5 Tried and True Kitchen Color Schemes

There’s a lot to think about when you’re remodeling a kitchen: the layout, the appliances, what kind of cabinets you’ll choose — the list goes on and on. One thing that could get lost in the shuffle is the color scheme. You might have a clear idea of what colors you like, but it’s important to keep your color palette at the forefront of your planning. If you don’t, you could end up with a mish-mash of hues that looked nice on the showroom floor but don’t actually go well together in your home.

Not sure where to begin? It can be intimidating to make a final decision on your kitchen’s color scheme, because it means you’re finally locked in to some design choices — possibly pretty expensive ones. Take a look at some of our favorite kitchen color combos to get inspired by looks that stand the test of time.

5 Excellent Kitchen Color Ideas

1. White on White

When you choose an all-white kitchen, you are choosing the cleanest possible look for your home. Painted white cabinets, a white tile backsplash and marble countertops are easy to pull together for an effortless, timeless look. For variety, you could choose stainless steel appliances instead of white ones and a light-toned wood floor instead of white tile.

2. Gray and White

Gray is the hot color in home decor today, and it looks great on cabinets and walls. It’s generally pretty easy to mix and match gray and white elements —  just be careful when blending stainless steel appliances with gray to make sure the tones work together. Two-tone cabinetry lets you have white upper cabinets and gray lower ones for an on-trend take on the look.

3. Buttery Yellow

Creamy yellow walls are a great way to make your kitchen glow with warmth. This color works well with white cabinets or with medium to dark wood tones like oak and walnut. If you’re feeling adventurous, yellow cabinets against a neutral backdrop also work well. Paint samples on the walls before committing to a shade of yellow: This color changes a lot throughout the day depending on the quality of light.

4. Black, White and Red

This is a great choice when you love the clean look of white but need more color in your life. Adding black and red to the mix can be ultra-modern with glossy, lacquered cabinets, or it can hearken back to the classic good looks of a 1950s diner. This is a great color scheme for anyone who doesn’t love stainless steel appliances or would like to save some cash by selecting black or white ones, too.

5. Sandy Neutrals

If you like wood tone cabinets and want an overall restful look in your kitchen, paint the walls in a similar shade of beige or tan. For a fresh, up-to-the-minute look, choose shades of “greige” — a grayish beige — instead of warm khaki colors. Complete the look with tan granite or a sandstone backsplash for a tone-on-tone look.

Pro Tip: When shopping for any element of your kitchen, bring your color scheme with you. Carry paint chips, a loose tile and small cabinet samples — or at least a good photo of the pieces you’ve chosen. This will allow to see all the colors together to make sure each color works well as part of a single, harmonious whole.

Choosing the color scheme for your kitchen should be a fun adventure! There aren’t really any rules as long as you check to make sure your colors look good together before you swipe your credit card. Use these color schemes as a jumping off point for your inspiration, but feel free to change them up. You can always add your favorite color as an accent to personalize one of these designer-approved color schemes. It’s all up to you!