skip to main content
RUG & DECOR EVENT
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
RUG & DECOR EVENT
Up to 75% Off
Rugs in Neutral Colors 
Under $99
High-Traffic Runner Rugs 
Up to 65% Off
Bestselling Rugs and Decor 
Up to 70% Off
Round Rugs 
Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and Blue
Top Ideabooks
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and BlueWhat Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowTop Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensNew This Week: 6 Beautiful Blue Kitchens
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
Kitchen of the WeekSmall KitchensColorful KitchensKitchen StylesKitchen IslandsKitchen CabinetsKitchen CountertopsKitchen BacksplashesKitchen LightingKitchen WorkbookKitchen StorageKitchen AppliancesWhite KitchensKitchen LayoutsKitchen SinksKitchen PantriesKitchen Makeovers
Color
Color
An Editor and a Designer Discuss Pantone’s 2021 Color Pick
Top Ideabooks
An Editor and a Designer Discuss Pantone’s 2021 Color PickPantone Picks an Uplifting Combo for Its Color of the Year 2021What Kitchen Countertop Color Should You Choose?How to Choose a Paint Color You Can Live With
Appears in
Decorating Guides
See also
Color PalettesOrangeTurquoiseBlueGreenGrayBrownBlackWhiteYellowPurpleNeutral ColorsBold ColorRedPinkColors of the Year
Green
Green
Color of the Week: Spring Green
Top Ideabooks
Color of the Week: Spring GreenFront and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door GreenColor Guide: How to Work With GreenCooking With Color: When to Use Green in the Kitchen
Appears in
Color
Decorating Guides
Decorating Guides
How to Decorate a Small Living Room
Top Ideabooks
How to Decorate a Small Living Room10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors36 Home Design Trends Ready for Takeoff in 202110 Ways to Add Warmth and Personality to Your Bathroom
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
LightingColorOrganizingSmall SpacesFurnitureArtHouseplantsHolidaysDIY ProjectsAccessoriesWall TreatmentsDecorating StylesPatternGreen DecoratingEntertainingTastemakersBudget DecoratingRoom of the DayWorking With an Interior DesignerDecorating 101
Colorful Kitchens
Colorful Kitchens
Palatable Palettes: 8 Great Kitchen Color Schemes
Top Ideabooks
Palatable Palettes: 8 Great Kitchen Color SchemesKitchen of the Week: High-Altitude Kitchen Bursting With BlueGreen Cabinets and Bold Tile for a Remodeled 1920 Kitchen5 Refreshing Ways to Bring Blue Into the Kitchen
Appears in
Kitchen Design

Cooking With Color: When to Use Green in the Kitchen

Consider a taste of Romaine or Pale Green Tea to make your kitchen walls or cabinets the freshest ones around

Jennifer Ott
Jennifer OttJanuary 29, 2013
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
We tend to associate green with nature, renewal and youthfulness, making it a fantastic color choice for a kitchen. Bright, crisp greens such as lime or leafy green give a kitchen a fun, energetic, modern vibe. Or add some yellow to a light green, and you have a terrific neutral celery hue that can add a little zing to a traditional kitchen. Of course green has a negative side too, as it also represents envy, illness and toxicity. But stick to greens found in nature, especially the color of foods you like to eat, and you can't go wrong with this fresh hue in your kitchen.
Jennifer Ott Design
When picking a green for your kitchen, go for one that reminds you of a favorite green food. An appetizing hue in your kitchen will make cooking and eating a more pleasant experience. Here are some of my favorites.

Green paint picks for kitchens (clockwise from top left):

1. Pale Green Tea 080-1, from Mythic Paint
2. Fernwood Green 2145-40, from Benjamin Moore
3. Green Chantilly 17-3, from Pratt & Lambert
4. Romaine SW6730, from Sherwin-Williams
5. Ivy Vine 207-5, from Pittsburgh Paints
6. Fresh Guacamole, GLG23 from Glidden
7. Grass, from Serena & Lily
8. Alligator Alley KM3390-2, from Kelly-Moore
studio26 homes
This kitchen illustrates my favorite color advice: Use bold color in ways that are relatively affordable and easy to change out, such as via wall and ceiling paint.
Arizona Designs Kitchens and Baths
I'm a big fan of wood floors, wood-paneled ceilings and butcher block countertops, but if you add unpainted wood cabinetry to the mix, it can be too much of a good thing. Painting these cabinets a mellow guacamole green and a rich cranberry red avoids wood-tone overload. This is also a great way to freshen up a vintage kitchen that has a good layout and high-quality cabinets in need of being refinished.
Barbra Bright Design
I love electric chartreuses and lime greens, and they are fun hues to use in a kitchen. If you are a fan of clean, modern, uncluttered interiors, a bright green will keep your space from appearing too sterile or dull — just know that a little of these assertive colors goes a long way.
This is one of my favorite kitchens on Houzz. I love the colors and materials, the cool vintage modern vibe, the open cabinetry and the smart use of tight space. These very handsome greens can be used in large amounts because they are toned down and play well together.
Phillip Smith General Contractor, LLC
Here's an example of a nice neutral gray-green that will work well with any other color you choose. It contrasts nicely with the warm wood floor and brown-orange brick in a fetching, soothing palette.
Montana Reclaimed Lumber Co.
Another beautiful kitchen featuring rich, rustic materials and gorgeous green cabinets. This is an example of a kitchen that would appeal to a wide range of tastes, even though it is colorful and has character. If you want color in your kitchen but are worried about resale value, either use color in a way that's easy to change out or pick colors that are tonal, such as the green on this cabinetry. Tonal colors are those that are light in saturation but have gray or brown mixed in. This prevents them from appearing too pastel-like. It's color that is soft and muted but also pleasingly rich and complex.
BarlisWedlick Architects
Now this fun aqua and leafy-green galley kitchen is anything but soft and muted! These are intense colors, but they work here because the kitchen appears to get a good amount of natural light from windows, reflecting off the white floor, countertop, walls and ceiling.
Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc.
Black and white is a classic color combination for a kitchen, but I always root for the introduction of a third color to bump up the fab factor. This palette is so crisp and fresh, it would work in any style of kitchen.
Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc.
Here's another fabulous green kitchen from the same architects. There are many shades of cream, green and wood tones going on here, but because the colors are toned down, they all work well together. What a charming space to cook and entertain in.
CW Design, LLC
If you love green and are ready to make a color commitment in your kitchen, consider one of the many gorgeous green backsplash tiles available. Keep everything else light and neutral and let the tile be the star of the kitchen.

