Add colour to your kitchen

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By Katherine Sorrell

Add Colour to Your Kitchen

If your kitchen is feeling bland and boring, it could simply be missing a dose of interesting colour. Whether you’re planning a major renovation or just want a quick fix, there are plenty of ways in which to introduce bolder, brighter shades.

Kitchen cupboards and appliances

Bring in a blast of colour with glossy, flat-fronted modern units that can be found in a range of punchy shades. Alternatively, the more traditional painted kitchen can be commissioned in any paint colour under the sun, from palest pastel to deepest black. If this seems like overkill, a great way to create extra interest without going over the top is to specify a coloured island unit, combined with plain cupboards elsewhere. For those replacing free-standing appliances, you may wish to look out for examples in less usual colours – ice cream-coloured retro fridges, for example, or an Aga in a jewel-bright enamel. This look is not for the faint-hearted, of course, and is best teamed with neutrals in other areas of the room so as not to become oppressive or overwhelming.

Worktops and splashbacks

Teamed with understated kitchen cupboards, a bright worktop or splashback adds a strip of colour through the room and can give a welcome lift. Sleek toughened glass can be painted on the back in any colour imaginable – some showrooms offer a standard range of shades, but others will, at an extra cost, provide a colour-matching service. Another option is to go for a dramatic shade of natural stone. While most are relatively subtle, some do come in quite strong colours, such as green, red/brown or chocolate. Then there are stone composites (often called quartz), man-made solid surfaces (such as Corian), and laminates (generally the least expensive option), all of which also offer a range of interesting shades among their naturalistic imitations of stone and wood.

Walls and floors

When faced with a boring kitchen there’s no doubt that one of the simplest ways to add some oomph is to paint a wall or two in a strong, appealing colour.

Another option is to replace wall tiles – choose dramatic colours and even though the area covered is relatively small, the impact can be huge. Another cheap trick is to use plain white tiles, glossy and machine-edged, with brightly coloured grout (lemon yellow and sky blue are great): the grid-like effect is modern and the pop of colour intriguing. Floors are, of course, harder to deal with, unless you are carrying out a full-on renovation project, but one way to bring in instant colour is to throw down a small, washable rug. Make sure you use an underlay that stops it from slipping, and simply pop it into the washing machine when necessary. If you do happen to be going back to basics, vinyl and rubber flooring is available in all kinds of cool colourways while, for the more adventurous, poured floors – polished concrete or resin – can be dyed in any colour of your choosing.

Free-standing furniture

Painting wooden furniture is a pretty straightforward job, involving plenty of patience for the preparation – sanding, cleaning and priming – and a steady hand for some careful brushing or paint-rolling. The difference it makes, however, can be phenomenal, especially when teamed with a change of knobs, handles, hinges and other hardware.

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Window treatments and soft furnishings

Though a relatively small feature in many kitchens, a brightly coloured window treatment can really pack a punch. Since minimal roller blinds are the most practical for spaces where humidity and splashes are inevitable, they need not be terribly expensive, either. Or, where wooden shutters are an option, this could be just the place for an injection of something bright and breezy, perhaps reflecting the colours of the garden outside. Seating areas within kitchens are another ideal opportunity to bring in some exciting, colourful elements, whether in the form of upholstery, fabric-covered chair seats or simply a few scatter cushions.

Finishing touches

If you have glass-fronted cabinets or open shelving, think about creating displays that make the most of gorgeous colours – perhaps cookbooks arranged in a rainbow, or a collection of vintage glassware. Pendant shades over a kitchen island or dining table could be swapped for a more vivid alternative, always a nice way to add a few further spots of colour. The same goes for all kinds of accessories, from bread bins to tea canisters, even knife blocks, cupboard handles, plant pots, wall art or a small vase of flowers – don’t miss any opportunity to brighten up your culinary life and bring more colour into the heart of your home.

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1 A vividly coloured seating area and a painted island unit add colour to this otherwise neutral space.

Twickenham Framed Handleless Shaker kitchen, Higham Furniture: 020 73810 488; higham.co.uk. 2 A stylish chevron splashback introduces a dose of blue to this minimal white kitchen. Savanna Petrol gloss wall tiles, £39.96 per square metre, The London Tile Company: 0333 320 8048; londontile.co.uk. 3 Painting free-standing furniture is a quick and cost-effective way to change your colour scheme. These pieces are by The Painted Furniture Company: 01285 656 041; paintedfurnitureco.co.uk.