Cooking With Color: 5 Kitchen Design Ideas To Help You Break Out of Your Monochrome Rut

Photo courtesy of A New Day - Interior Design Studio via Houzz

White has been the go-to color for kitchen cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes for as long as we can remember. In a room that gets so messy, homeowners can’t help but gravitate toward pristine, white furnishings that make the room feel open and bright.

But over the past handful of years, the sterile soullessness that’s inherent to the all-white kitchen has caused the pendulum to swing toward design trends with contrast, like two-tone cabinets (i.e., light-color uppers and dark-color lowers) and dark stone countertops. Homeowners have warmed up to the idea of playing with color and texture in their kitchen in a big way.

The following popular posts from Instagram feature designs that demonstrate how to tastefully infuse color into your kitchen in a variety of ways. So if you’re looking to get out of your monochrome rut, keep reading for some fresh ideas for your kitchen.

1. Color pop in the cabinets

For those who aren’t quite ready to redo their cabinet fronts in a bold hue, check out this technique from @colombe studio.

“Painting the insides of the cabinets with glass-front doors offers a pop of color in a more subtle manner,” says designer Molly McGinness. “Since the glass-front cabinets are generally planned for display, be careful that the objects filling the cabinet work with the background color and that things don’t get too cluttered.”

Get the look: Paint the inside of your cabinets with Sherwin-Williams’ Major Blue or Benjamin Moore’s Rocky Mountain Sky in an eggshell or matte finish.

2. Yellow cabinets

There’s nothing subtle about these sunshine-yellow cabinets, but when a true break from the boring is needed, this larger-than-life color swap, featured by @louiseroehome, could be just the thing.

“Painting the cabinets a bright hue can really make the kitchen sing,” says McGinness. “Get a sample to be sure you love it with the natural light in your kitchen, and if you’re repainting the cabinets, try a semigloss or high-gloss finish for high sheen and wipe-ability.”

Get the look: McGinness recommends Benjamin Moore’s Sun Kissed Yellow or Sherwin-Williams’ Confident Yellow.

3. Solid marble backsplash

Hoping to ever so slightly spice up an all-white color scheme? Introduce a unique texture, like this marble backsplash seen in a post by @shoplonefox.

“One of the most remarkable qualities of a solid marble backsplash is that each slab is completely unique, with the veins and hues varying widely, resulting in a one-of-a-kind installation,” says designer Devin Shaffer of Decorilla.

The versatility of marble also means it can easily be paired with a wide range of countertop materials and cabinet finishes to create your perfect personalized design.

Get the look: Source a real stone backsplash from your local home improvement store or slab yard. You can also get the marble look for less with this peel-and-stick wallpaper.

4. Checkerboard marble floor

Another design feature that can improve a chronically monochromatic kitchen is a classic checkerboard floor like the one seen in a post from @kathykuohome (from a design by @birdandboneinteriors).

“Checkered marble floors in kitchens have been around for centuries, yet they’re still a timeless and luxurious choice,” says Shaffer. “No matter the color combination, the pattern adds depth and visual interest to the space.”

Get the look: Grab two different shades of these marble tiles to create your checkerboard floor.

5. Green plate wall

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