Kitchen color schemes are among the best ways to inject personality into a space. Your options for adding color to your kitchen span nearly every surface, but getting the proportions right is essential. For a no-regrets approach, choose neutral tones for the foundational elements that are more costly and difficult to replace, including cabinets, floors, countertops, and appliances. Then introduce color with less-expensive updates to the walls, backsplash, window treatments, lighting, and other accents.
Using this strategy, you can easily and affordably swap out your kitchen color scheme as your tastes and popular trends change. When choosing colors for the paint, surfaces, and accessories, start with one hue you love and look for complementary shades that mix well. Use the following kitchen color combinations as inspiration to create a palette you’ll love.
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Green + Gold
Green will ground a kitchen when applied in large doses on cabinetry or walls. Brighten up this saturated shade by incorporating reflective white surfaces, like tile and stone, and metallic gold accessories, such as cabinet hardware, light fixtures, and faucets. The shiny finishes will reflect light and add a touch of sparkle to your kitchen.
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Dark Blue + Light Blue
Create a timeless kitchen color scheme by mixing various shades of blue. Start with a lighter shade on larger elements like cabinets, walls, or backsplash. Then introduce darker blues through rugs, seating, dishware, or window treatments. Make sure the blues have similar undertones (some veer warmer than others) to avoid clashing.
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Dark Gray + Green
Combine dark, stormy gray with refreshing lime green for a modern kitchen color scheme. Apply gray on more permanent elements and save green for swappable accents like island stools, rugs, artwork, and countertop accessories. To avoid an overly gloomy look, balance the color with plenty of white on the upper cabinetry, walls, or backsplash.
Blue + Orange
Bring your kitchen to life with this energetic kitchen color scheme. Directly opposite each other on the color wheel, bold citrus orange pairs perfectly with soft blue. Both colors complement bright white cabinetry and woodwork, providing a great way to liven up a modern kitchen.
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Red + Yellow
This warm kitchen color combination has been used in Europe for generations and remains popular in modern design today. Pair a deep red with golden yellow to evoke the sense of a stately English manor, a relaxed French country cottage, or a beautiful Tuscan villa. To make your kitchen feel larger, use yellow as the room’s anchor color, then add red accents to punctuate the design.
Gray + Purple
Purple can be a bold choice in a kitchen, but the effect is striking with the right combination of colors. For example, purple doesn’t seem as intimidating when paired with a deep charcoal gray. A neutral base helps royal purple accents stand out without overwhelming the space. Balance rich, regal colors with plenty of white.
Black + White
Black and white create a simple, balanced kitchen color combination. Use the timeless duo by pairing white foundational elements with black accents. Further add visual interest by incorporating a black-and-white backsplash, wallpaper, or tile flooring.
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Blue + Brown
This kitchen color scheme has universal appeal. For modern or transitional homes, pair chocolate brown with crisp sky blue, and throw in a few bright accent colors for visual interest. Pick Robin's egg blue and wheat brown in a country or farmhouse-style kitchen, then layer on cream-color accents for a warm and cozy look. To give the duo a traditional feeling, choose deep shades of both colors and break up the dark tones with crisp white and rich gold accents.
Gray + Yellow
Gray is gaining ground on white as the neutral for a contemporary kitchen. Create a sense of calm by using gray as a background color on walls or cabinets. Add vibrancy by introducing a bright accent color like sunny yellow. To keep the relaxed feeling, pepper the space with cool blue or soft green accents. Gray pairs well with nearly every color, making it a versatile foundation for your kitchen color scheme.
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Black + Red
Red is a surprisingly versatile color for the kitchen, especially when paired with a dark neutral. Choose your shade of red according to your kitchen’s style. For a modern look, go for an orangey red. Try a deep wine-color shade if you’re looking for a more traditional style. Balance the red with black cabinets, flooring, or countertops.
Brown + Mint Green
Soft mint green is the perfect pair for rustic blond brown. The beauty of this kitchen color combination is that you don’t have to stick with one shade of brown. A mix of wood grains gives a space character and the green balances out the subtle differences. Try exposed ceiling beams, wood flooring, or a wood-clad island, then pair it with a mint backsplash, wallpaper, or paint color.
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Pink + White
Seamlessly incorporate pink into your kitchen by pairing it with crisp white. The result is a light, garden-fresh feel. Start with pink accents, such as furniture, artwork, dish towels, and other accessories, then work up to pink cabinetry or a backsplash if you’re brave.