ENVY KITCHEN

Why green is the most sought-after colour in kitchen design

Words RICHARD DAVENPORT, DAVENPORT.COM

Green kitchens havebeen growing in popularity over the last couple of years, whether in paint, tiles or the kitchen itself. In fact, the use of green in a kitchen is now as popular as blue, which has been the reigning champion when it comes to colourful kitchens.

There is no hard and fast rule as to which shade of green to go for either, as both sage and dark earthy greens have been just as popular. The big difference for 2023 will be the emergence of Mint, which is fast gaining traction in kitchens.

If you do decide to go green, there are several ways to bring the colour to life, whether through just choosing it for a kitchen island, or the whole kitchen. There is also a growing trend for combining several shades of green in the same space in what is known as a monochromatic kitchen that has real standout – think lighter shade kitchen wall and base units, with a darker green for the kitchen island.

Q Why is green such a popular colour in the kitchen?

A After the pandemic, and now with so much economic and social uncertainly, we tend to design our homes with comfort in mind, creating cocoons where we can bunker down with family and friends. This means we turn to colours and textures that help us to create this, with much of it being routed in natural materials, forms and colours as a way of bringing a smoothing and grounding feel to our homes.

For 2023, mint green is making its way into kitchens. It’s an uplifting, zingy yet calming and subtle shade, an evolution of the sage green that we’ve seen dominate over the last couple of years. Mint also works well alongside other green shades and contrasting with a forest green island can add more depth and a further dimension to the space.

Q How do you style green kitchens?

A As we’ve established that using the colour green is about bringing nature indoors, using similar materials for a cohesive look is important. Choosing warm woods for your floor options, or a reclaimed wooden table for your seating area carries on this theme while also adding textural elements both a visual and touch perspective.

When it comes to your hardware and brassware choices, green is a colour that works across pretty much the full spectrum of metallic finishes, giving you plenty of choice. In fact, another trend for 2023 is to mix metallics – no more than three though – so you can have some fun with your new green kitchen.

Q What about worktops?

A From our experience, most homeowners who decide to choose green cabinetry – no matter the shade – will choose a lighter worktop. However, we have designed and fitted green kitchens with dark worktop, and this works just as well.

Q Is there a style of kitchen that works best with the colour green?

A Shaker cabinetry is by far the most popular; however, shaker doesn’t necessarily mean traditional. It can transcend across both modern and traditional kitchens, depending on how you style it; from door handles, taps, appliances and finishing touches. Therefore, green is very much a colour that works in all shape, sizes and style of kitchen, which is perhaps another reason why it is the most popular kitchen colour of 2023.

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