Neutral colours can be a very safe bet. They may come with connotations of “boring”, but neutrals can be adapted to any look, from creating a calming backdrop to vintage accessories to adding sophistication to more traditional spaces. Whilst the best part of using neutrals is their flexibility, they can be tricky to get right as you mix tones of beiges, greys, taupes and creams- they can suddenly appear remarkably similar to the untrained eye. However, getting neutral kitchens right does offer endless possibilities with accessories and soft furnishing which can be updated as tastes change, leaving you free to experiment with colour schemes and keep up with current trends, or your own evolving tastes without the expense of redecoration.
Neutral kitchens also suit any style –classic kitchens, traditional kitchens and modern kitchens all suit a neutral palette. Light coloured kitchens also work well in dark spaces, reflecting what light there is and brightening the feel, literally creating a more ‘positive’ space in which to live. If you have a small kitchen, going for neutrals will certainly make it feel larger and airier.
If you want to create a more personal space in your kitchen, colour is one way to go. Reds and yellows encourage hunger and a rumbling stomach, which is why fast food restaurants choose them over other colours. Blues, greens and purples are more connected to nature and the outdoors and work especially well in kitchens where there is a direct access to the garden as well as in period properties. When choosing your specific shade it is really important to remember that the colour should ideally contain some grey, as there is a grey cast to the light in the U.K. and these shades will feel more comfortable to the eye. One company who uses this formula with huge success is Farrow and Ball, whose whole palette has been designed to suit British light conditions.
Once a colour is selected, control of that colour is the key to success- too many colours can make a space feel chaotic whilst too bold a colour, if overused, can overwhelm both a space and eventually those spending time in it. For those new to coloured kitchens, it is best to stick to one colour and combine it with a complementary neutral to balance its use throughout the room. Highlighting an island in a bold colour is one way to exercise control whilst using colour in soft furnishings is another.
Finally, you can add different shades and tones to your kitchen through painted cabinet doors, coloured splashbacks, walls, blinds and flooring to create a harmonious scheme. By far, hand painted kitchens offer the most flexibility to the owner as they can be freshened or completely changed with ease. So whilst you may have a personal favourite colour today, being surrounded by that colour in the most essential room in your home could mean you hanker after something more neutral in the future.
All of our fitted, hand painted furniture can be painted any colour, and with balance and harmony, a kitchen can be painted any colour you wish, making it truly your own.