Tell us: Is green a go in the kitchen for you? How have you used it?

More: 8 Great Kitchen Color Schemes
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 63 comments
Explore Related Topics
Kitchen DesignColorGreenDecorating GuidesColorful Kitchens
Read Related Stories
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and BlueKitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and Blue
By Jeannie Matteucci·0
Kitchen Makeovers
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowWhat Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands Now
By Erin Carlyle·41
Inside Houzz
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensTop Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled Kitchens
By Erin Carlyle·2
Data Watch
New This Week: 6 Beautiful Blue KitchensNew This Week: 6 Beautiful Blue Kitchens
By Mitchell Parker·34
New This Week
Step Inside a Designer’s Modern Scandinavian-Style Desert HomeStep Inside a Designer’s Modern Scandinavian-Style Desert Home
By Mitchell Parker·26
Houzz TV Live
Kitchen of the Week: Clever Redesign for a CabinetmakerKitchen of the Week: Clever Redesign for a Cabinetmaker
By Becky Harris·41
Kitchen of the Week
Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyTop Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
By Erin Carlyle·14
Inside Houzz
How to Keep Your Kitchen’s Stainless Steel SpotlessHow to Keep Your Kitchen’s Stainless Steel Spotless
By Leslie Reichert·222
Housekeeping
Kitchen of the Week: New Layout and Lightness in 120 Square FeetKitchen of the Week: New Layout and Lightness in 120 Square Feet
By Jeannie Matteucci·56
Kitchen Makeovers
6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen Sink6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen Sink
By Jennifer Ott·8
Remodeling Guides
Stash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen StorageStash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
By Steven Randel·178
Most Popular
36 Home Design Trends Ready for Takeoff in 202136 Home Design Trends Ready for Takeoff in 2021
By Mitchell Parker·45
Trending Now
Before and After: 5 Kitchen Makeovers in 225 Square Feet or MoreBefore and After: 5 Kitchen Makeovers in 225 Square Feet or More
By Erin Carlyle·23
Most Popular
Before and After: 6 Kitchen Makeovers in 200 Square Feet or LessBefore and After: 6 Kitchen Makeovers in 200 Square Feet or Less
By Erin Carlyle·87
Most Popular
The Most Popular Kitchen Tours of 2020The Most Popular Kitchen Tours of 2020
By Becky Harris·18
Trending Now
Shop Related Categories
Bar Stools & Counter Stools
Bar Stools & Counter Stools
Kitchen Faucets
Kitchen Faucets
Kitchen Sinks
Kitchen Sinks
Tile
Tile
Dining Tables
Dining Tables
Dining Chairs
Dining Chairs
Sponsored
Longhouse Architects
1 Review
Loudoun County's Prominent Architecture Firm Creating Cohesive Designs
People who liked this story also liked
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and Blue
Kitchen of the Week: A Modern Mix of White, Wood and BlueFull Story
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands Now
What Homeowners Want in Kitchen Islands NowFull Story
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled Kitchens
Top Styles and Cabinet Choices for Remodeled KitchensFull Story
New This Week: 6 Beautiful Blue Kitchens
New This Week: 6 Beautiful Blue KitchensFull Story
Step Inside a Designer’s Modern Scandinavian-Style Desert Home
Step Inside a Designer’s Modern Scandinavian-Style Desert HomeFull Story
Kitchen of the Week: Clever Redesign for a Cabinetmaker
Kitchen of the Week: Clever Redesign for a CabinetmakerFull Story
Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study
Top Takeaways From the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends StudyFull Story
How to Keep Your Kitchen’s Stainless Steel Spotless
How to Keep Your Kitchen’s Stainless Steel SpotlessFull Story
Kitchen of the Week: New Layout and Lightness in 120 Square Feet
Kitchen of the Week: New Layout and Lightness in 120 Square FeetFull Story
6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen Sink
6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen SinkFull Story
Sponsored
NV Kitchen and Bath
93 Reviews
Sterling's Most Experienced Kitchen & Bath Remodelers
  • United States
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FOR BRANDS
  • SELL
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.