Kitchen Trends: Colorful Cabinets

It’s no secret to most who know me that I love the color white.  And a white kitchen is no exception.   When I built my home almost 10 years ago, the options for kitchen cabinets seemed to be only wood, black, white, or cream.  Not shockingly, I opted for white.  Now days, kitchens are taking on a rainbow of colors, and while I do love some of the current trends like soft grey or navy blue, I think it would be hard to get me to turn away from the classic white cabinet.

If you’re a white kitchen lover like I am, but still obsess over some of the current kitchen color trends out there – there is a way around your color commitment phobia, my friend.  Enter the kitchen island.   By keeping your main cabinetry white and adding a small dose of color to the island you can incorporate color without overwhelming your white-cabinet-lovin’-self.  This is exactly what I have been thinking about doing in my own home to freshen up the look of my kitchen.  My island is white, and I love it, but it’s seen its fair share of abuse from two little boys and just general wear and tear over the years.  I’ve started to think that perhaps it might be better if the island was painted a darker color – one that maybe wouldn’t show so many marks, drips and food spatters.   So I’m tossing around the idea of black – with a little trepidation that is.  While black islands are very popular and can be especially classic looking with white cabinets, I don’t get a ton of natural light in my kitchen, so I need to evaluate if it will make the overall space too heavy.

The beauty of painted cabinets, however, is that as long as you keep your flooring neutral, the color of the island can really be changed out at any point.  Yes, I understand that painting cabinets can be time consuming (DIY) or expensive (professional), however, the overall cost [and/or time cost] to change the color of cabinetry of an island is much more reasonable than having to change over an entire kitchen as  the trends or your taste changes.  White kitchens will probably be a classic option until the end of time, and generally just a good choice – but if you like color, and feel you’ll need the flexibility for change say, every 10 years or so [who, me?], your best options is to go primarily white and add a small area of color to help facilitate that semi-regular change.  If you don’t have an island, the same concept of using the white/color combination theory can be applied to upper and lower cabinets – often painting the lowers cabinets a color, while keeping the uppers white.

If you are thinking about making a change and adding some color to your kitchen island [or are in the process of a build or doing a gut remodel], the color options are endless. What color you choose should really work to express your personality, and the overall feeling you are looking to evoke from your space. These color options will provide you with some inspiration to help guide you in your color selection based on the style of kitchen you want.

Black and Navy

While black is not necessarily a new choice in cabinet colors, it does offer a sophisticated feel that provides that timeless black/white combination.   Black islands can evoke a modern, traditional, or transitional vibe depending on the style of your cabinetry.  Similarly, Navy, one of my personal favorites and the not so distant cousin of black, can also evoke that transitional feeling with its rich undertones.  It can be a good additional to themed kitchens such those with nautical or French country décor as well.

Black Island with Cafe Stools, Porchlight Interiors – Photo Source: Decorpad

Classic Island In Black with Silver Pulls, Nathan Egan – photo source: Decorpad

Large Navy Island  with seating, Andrew Howard Interior Design – Photo Source: Decorpad

Large Navy Island with Subtle Patterned Paneled Back – Millhaven Homes, Photo Source: Homebunch

Neutrals

I get it, color can be scary.  If you are more apt to keep things comfortable, there are plenty of color options that lean more neutral which work wonders for a kitchen island.   One of the most popular currently is, grey.   Light grey kitchens, the not so distant cousin of white [see a trend here?] are popping up everywhere, and are utterly gorgeous.   Light grey offers a great alternative to white without stepping outside the box too much for those with color phobia.  Of course there are a variety of grays to choose from.  Go a shade or two darker in the grey family and you can add a little more contrast without diving into too much color for your space.  Another other neural standby choice is beige.  Beige is kind of the ‘outs’ right now with grey taking on the favorite coveted neutral position, but honestly, many of the popular grey colors right now are really “greige”– grey with a beige undertones.  So if beige is your preference for a neutral outside of white, then go for it.  Beige should not be taken lightly however [ha,ha].  Picking out a beige paint can be tricky, be careful to stay away from any beige colors that have pink undertones – I guarantee you will not be happy if you have pink undertones in your beige cabinets.  Do your homework here and seek help from a pro if needed.

Light Grey Island – SC Homes, Source Photo: Decorpad

Dark Grey Island, Albertson Hansen Architecture, Photo Source: .rend.hgtvcom.966.725.jpeg”>HGTV

Greige Island, Marsh and Clark – Photo Source: Decorpad

Beige/Taupe Island, Regan Baker Design – Photo Source: Decorpad

Bold Colors

Strong colors make big statements, and different bold colors can and can take on a variety of design personalities. Bright colors such as rich yellows, aqua blues, and wild orange can be a playful and fun addition to your space.  Certain bold colors can take on more than one personality,  such as kelly greens or fire engine reds – which can be fun, classy, or modern depending on the style of cabinetry and other design elements in the space.  If you choose to use a bold color, be sure to have an overall plan around the style you want to ensure continuity of the space and your style.

Kelly Green Island, Redo Home & Design – Photo Source: ,”>Homebunch

Bold Yellow Island, JAS Design Build, Photo Source: The Inspired Room

Aqua Blue Island – Photo Source: .rend.hgtvcom.966.1288.jpeg”>HGTV

Bold Orange Island, Mark English Architects, Photos Source: Decoist

Kelly Green Island, O Interior Design – Photo Source: .rend.hgtvcom.966.725.jpeg”>HGTV

Red Island, Design and Photo Source: Refined, LLC

Muted Colors

For those who are adventurous with color, yet lean a bit more subtle on the color scale – softened or pastel colors might be a great option for your island.  Like their bold counterparts pastels can easily incorporate into ‘themed’ décor – some examples being pale blues for coastal designs, or soft yellows in French country.  However, softer colors tend to blend in a bit easier into the overall design of a space, offering a subtle nod to the overall design versus the loud statement that bold colors make.   Because of this subtlety, soft colors can easily incorporate with white cabinets and can work in a variety of design styles.

Mint Island – Source: Houzz

Robins Egg Blue Island – .rendition.largest.jpg”>Meredith

Pale Yellow Island – Sarah Richardson Design – Photo Source: .rend.hgtvcom.966.1288.jpeg”>HGTV

Top Photo, Traditional Home, Photos Source: Decorpad