Is a kitchen makeover on your to-do list of home improvements? Starting with something as simple as painting the walls can completely transform the look of your kitchen. If you want to modernize the space without spending too much, using more than one paint color is an easy way to achieve this. Here are some tips on how to use multiple paint colors in your kitchen:
- Choose complementary colors. In order to keep the room looking cohesive, choose three colors that are from the same color family. You can use three different shades of one color, like a range of light to dark blues, or three shades from the same color palette-a mixture of warm (red, yellow, orange) or cool (blue, purple, green) hues.
- Start at the top. Often, homeowners forget to consider their ceiling when they tackle a painting project. Use the lightest color of the three you have chosen on your ceiling to make the room appear bigger. A light color on the ceiling will also aid in reflecting natural light from windows or doors to make the room brighter.
- Paint beyond the walls. If there’s not a ton of wall space in your kitchen, you can incorporate a third paint color through the cabinets or countertops. White is always a good choice for these surfaces, as it pops against other colors and pairs well with everything, making it easy to add other elements and appliances to your kitchen.
- Pick an accent wall. Accent walls should be painted the darkest color of the trio you chose. If you’re not sure which wall to choose as the accent, the wall across from the entrance of the kitchen is a good place to start. Or, if there is a wall without any windows or one that features a focal point, like a brick-oven pizza stove, choose that wall as the accent.
- Rule of three. When all else fails, use the rule of three. Erika Lee, a Cincinnati, OH interior decorator, recommends using the 60-30-10 rule to determine the ratio of how much of each color to use. They say 60 percent of your room should be a bright, dominant color, 30 percent should be a secondary color and 10 percent should be an accent color. Remember to think about colors that complement each other when abiding by this rule.
Kitchens are a place where family and friends gather and memories are made. If you are ready to create new memories in a new kitchen, painting the walls is the perfect place to start.