When choosing a color scheme for your kitchen, it’s important to first decide what feeling you want to convey. Do you want your kitchen to feel casual and friendly, or would you prefer it to be a more serious space—solely dedicated to the production of great culinary delights? If you have a kitchen theme in mind, that theme may help guide your color choice. The color(s) you select should reflect the purpose you want your kitchen to fulfill. Remember, colors can influence the subconscious minds of all who enter the room.
An important consideration when choosing colors is how specific colors make you feel. How do they impact your mood? For instance, does the color green evoke feelings of peace and the outdoors, or does it remind you of something like green peas, which you dislike? Does blue soothe you with thoughts of the ocean and summer skies, or does it trigger stress from memories of your unstable blue car? Every color affects you in either a positive, negative, or neutral way. Understanding how each color makes you feel will help you make informed choices for your kitchen.
Understanding Your Preferences
Before you begin, consider whether there are any colors you simply don’t like. Remove these from your list of options. On the other hand, if there are colors you love, make sure they are at the forefront of your selection process. As you explore color samples at your local home improvement store, keep the ones that appeal to you the most. Take them home to see how they look in the lighting of your own kitchen. Colors can look different depending on the lighting and location, so it’s essential to test them out in the space where they will be used.
For a more dynamic kitchen, try incorporating more than one color. Even if you choose a primary color, consider using other colors as accents. This will help to create an engaging and lively environment, as a monochromatic room can sometimes feel flat. If you’re unsure which colors complement each other, check out a color chart at your local craft store. This chart will provide a full spectrum of colors, making it easier to identify complementary hues. Once you’ve selected your colors, give yourself some time to reconsider. If, after a few weeks, you still like your choices, then you’ve likely found the perfect combination for your kitchen. Remember, others may have different opinions, but it’s your kitchen—make sure you love the colors you choose.
Choosing the right type of paint is just as important as selecting the perfect color. Don’t settle for the cheapest option. While it’s sometimes possible to find a reputable brand on sale, very inexpensive paint usually leads to poor results. Cheap paints are often too watered down, requiring many coats to achieve full coverage. Also, flat paint isn’t ideal for kitchens, where surfaces need to be cleaned frequently. A semi-gloss finish, such as a satin water-based paint, is better suited for a kitchen. This type of paint allows you to wipe down surfaces easily, keeping your kitchen looking fresh. It’s also a good idea to save some of the remaining paint in a clear jar with a tight-fitting lid for touch-ups or any problem areas in the future.
There are many books available that describe how colors can affect emotional responses. While these books offer general guidelines, it’s important to remember that individual reactions to colors can vary. Dark colors tend to make a room feel smaller, while lighter colors can make a space appear larger and more open.
As you prepare to paint your kitchen, make sure you have all the necessary supplies on hand. It can be frustrating to get excited about painting, only to realize you forgot to buy a paint pan. You’ll need a drop cloth to protect the floor, a few good brushes for edging, a couple of paint rollers, and paint pans. An edger is also helpful for working around windows and corners. Have some clean rags on hand to wipe up any spills, and don’t forget the masking tape—this will protect areas like woodwork from getting paint on them. If you have high ceilings, an extension pole for your roller will make the job easier. Paint rollers are typically disposable, but brushes can be cleaned and reused for future projects. Before you begin, make sure to remove any outlet covers.
Enlisting the help of a friend or family member can make the job go more quickly and add an element of fun to the process. Make it a date night—send the kids to Grandma’s and enjoy a quiet evening painting your kitchen. Be sure to open a window to air out the room, as the smell of paint can be strong and may affect young children, the elderly, people with allergies, or pets.
All in all, picking a paint color for your kitchen is a creative and rewarding experience. When the job is done, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful, personalized space you’ve created. Now that you’re an experienced painter, you may start to look at the walls in the other rooms of your house in a new light—imagining how they would look with a fresh, exciting color.