Here’s How to Make Your Kitchen Look Gorgeous and Come Alive with Color

Published: October 12, 2021 I HOME DECORATING

On this page, you’ll learn how to add color to make your kitchen more interesting.

Gorgeous green painted cabinets, traditional kitchen design
Credit: Cortney Bishop Design; Photography: Katie Charlotte

Is your kitchen in need of a little makeover? Do you want to make your kitchen more alive and interesting? A pop of color may be just what your kitchen needs! Color in general can affect a person’s mood and energy level and can change the entire vibe of a space. Although painting your whole kitchen space is one way, it might not be a good option especially if you’re just renting an apartment. Thus, here are some smart and useful tips to make your kitchen look amazing without having to paint the whole space.

Make your hood or range as the focal point

The first tip is to make a focal point in your kitchen. I particularly love this black hood with gold details because it really stands out! Plus, the combination of the white interior and the dark wooden cabinets makes this kitchen look crisp and elegant.

Pick a random area to paint

Pick any part of your kitchen to paint randomly! The idea here is to make an ordinary wall or area look more special. It could be that corner near the window or a wall connecting your kitchen to the dining room. Look how the terracotta wall transformed the kitchen into a brighter space against the bold designs and the classic gray tones (or neutral tones).

Choose more colorful kitchen tiles, backsplash, or wallpaper

Picking the backsplash for your kitchen can be a great opportunity to make your kitchen more eye-catching and beautiful. There are also many great options to choose from! Like in the kitchen below, the combination of bright yellow, blue, and rust color brightens up the kitchen without painting over the white cabinets.

White kitchen with colorful yellow and blue backsplash
Credit: Max Vakhtbovych at Pexels

Mix it up with leather barstool chairs

Do you know that there are more than 20 different colors of leather furniture? They actually go well with almost every kitchen design. Brown leather in particular (such as walnut or saddle brown) gives masculinity and warmth to a space. Just look how the blue scallop-designed backsplash and the color of leather bring “the perfect mixture of masculine and feminine” elements to the space, according to Bria Hammel Interiors.

White kitchen with leather barstool chairs.
Credit: Bria Hammel Interiors; Photography: @aimeemazzenga

Draw attention to your cabinets and counter

If you feel that you already have a busy kitchen space, you may choose to paint just a part of the cabinets to achieve a different look with less clutter. It’s actually easy to do, and you can do it yourself.

Choose a specific cabinet or a few cabinets and drawers that will serve as focal points. For example, try painting the pantry cabinet or drawers where you place kitchen items that you usually use. It can also help you to easily categorize and locate these items whenever you’re in a hurry because they stand out, being in a different color. Not only will you have a colorful kitchen, you’ll also have a system in place.

This stylish and ultra-modern minimalist kitchen in Dove grey and Regiment (forest green color) is from Second Nature Kitchens.

Create a perfect nook with vibrant color

This cozy country kitchen breakfast nook features a “fiery Pimento”, a warm neutral color that reminds us of autumn.

Go bold with your lighting fixture

We all love an all-white kitchen, but using dark or bold colors such as in these pendant lanterns adds beautiful contrast to a clean space. This beautifully curated traditional kitchen with shiplap ceiling and interesting island with curved details is from Bria Hammel Interiors.

Make a statement brick by brick

It’s amazing how these rust-colored bricks give a concrete wall texture and a twist. Moreover, the exposed pipes, black metal cabinet pulls, dark pendant lights, and light wooden floors all give a warm and comfortable industrial aesthetic to the kitchen.

Warm caramel tones against black

Another brilliant idea is to have a modern rustic kitchen with a mix of browns and blacks from the exposed wooden beams and dark tiles. The said combination never goes out of style!

Try vibrant colors for your counter stools and chairs

Make your kitchen counter a more fun area to cook and hang out in by adding brightly colored upholstered chairs and bar stools that liven up the rest of the space. Also best for modern kitchens.

Pastel colors are also a great choice to add style and break the monotony of a neutral space.

Pastel colored chairs in a neutral kitchen
Credit: Max Vakhtbovych at Pexels

Buy colorful pendant lights/ drop lights

Pendant lights in general provide great ambient lighting (general lighting) and task lighting for specific activities such as cooking, cutting food on the kitchen counter, or washing dishes in the sink. They can also be wonderful color pieces and they don’t even have to be in the same color.

Here, the nice combination of pink and yellow pendant lights goes well with the wood kitchen cabinets.

Colorful kitchen yellow and pink pendant lights.
Credit: Max Vakhtbovych at Pexels

Put more emphasis on your door or divider

If you want more variety, you may choose a different color for your kitchen door or divider.

Colorful kitchen red door or divider.
Credit: Max Vakhtbovych at Pexels

Bring in colorful and artistic cookware and dinnerware

This is the easiest way to add color to your kitchen. Just hang some of those colorful mugs and they will immediately brighten up the space.

Colorful cookware and dinnerware

Remember those ceramic plates you bought from the thrift store or those from your vacation trip? Make them the center of attention by hanging them on your kitchen wall.

Colorful ceramic plates
Credit: Sanketh Rao at Pexels

Go monochromatic for your cookware and dinnerware

If you’re not into colorful plates, try monochromatic or gradient-colored dinnerware and place them somewhere visible like on a hanging shelf.

Monochromatic blue plates in a kitchen shelf
Credit: Dane Deaner at Unsplash

Opt for colorful appliances

Most appliances like refrigerators, coffee machines, and toasters come in white, platinum, or black. While these give a modern, clean, and sleek feel, they’re often too typical. So, try to purchase them in color if possible, like a super-adorable yellow vintage-inspired electric kettle and two-door pink refrigerator.

Yellow colored mixer
Credit: David Yohanes at Pexels

Add different colorful flowers

Lastly, fresh colorful flowers can also make your kitchen look lively and charming.

Colorful flowers in a table
Credit: Secret Garden at Pexels

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