Choosing from an infinite number of kitchen color schemes can be both exciting and daunting. How do you decide?
From a simple black and white kitchen to every other grouping of possible hues, picking the right combination will be easier if you follow our step-by-step guide.
7 Steps to a Kitchen Color Scheme
There are seven essential steps to take when selecting colors for your kitchen remodel. While often helpful, it is not necessary to follow these steps in order.
Choosing cabinet colors: Kitchen cabinets typically take up 50% of your budget and occupy about 40% of the visual space in your kitchen. For these reasons, it's best to start out by choosing a cabinet color that fits your personality and your home's style before deciding the other colors in your kitchen.
Choosing appliance colors: Your cabinetry order cannot be finalized until you know which appliances you intend to buy. As focal points, your sink and appliances can have a big impact on your kitchen color scheme.
Choosing countertop colors: Your kitchen countertops are close to eye level and will occupy a large portion of your visual space. Be sure to bring a sample of your cabinetry color to help you choose a coordinating countertop color.
Choosing flooring colors: When selecting a kitchen floor color, be sure it coordinates well with the cabinets, countertops, and appliances, as well as with the floors in adjoining rooms.
Choosing a backsplash color: By now your kitchen color scheme is nearly complete. There are many backsplash options that can either coordinate or clash with your color scheme, so if you need extra help, don't hesitate to enlist the services of a designer when selecting a backsplash.
Choosing a wall color: Often the forgotten backdrop to an overall color scheme, your walls can still play a vital role. While the walls are often obscured by cabinets, pick a color that balances well with the floors, cabinets, and backsplash.
Choosing hardware colors: Your faucets and cabinet handles are installed later, after the cabinets and granite have been completed. While it is common to coordinate the faucets and handles colors, it is not required.
MORE HELP: Feeling stuck? Take a step back and consider the overall effect you want. Do you crave a bright, welcoming kitchen or a luxurious gourmet theme? Review our kitchen galleries and kitchen styles to see what other designers have done. Below are some more articles, photos, and design ideas to help you develop your kitchen color scheme.
Colors by Style
STYLE is
an important factor when choosing a color palette for your
kitchen. For example, a traditional kitchen can be made quite
modern simply by adjusting the colors in the kitchen. Consider
your style before finalizing the kitchen color scheme.
REAL WOOD is still the most
popular option for kitchen cabinets. The natural grain and tone
of wood strongly affects your kitchen color scheme. Here's a list of cabinet
materials, including popular woods:
» Alder
» Bamboo
» Beech
» Birch
» Cherry
» Exotic Woods
» Knotty Woods
» Maple
» Painted Wood
» Plastic Laminate
» Red Oak
» Stainless Steel
» Thermofoil
» Quartersawn Oak
» Walnut
Kitchen Color
Trends
Popular Kitchen Colors
My clients often ask which colors
are popular today and which colors are not as likely to go out
of style tomorrow. Great question! Based on my own research
sorting through thousands of photos of recent kitchen remodels,
it would appear that:
1. Overall, today's most popular kitchens feature wood
cabinets (40%), followed by two-tone cabinets (30%), white and antique
white cabinets (22%), and other cabinet colors (8%).
2. For wood kitchens, the most popular choices are
medium stains (40%), followed by dark stains (28%), light
finishes
(26%), and trailed by whitewashes (6%).
3. For traditional kitchens, the most popular wood stains
are fairly evenly split among Cherry/red-tones (40%), Walnut/brown-tones (31%),
and Golden-brown stains (29%).
4. In solid-colored kitchens, the top paint colors
include white (39%) followed closely by antique white (36%)
and trailed by gray (7%), red (7%), black (4%), and "other"
colors
(7%).
Countertop Colors
GRANITE is by far the most popular countertop surface for
kitchen remodels, and for good reason. With over 1500 colors to choose from,
it's easy to find some great options.
APPLIANCES can make a profound impact
on kitchen color schemes. Stainless steel is an excellent
choice, and white looks right in certain situations. Here are
the top color choices for today's kitchen appliances:
» Stainless Steel
» White
» Black
» Wood Panel
» Bisque
» Red & Retro Colors
Kitchen Wall Colors
YOUR WALLS are like the canvas
of a great painting. Because kitchen walls are mostly covered by
cabinets and backsplashes, wall colors are often decided
last. But that doesn't mean they aren't important! Be sure to
brainstorm for ideas on treating your walls.
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