Kitchen Design
25 Colorful Kitchens in (Almost) Every Hue Under the Sun
Take a spin around the color wheel with this collection of kitchens boasting vibrant cabinetry
Renovating homeowners who opt for white or wood kitchen cabinets may be in the majority, but their color-loving counterparts are a loud and proud minority. If you’re considering joining their ranks, take inspiration from these cheerful kitchens circling the color wheel from green to blue, violet, red, orange, yellow and back to green, with a bunch of colors, tints, shades and tones in between. You can paint all of your cabinets in a single hue, as most of these homeowners have done, or pick your favorite color and splash it across your island. Let your kitchen be your canvas!
2. The inset cabinets in this English country-style kitchen by John Lewis of Hungerford are painted a dark shade of green reminiscent of a pine forest (or, if you prefer, a vintage Jaguar). The deeper, more muted shade has a “heritage” look that works particularly well in traditional and rustic-style kitchens.
Tip: If you love a paint color that we haven’t identified here, find something similar with the new Sherwin-Williams color finder tool. Click the photo and then the Show Paint Options button. Just keep in mind that colors read differently from monitor to monitor and depending on lighting conditions, so a bit of trial and error with paint samples may be required to get the color you want.
Tip: If you love a paint color that we haven’t identified here, find something similar with the new Sherwin-Williams color finder tool. Click the photo and then the Show Paint Options button. Just keep in mind that colors read differently from monitor to monitor and depending on lighting conditions, so a bit of trial and error with paint samples may be required to get the color you want.
3. Green cabinets and orange accents pop against a black-and-white gingham floor in this fun kitchen by Crystal Blackshaw Interiors.
Very generally speaking, when talking about paint, tint is a mixture of a hue (a color at its full saturation on the color wheel) with white, making it lighter. Shade is that hue plus black, which makes it darker. Adding gray changes the hue’s tone by making it duller, or less intense.
Though dark, this green looks brighter, or more saturated, than the previous shade, which makes it feel more contemporary. Pairing it with high-contrast reds and oranges gives it even more punch.
10 Gorgeous Green Paints for Kitchen Islands and Cabinets
Very generally speaking, when talking about paint, tint is a mixture of a hue (a color at its full saturation on the color wheel) with white, making it lighter. Shade is that hue plus black, which makes it darker. Adding gray changes the hue’s tone by making it duller, or less intense.
Though dark, this green looks brighter, or more saturated, than the previous shade, which makes it feel more contemporary. Pairing it with high-contrast reds and oranges gives it even more punch.
10 Gorgeous Green Paints for Kitchen Islands and Cabinets
Photo by Chris Snook
4. Chalk Kitchens applied a slightly lighter, vibrant green lacquer to this London kitchen’s solid-wood, Shaker-style cabinets.
Along with a marble-effect counter, brass fixtures and Art Deco-style lighting and furniture, the jewel-like color here adds period-appropriate glamour to the 1930s home.
4. Chalk Kitchens applied a slightly lighter, vibrant green lacquer to this London kitchen’s solid-wood, Shaker-style cabinets.
Along with a marble-effect counter, brass fixtures and Art Deco-style lighting and furniture, the jewel-like color here adds period-appropriate glamour to the 1930s home.
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Blue Green
5. The cabinets in this kitchen by Philadelphia-based interior design firm Ashli Mizell are a deep teal, a tertiary (or intermediate) color that’s a mix of a primary color, blue, and a secondary color, green.
Teal is often associated with rejuvenation and clarity. Clearly, this color and the slight sheen of the finish give these traditional-style cabinets a modern update.
5. The cabinets in this kitchen by Philadelphia-based interior design firm Ashli Mizell are a deep teal, a tertiary (or intermediate) color that’s a mix of a primary color, blue, and a secondary color, green.
Teal is often associated with rejuvenation and clarity. Clearly, this color and the slight sheen of the finish give these traditional-style cabinets a modern update.
