Making a small kitchen look bigger doesn’t mean sticking to just white walls.
Not all of us are blessed with spacious kitchens with room for a kitchen island and ample seating. We like to remind ourselves that good things come in small packages. So, if your kitchen is small, there are plenty of tricks to make your kitchen look bigger. And one of these is a color science.
Transition from a Small Kitchen to a Larger One
Whether you’re looking to create a light and airy space or want to create personality through color, a small kitchen can absolutely handle a spectrum of hues, and it all depends on how you use your chosen color. Adding kitchen wall art can be another top-notch way to inject personality and visual interest into the space.
White and cream shades are an obvious choice to make a space feel larger. However, we shouldn’t feel limited to just neutral colors when tackling compact kitchens. With that in mind, if you’re looking for different wall color ideas for a small kitchen, take a look at these colors that professional designers highly recommend.
The Best Wall Colors for a Small Kitchen
Probably the best colors to paint a kitchen are the shades you’ve seen somewhere and like the most. You’re the one who will house the kitchen in the end. As the space is small, you might want to pay attention to a few tips to NOT make the space even more compact and too dark.
Many of us want the kitchen to be the center of the home, no matter its size. Food connects people, making the kitchen one of the most useful rooms in the house. An effective color scheme for a kitchen should work to maximize the available space.
And since kitchens are often busy spaces where family and friends gather to cook, eat, etc., consider how you use your small kitchen when deciding on a color choice for its walls to make it look larger.
Soft Yellow
While white, cream, and neutrals may seem preferable when space is limited, there’s no rule that says you can’t get a little more creative if you prefer more vibrant colors. And while yellow may not be the color that immediately springs to mind, this shade has many benefits.
Yellow can brighten and expand a small kitchen. Warm yellows can make the kitchen the sunniest place in the house and reflect light in a way that makes the room appear larger. Depending on the layout and shape of the kitchen, pick from canary yellow to ochre shades and even honey tones.
Strike the right balance by adding kitchen cabinets and open shelves. This will increase the feeling of airy space. Stick to paler shades for units, or choose unpainted wood.
Soft Green
Green kitchen ideas have become a popular choice for adding color in an affordable and enjoyable way. In a modest kitchen, opt for muted hues of green to bring a fresh and airy look, creating a calming feel.
For smaller kitchens, lighter shades like pale green can be a good idea, as they work to lift the room and make it appear more spacious.
Another easy way to make a small kitchen look bigger is by adding vertical stripes on the walls in a different color.
Light Blue
Just as green will evoke a sense of nature, lovely soft pale blue tones will do the trick. A common concern with blue-color kitchen ideas is that they will make a small space feel cold, but if you are careful to choose ones with a warmer undertone, you will avoid this. The key thing is to always test the paint on a spot before committing to it and see how the hue looks in different lights throughout the day.
Pale blue shades are great for opening up a narrow kitchen. Also, consider the finish – adding reflective surfaces really helps reflect light in a small space.
The effect of certain colors can trick the eye into thinking a little kitchen is larger than it actually is. A soft lilac color can create the illusion of depth – it makes the space appear larger and more peaceful.
Balanced Colors
The best paint color for a small kitchen will, of course, be the shade you like the most. While the shades already mentioned can help create an airy feel, if you love using dark colors, then there is still a way to do it.
Dark colors like dark brown, dark gray, and black should generally be avoided in a small kitchen because too many of these colors will make the kitchen feel claustrophobic. But that doesn’t mean dark brown and black can’t be used in a small kitchen – it’s about striking the right balance. Consider pairing a bright white countertop with dark-color cabinets for a striking contrast. This mix will help reflect light into the room.
Layering Shades of One Color
The color-blocking technique involves painting the same color in different shades on walls, baseboards, doors, ceilings, and even kitchen cabinets. This technique blurs boundaries, allowing your eye to glide across the room from wall to wall. You can use green or blue- green shades to create a saturated effect.
