How to Use Colors in the Kitchen

We pass so many hours in your kitchen, why not make it cheerful? I buy several European home decor magazines every month. One constant over the years is how much the British and the Europeans are not afraid to use colors on big pieces. And their use of bold colors is tastefully done. The key to not regret your choice is to select a rich hue.

I do not expect that I will convince many of you with this post to jump and buy colored kitchen cabinets, counter surfaces or fridges. I simply wish to show you something that you rarely see inside the North American decoration magazines. We are getting more comfortable when we see it more often. They are things that grow on you; others that don’t.

If you are not ready to commit, the next best thing to create a big statement is to paint your kitchen walls a contrasting color. This way, it is an easy fix if you get tired of it.

I walked the talk

There are many ways to add colors on a kitchen, other than accessories. Since I live in an old house (150 years old), I didn’t go all modern. My husband and I decided it was best to maintain an harmony between the indoor and the outdoor of our home. But it is still very modern for many people. I created the illusion of a wall of red stripes with my kitchen cabinets. The back of every two maple wood Shaker door is stained a bold red. I lent a wood watermelon to my kitchen maker and told him to match it. The backdrop is my olive green walls.

A row of red upper cabinets was my first choice but it meant changing the design of the tall cabinet, which I was not willing to do for practical reasons. You can use colors to enhance or to reduce the effect of the room architecture.

Have you dare to use colors on big pieces?

SOURCING:
+ Harvey Jones Kitchens
+ Emerald Blue Kitchen by Alno
+ Alno – espresso cabinets with lime walls