Kitchen Design: 3 Times You Can Skip White Finishes for a Bright Space
Living
Nobody wants to feel like they’re living in a cave. Cozy, warm, and homey are all desirable adjectives for a space, but cramped, cluttered, and dark are not.
In your kitchen, it’s common to think that you have to wash everything in a shade of white to make it look large, airy, and bright. Yet, for some rooms, this isn’t the case.
The times you can skip white altogether do exist. Learn when it’s possible for your kitchen design – and how to do it.
When to Skip White for Kitchen Décor, and What to Do Instead
You don’t always have to use white to get a light, bright, airy look. In fact, for certain kitchen layouts, using white is a bit of a cop-out. Skip white in these scenarios and try different kitchen design ideas.
1. Your Kitchen Gets Lots of Natural Light
If your kitchen gets plenty of natural sunlight, lucky you. You have the freedom to step outside the limits of monochrome white and get creative with color.
If you’re drawn to warm tones, go for it. Creamy yellow walls and mid-tone wood cabinetry, for instance, can look bright in a kitchen with lots of windows and sunlight. Just make sure to keep clutter to a minimum, and add modern touches like open shelving to display glassware, sleek hardware, or appliances with modern finishes.
2. Your Kitchen Design Has Tall or Vaulted Ceilings
Even if your space is small, tall ceilings can give the illusion of a bigger room. This contributes to an airy feeling for your kitchen décor.
Cool tones in such a space can contribute to the airiness and lightness without feeling cold. Use soft tones of blue, green, or gray on the walls and cabinets, and use concentrated doses of color where it matters. This might include the island, backsplash, or even the lower cabinets. Just remember to choose one color and one area for emphasis.
For example, you might choose a light blue-gray for the walls, cream cabinets, gray tile, and a more saturated, brighter shade of blue for your kitchen island.
3. Your Kitchen is Open and Airy
Kitchens with open layouts and lots of space don’t need white. There’s no need to create the illusion of airiness if it’s already there.
Instead, you may actually want to make your kitchen feel cozier. You can do this in a fresh way by bringing nature indoors. Use lots of natural finishes, like wood and stone. Use nature-inspired colors, especially greens, shades of brown or gray, and blues. Draw inspiration from your favorite landscape, or even the view outside your window.
To keep light bouncing around, use a glossy tile backsplash and take it up to the ceiling. If you use dark cabinets or floors, add light accents to balance it out – and vice versa.
A Bright Kitchen Design Doesn’t Always Need White
White isn’t a prerequisite for airy brightness in a kitchen. If you have any of the above layouts or features in your space, feel free to color outside the lines and skip white altogether. Use these kitchen décor ideas to do it.
