Choosing the colour of designer kitchen cabinets is one of the most important decisions when investing in luxury modern kitchen design. The dream colour outcome will be timeless and sophisticated, impactful but never over the top, and, above all, suit your home and style. To lock down the perfect palette, it helps to understand the impact of different shades, as well as the various ways colour can be embraced in the kitchen.

See the light

It’s no secret that the natural light levels in a room can significantly alter how paint colours look. In the sunny kitchen extension above (main pictures), the blue undertones in Paint & Paper Library’s Squid Ink are strongly evident. However, in a kitchen with fewer windows, the same colour will read closer to charcoal.

Roundhouse kitchen designers encourage taking colour swatches home, ideally painted on boards that can be positioned roughly where the cabinets will be situated. Dark colours are particularly susceptible to changes in light levels, so it’s smart to ensure you try the swatches on every wall, at different heights and at various times of the day. Paint colours can also be altered by the kitchen’s electric lighting, especially cool white LEDs, but it’s simpler to change light bulbs than it is to change the direction of the sun!

Consider two-tone

If you’re struggling to choose one paint colour, it may sound like madness to even contemplate doubling up. But, for many, a two-tone scheme can help take the pressure off, while providing a sophisticated look. The beauty of a two-tone kitchen design is it allows you to be much braver with colour because you can use it in smaller doses. Keep bolder shades below eye-level if you’re colour shy; you’re much less likely to tire of it and it won’t overpower the space. One of the most stylish ways to do two-tone colour is on an island unit, like this one in Little Greene’s Lamp Black, with perimeter cabinetry in Hardwick White by Farrow & Ball. 

Do white right

Entirely bespoke, Roundhouse kitchens can be made in virtually any colour from any paint or colour chart in the world. So why is white still one of our most popular requests? The quick answer is that designer kitchens are built to last and white is inherently timeless. White is also surprisingly flexible and, in the right hands, can pack as much punch as any highly saturated colour out there.

With white, it’s important to think about colour temperatures and work them to your advantage. On modern cabinets cool whites, like Farrow & Ball’s Hardwick White [shown above], will look crisp and contemporary. On more classical kitchens, a warm white, like Wimborne White, will knock out any chance of sterility.

Be inspired

Taking inspiration from the surrounding architecture and the furniture style is how many experts envisage the colour schemes for beautiful designer kitchens. Some colours are naturally better suited to specific settings and styles. For example, dark regal blues will always look elegant in a Georgian townhouse, while a monochrome palette delivers impact in modern homes. The soft sage tones of Farrow & Ball’s bespoke Card Room Green used in this cottage-style kitchen from our Studio Collection feels rustic and earthy, proving an authentic choice on classic Shaker doors with oak and terracotta accents.  

Work the walls

For avid trend-followers, easily swayed by catwalk colours, there’s no shame in opting for go-with-everything neutrals on kitchen cabinetry and letting the walls handle those seasonal updates. For pale neutral kitchen cabinetry, warm whites, putty tones and pinks with hints of grey are all solid choices. Seeking something more dynamic? Black is the ultimate neutral of all. Just like the little black dress in your wardrobe, on kitchens black will prove incredibly versatile yet never boring. A lick of emulsion on the walls will be all it takes to achieve a fresh new look.

If you’d like to read more about the latest design trends, get advice about what to choose and how to plan your own bespoke kitchen, or enter an exclusive competition why not sign up for our Newsletter.

Our expert kitchen designers can help you make the best choices for your Roundhouse bespoke kitchen or wardrobes. Visit any of our seven Roundhouse showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford & Cheltenham and get planning!