6. Here’s another kitchen — this one by Airy Kitchens in Haverford, Pennsylvania — with aqua cabinets inching even closer to true blue on the color wheel.
The rust color of the leather stools is opposite blue-green on the color wheel, which makes them complementary colors, aka opposite colors.
A complementary color scheme creates both high contrast and high visual impact. Other color schemes include analogous, which includes a series of colors that are side by side on the color wheel; triad, which combines three colors equally spaced on the color wheel; and monochromatic, a subtler scheme that uses different shades, tones and tints of the same hue.
How to Mix Colors and Make It Work
The rust color of the leather stools is opposite blue-green on the color wheel, which makes them complementary colors, aka opposite colors.
A complementary color scheme creates both high contrast and high visual impact. Other color schemes include analogous, which includes a series of colors that are side by side on the color wheel; triad, which combines three colors equally spaced on the color wheel; and monochromatic, a subtler scheme that uses different shades, tones and tints of the same hue.
How to Mix Colors and Make It Work
Blue
7. Tranquillity and stability are two characteristics often associated with our next color, blue. Perhaps that’s why many studies and polls have found that blue is Americans’ favorite color.
The cabinets in this Minneapolis kitchen by Regarding Design are painted in Inchyra Blue from Farrow & Ball, which looks like a dusty deep turquoise here but can read gray, blue or green depending on the light. The paint company describes it as “an aged blue gray [that] is inspired by the naturally dramatic Scottish skies.” That’s apt for this transitional kitchen, which is in a Tudor-style home.
7. Tranquillity and stability are two characteristics often associated with our next color, blue. Perhaps that’s why many studies and polls have found that blue is Americans’ favorite color.
The cabinets in this Minneapolis kitchen by Regarding Design are painted in Inchyra Blue from Farrow & Ball, which looks like a dusty deep turquoise here but can read gray, blue or green depending on the light. The paint company describes it as “an aged blue gray [that] is inspired by the naturally dramatic Scottish skies.” That’s apt for this transitional kitchen, which is in a Tudor-style home.
8. Kiran Khabra Design woke up this California kitchen’s formerly white cabinets by splashing them with Kelly-Moore Paints’ Water Chi, a refreshing, saturated blue. Simple white quartz counters and subway tiles balance out the brightness of the hue.
10 Beautiful Blue Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands
10 Beautiful Blue Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands
Photo by The Palm Co.
9. Timeless navy is a great choice for a traditional or transitional kitchen (especially if it gets plenty of sunlight), but this Sydney, Australia, kitchen by Kitty Lee Architecture shows that it can look thoroughly modern too. White dimensional tile adds texture and brightens the space, while slab-front cabinets keep it sleek.
9. Timeless navy is a great choice for a traditional or transitional kitchen (especially if it gets plenty of sunlight), but this Sydney, Australia, kitchen by Kitty Lee Architecture shows that it can look thoroughly modern too. White dimensional tile adds texture and brightens the space, while slab-front cabinets keep it sleek.
Blue Violet
10. The cabinets in this 1874 Massachusetts townhouse designed by Ian Masters of SKA are painted a dark blue (similar to Benjamin Moore’s Newburyport Blue) that looks like a more vivid cobalt with violet undertones in this image.
The concrete countertops and a backsplash made from antiqued-mirror tiles interspersed with brass spacers give the kitchen an updated feel without erasing the home’s 19th-century charm.
Read more about this house
10. The cabinets in this 1874 Massachusetts townhouse designed by Ian Masters of SKA are painted a dark blue (similar to Benjamin Moore’s Newburyport Blue) that looks like a more vivid cobalt with violet undertones in this image.
The concrete countertops and a backsplash made from antiqued-mirror tiles interspersed with brass spacers give the kitchen an updated feel without erasing the home’s 19th-century charm.
