It is often thought that the most universal wall colour in the kitchen is white. Light shades are especially recommended in small and enclosed spaces, making them a safe choice for most interiors. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't choose from other colours. Before you start painting the walls, learn a few design tricks that will help you choose the right paint and select the wall colours in the kitchen!
What will you learn from this article?
- How to choose a wall colour in the kitchen to achieve a specific effect?
- What does proper colour selection involve?
- How can the right colour visually enlarge a room.
Kitchen wall colour – how to choose the right one?
The kitchen is an integral part of the home, so the interior theme should be consistent with the décor of the other rooms. For example, if you've opted for a classic living room and a romantic bedroom, avoid contrasting colours and high gloss fixtures. When choosing a wall colour, apply similar design solutions and choose a warm shade.
Interestingly, fashionable wall colours in the kitchen may prove to be an inadequate choice – both in terms of stylistic consistency and the potential of the interior. Do you like dark colours, but your home's kitchen is too small? Painting the kitchen walls in shades of brown or graphite will further contribute to the optical reduction of space. A much better solution is to designate a small area and introduce a dark accent, such as a contrasting space behind the refrigerator or oven. You can also paint one side of the room in an intense colour and apply a light paint on the remaining walls. Such wall colours in the kitchen will harmonise perfectly with each other.
How to match wall colours in the kitchen to light furniture?
Wondering which wall colours in the kitchen will be suitable for arranging a space with light furniture?
- White or cream fittings look good both on a light and dark background.
- Dark kitchen wall colours work well in an open and spacious kitchen arranged in a modern style.
- In a small, windowless room, the wall colours should be maintained in similar or lighter tones.
However, remember that choosing the same colours for kitchen furniture and walls may result in a uniform blot effect, which does not look appealing. If you choose very light shades in the kitchen (classic white), apply distinctive breaking accents, such as a darker countertop. Gray walls will also be a good choice for small interiors, nicely highlighting the light colour scheme of the furniture.

How to match wall colours in the kitchen to dark furniture?
Have you opted for dark furniture colours? In that case, remember to choose kitchen wall colours a few shades lighter so that the arrangement does not seem too overwhelming. Dark walls will be appropriate in large and bright kitchens. If the room is open, you have a lot of room to manoeuvre. The choice of wall colour then entirely depends on your preferences. Or maybe you want to achieve a feeling of sterility and go towards industrial design? In such a case, very light walls or bleached shades will be a good choice.
Colourful walls in the kitchen
The arrangement of a small open kitchen requires a thoughtful selection of wall colours. Depending on your preferences, you can choose a shade that harmonises with the colour in the living area or use contrasting shades. In each case, transitions should be toned down and not create the impression of two separate spaces. If your priority is to create a feeling of more space, opt for light furniture and light wall colours in the kitchen and living room. Remember that kitchen fittings and other furnishings should match the living room furniture.
Modern kitchen arrangements – wall colour in the kitchen for small interiors
In small kitchens, the play of colours is particularly important. If you want to fully exploit the potential of the room, don't be afraid to play with perspective. Cool wall colours applied to the smaller sides will make the room appear more proportional. On the longer walls, it's worth using light colours that will optically expand the space and raise the ceiling. Walls in white, cream or light beige, combined with proper lighting, can achieve a brightening effect. To break the monotony, you can apply dark paint to a small section of the wall – this will work well in a modern kitchen, where a dark colour will draw out contrasts essential in small spaces.
Fashionable wall colours – example arrangements
Choosing colours that are fashionable in a given season can be misleading, so we advise opting for classics. If you want to be sure that your kitchen will be fashionable regardless of current trends, opt for neutral colours, such as whites, grays, and beiges. Remember that the more intense the colour, the greater its importance in the interior. For example, yellows or oranges may seem energetic, but they do not fit into interiors maintained in a classic style. Bright colours can be part of modern design assumptions, but their power lies in moderation. If you introduce too many contrasting accents, you'll achieve a cluttered space effect and a lack of cohesion with other rooms.
What wall colours are suitable for the kitchen?
The choice of wall colours for the kitchen depends on many factors, such as the style of arrangement, room size, furniture colour scheme, and lighting. If you are wondering what wall colour for a small kitchen would be the best, opt for light shades that will visually enlarge the space. White, cream, light beige or soft grays are safe and universal solutions. In small kitchens, avoid dark colours that may make the room seem smaller and more overwhelming.
Colour for the kitchen with light furniture
If you have light kitchen furniture, you can have more freedom in choosing wall colours. What wall colours for light furniture will look good? Both subdued shades and slightly more intensive colours will work well. For example, if the furniture is white, you can choose pastel colours such as:
- mint,
- blue,
- soft pink.
For a more modern effect, choose contrasting combinations, such as light furniture with dark gray or navy walls. However, remember to keep it balanced – overly intense colours may overwhelm the space.
Wall colour for cream furniture in the kitchen
Cream furniture is a classic that suits many design styles. If you are wondering what wall colour for cream furniture in the kitchen would be best, choose colours that will underline their warm character. Beige, peach, light pink or soft green shades will work well. Avoid overly intense colours that might overwhelm the space. For cream furniture, it's worth considering a combination with neutral shades such as white or gray, which will add lightness and elegance to the interior.
What colour for a kitchen with dark furniture?
Dark kitchen furniture, such as in shades of black, navy, or dark wood, requires the right choice of wall colours. What colour for a kitchen with dark furniture would be best? Opt for light or neutral shades that will balance the weight of dark furniture. White, light beige, gray or gentle pastels are excellent choices. In large and well-lit kitchens, you can allow for slightly more intense colours like deep green or dark blue, but remember to maintain balance. In small kitchens with dark furniture, avoid dark walls that may make the room seem smaller and more overwhelming.