can be paired with darker lower units.

This approach also gives you more freedom with bolder colours. For example, a dramatic burgundy island can feel much more approachable when surrounded by warm timber or a quieter neutral.

The key is to give each colour a job. If everything is competing for attention, nothing becomes the focal point.

Think beyond paint

Tiles, marble, timber, appliances, lighting, and hardware can all bring another layer into the plan. A colourful backsplash can become the star of an otherwise restrained kitchen, while a painted cabinet can be balanced by natural stone or timber.

This is particularly useful if you're renting or don't want to repaint your cabinetry. Colourful stools, pendant lights, artwork, ceramics, and even a collection of cookbooks can bring the same energy with far less commitment.

Choose your finish carefully

The colour might get all the attention, but the finish matters too.

For hard-working kitchen cabinetry, satin and semi-gloss finishes are more practical than flat or matte paints because they are easier to clean and better suited to regular wear. Satin offers a softer, less reflective appearance, while semi-gloss gives the surface more sheen and can make colours appear brighter.

High-gloss can be spectacular, particularly in a small or darker kitchen where reflected light is useful, but it is less forgiving of dents and imperfections.

In other words: don't choose the finish based on the colour card alone. Look at a sample in your actual kitchen and see how it behaves in morning, afternoon, and evening light.

Let natural light do some of the work

The same colour can look completely different depending on the amount and direction of natural light in a room.

A strong colour in a bright, sun-filled kitchen may feel lively and fresh. In a darker room, the same shade can appear much moodier. This isn't necessarily a problem – sometimes the drama is exactly what you want – but it is worth testing before committing to.

If you're choosing an intense colour, paint a large sample rather than relying on a tiny strip. Live with it for a few days before making the final call.

Colour doesn't have to be loud

One of the biggest misconceptions about colourful kitchens is that they have to be elaborate.

A kitchen in a single muted green can be just as striking as one with orange cabinets, blue walls, and patterned tiles. Earthy greens, warm terracotta, and brown-red shades are also effective because they bring colour while still working comfortably with timber, stone, and brass.

Consider rich over bright. A dusty blue can have just as much impact as cobalt. Olive can feel more sophisticated than a vivid green, and a warm clay shade can bring personality without taking over the room.

The secret is repetition

If you choose a colour you love, don't be afraid to repeat it – just don't repeat it everywhere.

A green cabinet could be picked up again in a piece of artwork, and a terracotta wall could work with similarly warm-toned ceramics.

Repeating a colour in small doses creates a visual thread through the space. It makes the design feel intentional rather than as though a collection of unrelated colours has simply found its way into the kitchen.

So, how colourful should you go?

There is no correct answer.

If you're renovating from scratch, colourful cabinetry is a brilliant opportunity to make a long-term design statement. If you're working with an existing kitchen, start smaller: paint the island, replace the backsplash, introduce colourful hardware, or add lighting and furniture in unexpected shades.

The best colourful kitchens aren't necessarily the ones following the latest palette. They're the ones where the colour feels like it belongs – because it reflects the architecture, the materials and, most importantly, the people who live there.

Image Credits

Will Ellis, Sergey Krasyuk, Patrick Xiong, Nikhil Tricam, Benoit Linero, Ema Peter Photography