Read more about this house
11. If you’re looking for loads of colorful-kitchen inspiration, you’d do well to flip through the British kitchens uploaded to Houzz, which show how to make the most unexpected colors look right at home in any style kitchen.
Case in point: this dark violet kitchen by Paul Alexander Kitchens in Berkshire, England. The violet, gold and white palette has a decidedly luxurious air, though its rustic-looking herringbone floor keeps it from veering too glitzy.
20 Kitchens Straight Out of the English Countryside
Case in point: this dark violet kitchen by Paul Alexander Kitchens in Berkshire, England. The violet, gold and white palette has a decidedly luxurious air, though its rustic-looking herringbone floor keeps it from veering too glitzy.
20 Kitchens Straight Out of the English Countryside
Photo from Patric Lau Photography
Violet
12. Here’s a lighter tint of the previous violet, with perhaps a smidge more red in the mix. Designed and styled by House of Chais, this kitchen in Singapore shows the sweeter side of the color.
Though purple and violet are often used interchangeably when talking about paint colors, historically, bluer hues have been called violet and redder hues have been called purple. And from an optics point of view, they’re very different: Violet corresponds to a single wavelength of light in the color spectrum, whereas purple isn’t on the spectrum at all — it refers to a mixture of red and blue light that our eyes perceive as something close to violet. You learn something new every day!
Violet
12. Here’s a lighter tint of the previous violet, with perhaps a smidge more red in the mix. Designed and styled by House of Chais, this kitchen in Singapore shows the sweeter side of the color.
Though purple and violet are often used interchangeably when talking about paint colors, historically, bluer hues have been called violet and redder hues have been called purple. And from an optics point of view, they’re very different: Violet corresponds to a single wavelength of light in the color spectrum, whereas purple isn’t on the spectrum at all — it refers to a mixture of red and blue light that our eyes perceive as something close to violet. You learn something new every day!
Red Violet
13. The cabinets in this Bath, England, kitchen by Sustainable Kitchens are close to a color called Tyrian purple, which has a fascinating history. In ancient Rome, Tyrian purple dye was extracted from snails and so expensive that only the wealthiest could afford it — thereby making the color synonymous with royalty.
That said, on a simple slab-front cabinet sans flashy hardware, the color looks more rock ’n’ roll than regal.
8 Purple Paint Colors That Work Well in a Kitchen
13. The cabinets in this Bath, England, kitchen by Sustainable Kitchens are close to a color called Tyrian purple, which has a fascinating history. In ancient Rome, Tyrian purple dye was extracted from snails and so expensive that only the wealthiest could afford it — thereby making the color synonymous with royalty.
That said, on a simple slab-front cabinet sans flashy hardware, the color looks more rock ’n’ roll than regal.
8 Purple Paint Colors That Work Well in a Kitchen
Photo from Barn Light Electric Co.
Red
14. Traditional barns owe their red color to a combination of skim milk, lime, red iron and, eventually, linseed oil, which thrifty early American farmers used to preserve their barns’ wood. That concoction alone created an orangey color, but historic preservationists theorize that rust, which killed fungi, or cow’s blood may have been added later to give barns their trademark bright red siding.
In any case, that history makes red an appropriate choice for the kitchen cabinets in this renovated 1910 rustic barn in Oregon by Legum Design (though these look a bit more burgundy versus an orangey red).
Red
14. Traditional barns owe their red color to a combination of skim milk, lime, red iron and, eventually, linseed oil, which thrifty early American farmers used to preserve their barns’ wood. That concoction alone created an orangey color, but historic preservationists theorize that rust, which killed fungi, or cow’s blood may have been added later to give barns their trademark bright red siding.
In any case, that history makes red an appropriate choice for the kitchen cabinets in this renovated 1910 rustic barn in Oregon by Legum Design (though these look a bit more burgundy versus an orangey red).
