Picking The Perfect Shade For Your Kitchen

From prepping meals to entertaining friends and family, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. If you’re thinking about revamping your space, you may be struggling to decide on a colour scheme. From your walls to the kitchen itself, it’s an important decision to make, so offering their expert advice is Harvey Jones, a handmade kitchen specialist.

Keep it neutral

Many of us have adopted a neutral colour scheme through our homes, keeping it fresh and bright. It’s the same for our kitchens, especially if you’re not ready for a bold plum or rich red. Shades of soft greys, warm stone and pale blues are good choices. They’re great on their own but they also work in conjunction with a bold hit of colour; neon pink for an island, for instance, or dark graphite grey on a bank of cabinetry.

Less abrasive than other colours and less likely to date, these subtle shades work well with most work surfaces and flooring, and are easier to update if your tastes change. Neutral colours are particularly susceptible to change at different times throughout the day – looking quite different in natural and artificial light. Use this to your advantage by opting for shades that will appear fresh by day and welcoming by night. It’s always a good idea to test colours to see how they feel both in the evening and the morning in various parts of your room.

Avoid colours on the cool spectrum if the kitchen is north-facing, as the light will tend to make it feel cold. Lighter shades work well if there’s little or no natural light and remember to install lots of task and mood lighting.

Colour your way

If you are tempted by colour, the right shade will add real pizazz to a scheme. While most of us probably won’t opt for a bold green or bright pink over the whole kitchen, adding accents with the use of selected pieces of furniture, surfaces and accessories can be a great way to be a little more adventurous.

Using colour well essentially means using it carefully. While trends help to inspire, it’s best not to follow them too slavishly, although the beauty of a hand-painted kitchen is that you can have it repainted if you tire of the colour in two or three years’ time.

Any concerns you have about colour can be eradicated by using it sparingly and below your direct line of sight. Remember, colours will affect the mood of a room too. In general, warm colours that ‘advance’, reds and yellows for instance, tend to be energising and stimulating, while cooler ‘receding’ shades such as blues and greens will feel calming and soothing.