Considering your palette for kitchen walls can be a bit daunting, and for as much time as you spend in that room, it’s important to get it right.
Luckily, there are tricks that can come in handy for choosing that perfect shade.
Count on Your Counter Space
Since they usually take up a lot of space, your countertops are going to be among the biggest color indicators in a kitchen, says Anne Rogers, owner of Lithopolis-based Anne Rogers Interiors.
Granite and other natural stone countertops are popular right now, and most will feature beautiful coppers, grays and browns. These colors work well in a paint palette, as does golden yellow. Since most appliances are stainless steel, gray can also play into your palette. Accent walls are an option, though if the walls are covered in floor-to-ceiling cabinets, one color might become the accent color.
“You’re going to tend to go toward colors that have warm tones to them,” Rogers says.
Be Your Best in Blue
A blue shade with a little green in it works well with gray stainless steel countertops, Rogers says. Spa blue shades are particularly calming and relaxing, and many people already use sea glass on backsplashes in kitchens. Beige and chocolate hues can also warm up blues.
Consider Your Cabinets
Beyond walls, painted cabinets are very popular, says Angela Bonfante, owner of Bonfante Kitchen Designs LLC in Upper Arlington. A glaze makes the cabinets look more aged.
Cabinets can also tone down a dramatic wall color. Bonfante had a customer, for example, who selected an eggplant wall color. To break up the rich hue, Bonfante used a gray color for the cabinets. White cabinets, too, are timeless and don’t require updating.
Current Popular Paint Colors
Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
Coral Reef
Inviting with warm undertones; good for offices, kitchens and half baths
Aqua Sphere
Good with grays, browns and oatmeal colors
Baroness
Ideal for wallpaper or room accessories
Black Fox
Works well on accent walls, upholstery and stains for floors or cabinets
Cotton White
Good for ceilings, moldings, cabinetry, soft upholstery, flooring, carpeting and rugs
Crystal Clear
Bold and bright
Expressive Plum
A good idea for an accent wall in a smaller room
Hubbard Squash
Rich with warm undertones; good for accent items such as throw pillows
Paradise
Adds vibrancy when used for vases, throw pillows or area rugs
Sedate Gray
Neutral, almost oatmeal hue with a hint of green
Willow Tree
A beautiful green that can be an alternative to blue or gray
By Sarah Sole and Hannah Bealer