Meghan Mehan Photography
15. OK, OK — enough of the physics and history lessons. Let’s get back to kitchens!
Actually, these Shaker-style cabinets are in a bar, but they match the kitchen cabinets in a sweet Milwaukee, Wisconsin, guest house by Brakefield Design Collective. Unlike the kitchen, the bar has super-charming wired-glass uppers and a vertical shiplap backsplash that we liked too much to omit. But they both feature a peppy, all-American red-and-white color scheme that would feel just right in a rustic lakeside cottage, with a cherry pie cooling on the counter.
15. OK, OK — enough of the physics and history lessons. Let’s get back to kitchens!
Actually, these Shaker-style cabinets are in a bar, but they match the kitchen cabinets in a sweet Milwaukee, Wisconsin, guest house by Brakefield Design Collective. Unlike the kitchen, the bar has super-charming wired-glass uppers and a vertical shiplap backsplash that we liked too much to omit. But they both feature a peppy, all-American red-and-white color scheme that would feel just right in a rustic lakeside cottage, with a cherry pie cooling on the counter.
Red Orange
16. What a difference undertone and accents make. The cabinets in this Austin, Texas, kitchen by M. Elliott Studio tip more orange than those in the previous cabinets, making them more of rusty brick red, which complements the blue-green tile backsplash. The result (especially when you consider the Arts & Crafts-inspired pattern on the backsplash) is a Craftsman-meets-subtly-Southwestern vibe.
16. What a difference undertone and accents make. The cabinets in this Austin, Texas, kitchen by M. Elliott Studio tip more orange than those in the previous cabinets, making them more of rusty brick red, which complements the blue-green tile backsplash. The result (especially when you consider the Arts & Crafts-inspired pattern on the backsplash) is a Craftsman-meets-subtly-Southwestern vibe.
17. You might think you’re in Italy when you look at this glossy, tomato-red Ferrari of a kitchen island, but it’s actually in a Berlin kitchen designed by dopo_domani International.
Red is commonly associated with both passion and danger, which might seem at odds with a kitchen color scheme. But in some cultures it means good luck, and seeing red also supposedly stimulates appetite, so perhaps it deserves to be a more common choice.
Red is commonly associated with both passion and danger, which might seem at odds with a kitchen color scheme. But in some cultures it means good luck, and seeing red also supposedly stimulates appetite, so perhaps it deserves to be a more common choice.
Wilson Photography
Orange
18. Speaking of uncommon: The predominantly orange kitchens on Houzz’s photo feed are few and far between. As this modern mountainside Utah home illustrates, the color (which is associated with optimism and energy) is Bold with a capital b.
While the black-and-white countertops here only serve to accentuate the strong color, the plywood walls (which have orange undertones themselves) provide pleasing rough-hewn balance. Plus, can you even picture this same kitchen with white cabinets? The extreme location and the modern architecture really call for an unconventional and vibrant hue.
Orange
18. Speaking of uncommon: The predominantly orange kitchens on Houzz’s photo feed are few and far between. As this modern mountainside Utah home illustrates, the color (which is associated with optimism and energy) is Bold with a capital b.
While the black-and-white countertops here only serve to accentuate the strong color, the plywood walls (which have orange undertones themselves) provide pleasing rough-hewn balance. Plus, can you even picture this same kitchen with white cabinets? The extreme location and the modern architecture really call for an unconventional and vibrant hue.
19. Orange might be getting a boost thanks to a resurgence of 1970s style. But this tangerine-colored Minneapolis kitchen by LiLu Interiors — the heart of a 20th-century Prairie-style home — shows that the color works great with other styles too.
If you love the look, be sure to check out the rest of this project, which is equally playful and colorful.
If you love the look, be sure to check out the rest of this project, which is equally playful and colorful.
Yellow
21. Speaking of British kitchens, this one by Boffe Design in Wallingford, England, brightens overcast days with sunshine-yellow cabinets. Said to be the happiest color of them all, yellow has seen a recent uptick in popularity in everything from fashion to interiors — in fact, Illuminating Yellow (which is more lemony than this golden hue) was one of Pantone’s colors of the year in 2021.
