Kitchen color trends – interior designers say these are the only 6 colors we should consider for 2023
Finding the right kitchen color has never been more important, with the kitchen now the heart of the home; a multi-purpose room designed as much for living as it is for cooking.
White kitchens aren't for everyone, and the sizeable cost of a new kitchen shouldn’t dictate that you play it safe. It’s more a case of choosing how and where to introduce color, picking spots that can be easily updated, and introducing shades that mirror the color palette in the rest of your home – these are just a few kitchen color ideas to choose from.
'It’s amazing how a change of paint color or some new tiles can give a colorful kitchen or painted kitchen a completely fresh look,' says Rob Whitaker, creative director at Fired Earth.
While it is worth paying attention to the latest kitchen trends, it is important to choose colors that truly resonate with you. The new kitchen color trends are both daring and calm, impactful yet soothing, and celebrate both beautiful brights and comforting neutrals, so there really is something for everyone, no matter your style.
Kitchen color trends
Kitchens are rife with color opportunities, from appliances and flooring to window treatments and cabinets. Start by deciding how much of a permanent commitment you are willing to make to room color ideas. One of the easiest and least expensive options is to paint a wall that can be easily updated should you tire of it.
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1. Yellow – for a true heritage feel
We are seeing a definite trend towards bolder, braver color choices for statement kitchens with more personality and joie de vivre, which is why a heritage yellow is having a moment.
Yellow is shining a spotlight on our homes this summer. As one of the most uplifting colors, it is not surprising that it is having a renaissance. Embraced in a big way or used in small doses, this sunny shade is rich, versatile and exudes positivity and warmth. Two things we can't get enough of in 2023.
‘This cheery kitchen cabinet color imbues the room with optimism and is perfect for bringing a sense of positivity into the home,’ says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown. ‘Yellow is also very soothing, particularly when paired with cool, calming tones such as greys and pale, muted blues. It may seem surprising, but the color creates a sense of calm with a feeling of well-being and restfulness.’
While we love yellow, the kitchen color trend for 2023 is a softer, gentler yellow. Susan Deliss, textile designer and interior decorator agrees: ‘To use yellow or ochre, you need to think of it as the “neutral” in the scheme; as a foil to set off other colors, not to overpower everything else. Avoid anything that says canary or banana and go for something that sets off the architecture or warms up a cooler space.’
2. Red – for a bold, beautiful look that sings
Our love affair with dramatic dark kitchen cabinetry is far from over but this year things are warming up. Move over blacks, deep blues and greens, because rich reds are radiating their way into the heart of the home. Pure primary reds are still a bit 1990s; instead, this trend steers us towards muddier tones with tints of nature-led orange and brown.
‘Perhaps it’s a yearning for the light and warmth of Southern climes that’s behind the current demand for reds, burgundies and terracottas,’ suggests Merlin Wright, design director at Plain English. ‘Warm colors are positive and inspiring and complement other Mediterranean hues such as blues, greens and yellows. Experiment with different tones to the light and scale of your room.’
Choosing the right red can be tricky, says interior designer Danielle Duggleby, founder Dalodu Design Studio. ‘I advise my clients to take their time selecting the color, testing it, and seeing it throughout the day in different lights. The right red can be perfect, but the wrong red can be garish. Pick up on other tones and colors throughout the space to complement or contrast – but not to clash.'
3. Two-tone – for a modern style that delivers depth
Why choose one shade when you can have two? A pleasing kitchen color pairing will deliver depth and interest for 2023.
Two-tone kitchen color involves using different saturations of one color to achieve contrast and movement. It’s a great option for those who struggle with combining colors but don’t want a flat look. To make life easier, many paint companies graduate popular shades numerically, from light to dark.
In north-facing rooms where the light is cold, it’s wise to use the lighter tone on wall cabinets to help keep any potential gloominess at bay.
In this airy gray kitchen, Superfront’s geographic surface pattern elevates the gray-on-gray combo for a look that’s modern yet refined.
4. Pale green – for a lighter take on an earthy scheme
Designers and decorators are replacing dark green in favor of paler and brighter hues for 2023. However, our love affair with green kitchens isn't going away anytime soon. In fact, sage green is the new neutral to use in your kitchen.
Busy spaces often benefit from muted and quieter colors and a kitchen, with its modern-day hub-of-the-home status, is just one of these rooms.
The kitchen-garden-borne shade inspired by its namesake herb, sage green is a perennial favorite for classic and timeless décor. One of the cleverest greens in the spectrum, this color-shifting hue shares subtle blue and grey tones, making it a sophisticated and soulful choice as well as bringing biophilic benefits with its organic origins.
The perfect shade for a timeless scheme, sage green is a tasteful choice for a classic kitchen look. It is a smart hue that marries feelings of freshness with modishness and is much admired for its muted overtones, which work to balance other strong colors and finishes, such as here in this monochrome partnership, designed by Irene Gunter.
5. Pastel pink – for a sophisticated take on this versatile color
Pink in the kitchen – why not?
Historically, pink was a pigment prepared from chalk colored with Brazilwood, but modern formulas have brought about every dye and paint shade imaginable, and we are now seeing this color enter our design consciousness.
Within interiors, pastel tones gained popularity during the 18th-century Rococo era, used in combination with elaborate stuccowork. Inherently romantic and feminine, sugary pinks also conjure up summery scenes of bountiful rose gardens. This summer, such nostalgia has captured the imaginations of kitchen designers who are using this color more liberally than ever before.
‘This tone works perfectly in a kitchen that is rather dark, or which suffers from a lack of natural light,' says Elizabeth Hay, founder, of Elizabeth Hay Design. 'Not only does it inject a space with brightness and cheer, but it will also bring out and highlight any accent colors in the room.’
6. Blue-black – add depth and dimension with dark colors
With inspiration from deep oceans to velvety night skies, dark and navy blues are life-enhancing shades that have the power to enhance our feeling of well-being. With their wide appeal of serenity and calm, it is perhaps no surprise that dark blues and blacks continue to be one of the most popular choices for interior design.
The depth of pigment of darker blues means that they offer an emotional content that can be as nurturing or soothing as any green, particularly when you decorate a kitchen floor-to-ceiling in a dark, velvety blue. For some homeowners, the idea of dark kitchen cabinet colors might feel foreboding, but for others, it is the dark ‘night’ of a shade that offers serenity in a room scheme.
'Darker color palettes have become more mainstream,' says interior designer Heidi Caillier, who designed this deep blue kitchen. 'They can really give a room a feeling of luxury and sophistication and work surprisingly well in a small kitchen to give it some grandeur,' she adds.
Understanding color lies at the root of all interior design decisions, and exploring the latest kitchen color trends, along with consulting the color wheel, basic color theory and recent paint trends, will ensure that you choose the perfect palette for your kitchen.
