As kitchens move to the forefront of home design, homeowners are starting to have a little fun with the space – specifically spicing up the color palette. While French country and farmhouse style white kitchens are still quite popular, it’s becoming more common for these simple designs to be enhanced with bright, colorful decor. Some designers are going even bolder, with walls and counters in a rainbow of colors. But if you’re looking to just add a little splash of color to perk up your kitchen, there are a few simple ways to do it.
Showcase Your Range
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Currently, the prevailing wisdom in kitchen design is that most of your appliances should be hidden – the more hidden, the better. This is reflected in everything from refrigerators to trash compactors being designed not just in neutral colors, but with panels to match the surrounding cabinetry. The one big exception to this is the kitchen range. While other kitchen appliances are blending into the background, ranges are starting to stand out, with bold, primary finishes that add a vibrant pop of color and can bring even an otherwise completely neutral kitchen decor to life.
Colorful Chairs
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One of my personal favorite ways to liven up a kitchen or dining space is with colorful chairs. Now, usually having more than one piece (or one very large piece) of colorful furniture is something of a no-no, especially in a semi-formal setting like a dining room – a bright orange table, for example, is a really bold choice. But bold, brightly colored dining chairs or bar stools are a great way to add personality and pizzazz without overwhelming your space with color. Modern plastic chairs create a casual vibe, while vintage pieces add a nice retro flair (and can easily be mixed and matched).
Bright Backsplashes
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Make A Kitchen Island An Accent
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Want to add color to your kitchen but aren’t quite ready to go for those spring green cabinets? A great middle-of-the-line option is to add the color to your kitchen island instead. A bright island will create a bold contrast against simple wood or white cabinets, livening up the space without flooding it with color. This is an especially good option in a slightly smaller kitchen, where the island can act more as a statement piece (and maybe go with you when you move), so the cabinets will neither be too customized to your taste nor so colorful that they make the kitchen seem smaller.
Eye Catching Lighting
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Thinking of replacing some of your kitchen lighting? This is an excellent opportunity to add a little pop of color. I find red milk-can style lights especially charming in a primarily white, farmhouse style kitchen, but depending on your decor, really any colorful pendant light will work. Solid colors work best, and the effect is nicely amplified when the light is the same color as other decor items (large or small) scattered throughout your kitchen or dining area. Bright blue pendant lights are nice on their own, but with a matching vase, tea kettle, refrigerator magnets, and so on, it becomes a really lovely installment.
Bits And Bobs
Speaking of decor, if you like to change up the look and feel of your kitchen frequently, it might be better to avoid many of the options I’ve mentioned here. Why? Because they’re difficult to replace when you want to. Instead, rely on smaller items to give your kitchen some sparkle – like a colored glass soap dispenser, dish towels, a small piece of colorful statuary, colored plates stored in an open plate rack, and so on. For an even easier to change look, consider adding fresh flowers or greenery, or even setting out fresh fruit that corresponds with your color scheme.
What are some of your favorite ways to add color to a kitchen? Do you prefer a simple coat of paint, or do you like a look you can change on a whim?
