We know how difficult it can be to choose a color, both when it comes to the walls and the carpentry. At the very least, however, we make sure to offer the best conditions to find the perfect hue for you — here at Nordiska Kök, you can choose any color for almost any element of your kitchen.
We’ve compiled a list of four tips on how to think about color — that way you can select the best shade for your dream kitchen with as little stress as possible.
1. Start with the room
What will your kitchen space look like? Is it big or small? Dark or light? When you start to think about color, start by which hues will best highlight your dream kitchen — but also be sure to keep in mind the specific circumstances of the space.
The specifics of the room can limit what kinds of colors you might use as a base. For instance, a smaller kitchen will feel larger and more spacious when painted in a lighter tone; bright spaces will feel softer when painted in more muted and natural colors; large kitchens take on a more rustic aesthetic when paired with darker shades.
If you have an open floor plan in mind and want the kitchen to feel more like a furnished space, we recommend using wooden surfaces or slightly darker shades to create a more sophisticated expression. At this early stage, you can at the very least take out shades and intensities that won’t suit your new kitchen space.
2. Match
Next, take a quick look at the rest of your home; think about a color that will match the overall style of the space. A common thread throughout the home can do wonders for the general aesthetic — it makes the spaces feel more elaborate and harmonious.
If your rooms are all painted in a cooler, light gray tone, for instance, you may want to look at variants of gray or at least stick to a similarly cool shade. If you have floral wallpaper in several rooms, you may want to opt for a lighter variant of one of the shades in its design. Once you’ve taken these aspects into consideration, you can now remove all the colors that don’t pair well with the rest of your home.
3. Set the style
Do you know what style you want for your kitchen? Shaker, minimalist, sixties retro, turn-of-the-century, or something entirely unique? Different styles will fit well with different colors. Shaker kitchens work particularly well with natural colors; turn-of-the-century kitchens are suited to green or creamy tones. Modern kitchens work well with warmer tones whereas a more pared-down design is ideal for minimalist interior styles and architecture.
The actual design of your kitchen can really impact the way colors are portrayed in the space. A kitchen without cupboards, for instance, gives an airy expression that goes well with darker colors.
At this stage, you should start thinking about whether you want a specific color or if you’re inclined towards a more neutral tone such as white, gray or beige. A kitchen usually looks best if all the colors and tones are kept together in chromatic harmony. For example, the color of the walls and the color of the doors need not necessarily be exactly the same but it’s usually nicer if they are different variants or intensities of the same shade. You should also think about whether you want a warmer or cooler color and how that will square with the rest of the interior. After you’ve thought about these questions, you can also consider the degree of saturation (color intensity) to help rule out certain designs.
4. Look for inspiration
Once you’ve established a firm basis from the previous three steps, it’s now time to look for inspiration. If you start with this step too early, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of options. But once you’ve found a nice base to work from by ruling out some colors and styles, you’ll find it a lot easier (and much more fun!) to look at inspirational images.
You don’t necessarily need to look at images of kitchens, either — you’re just looking to get a sense of the overall aesthetic. Great places to find inspiration are Pinterest, Instagram, and various interior design magazines. Here at Nordiska Kök, we have several folders on our Pinterest page that you can look through as a solid starting point. When you’ve finished with your search, you’re now ready to choose the type of color and design that you like most.
Here we have also collected kitchen inspiration, kitchen furnishings, worktops, appliances, tips for kitchen renovation and guides on how to think when planning the kitchen.