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Whether your kitchen is galley-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped, or just plain small, there’s absolutely no-reason for not making it pretty and inviting. Here are 5 easy-to-apply color schemes that will help brighten up any small kitchen.
Warm & inviting, with an urban touch
Using contrasting cabinet colors is a great way to help a small kitchen break out of its boxy mold. Using small hints of orange with light fixtures warms up the overall color scheme. Design by MCYIA, Honolulu, photo by Zach Manzano.
Fresh & vivid
With a fresh a feminine appeal, this bright and minimal kitchen shines like a gem-stone in its white jewel-box. All primary colors are present, but bended toward fresh tones. Note that some colors are supported by very small elements, like the radiator and discreet pink vases. Design Brian O’Tuama Architects, London
Toned down primaries
Give a playful twist to your small kitchen with bright retro colors. Use large amounts of white and use these “Corbusier style” colors as accents to highlight the architecture. Design by Alsocan, Melbourne, photo by Jane McDougall.
Monochromatic palette
A successful monochromatic color scheme uses a dark, medium and light shades or tones of one color. To dilute the potential of overwhelming use of color, add generous amounts of whites or off-whites, paired with small amount of black to add deepness. This modern-country kitchen is a good example of this trend. Note the black treatment of the window frames that add contrast. Design by Coadaptive Architecture, New York; photography by Peter Dressel.
Vintage charm
In a similar way to the first palette we saw above, this warm and earthy color scheme does wonders with mid-century inspired furnishing. Use plain white walls as a blank canvas to squeeze in a counter-to-ceiling backsplash for a bold look. Use white furnitures and countertop to counter-balance this rich effect. Davidas Kitchens and Tiles, photo by Bob Narod.