21. Speaking of British kitchens, this one by Boffe Design in Wallingford, England, brightens overcast days with sunshine-yellow cabinets. Said to be the happiest color of them all, yellow has seen a recent uptick in popularity in everything from fashion to interiors — in fact, Illuminating Yellow (which is more lemony than this golden hue) was one of Pantone’s colors of the year in 2021.
22. Pantone paired Illuminating Yellow with Ultimate Gray, and it’s easy to see why. This Brooklyn, New York, kitchen by Fete Nature Architecture illustrates how well the two colors work together.
Gray can tone down yellow’s vibrancy, and yellow can keep gray from feeling dreary.
9 White-and-Yellow Paint Color Pairings to Consider
Gray can tone down yellow’s vibrancy, and yellow can keep gray from feeling dreary.
9 White-and-Yellow Paint Color Pairings to Consider
23. This beach house by Oak Hill Architects in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has a yellow kitchen that’s at once sweet and sophisticated. With beaded inset cabinets and marble counters, its traditional styling feels youthful in the buttery yellow hue. And the warm color — inspired by the living room color in the owners’ first home — will make even rainy days at the beach feel cheery.
Yellow Green
24. Yellowish-green colors may be the least liked in the world, according to some quick Googling. Perhaps it’s even your least-liked color. But — hear us out — it can look terrific. Just look at this London kitchen by Field Day Studio, which gets much of its earthy, edgy style from the cabinets’ mossy-yellow hue.
With relatively daring colors like this one, a little goes a long way. Note that this kitchen has no upper cabinets and its island is stainless steel. And since it’s part of an open-plan layout, the adjacent rooms are similarly devoid of strongly contrasting colors, instead keeping to a monochromatic scheme with yellow artwork and natural greenery.
24. Yellowish-green colors may be the least liked in the world, according to some quick Googling. Perhaps it’s even your least-liked color. But — hear us out — it can look terrific. Just look at this London kitchen by Field Day Studio, which gets much of its earthy, edgy style from the cabinets’ mossy-yellow hue.
With relatively daring colors like this one, a little goes a long way. Note that this kitchen has no upper cabinets and its island is stainless steel. And since it’s part of an open-plan layout, the adjacent rooms are similarly devoid of strongly contrasting colors, instead keeping to a monochromatic scheme with yellow artwork and natural greenery.
25. This yellow-green kitchen is more aptly described as olive, or green with a strong yellow undertone.
Designed by Cathie Hong Interiors in Mountain View, California, the kitchen is in a 1956 house by John Calder Mackay, a developer famous for his “California modern” tract homes. This olive green hue nods to the home’s midcentury style, but nature-inspired greens are also one of 2022’s biggest color trends — another full circle that, coincidentally, brings us full circle on the color wheel.
Designed by Cathie Hong Interiors in Mountain View, California, the kitchen is in a 1956 house by John Calder Mackay, a developer famous for his “California modern” tract homes. This olive green hue nods to the home’s midcentury style, but nature-inspired greens are also one of 2022’s biggest color trends — another full circle that, coincidentally, brings us full circle on the color wheel.
If you have a colorful kitchen — whether it’s a single color or multicolor, like this one from Snug Architects — share a photo of it in the Comments!
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More on Houzz
Read more stories about colorful kitchens
Find a kitchen remodeler near you
Shop for kitchen and dining products
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1. We’ll start with green, a secondary color that sits halfway between the primary colors blue and yellow on the RYB color wheel. In color psychology, green is associated with optimism and renewal.
This particular hue, selected by designer Martha O’Hara, is Bunker Hill Green by Benjamin Moore — a grass green that looks fresh and a bit preppy painted on simple Shaker-style cabinets and paired with natural wood tones and white countertops.
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