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How to add colour to your kitchen

Don’t be afraid to add a splash of colour to your kitchen. If you choose the right hue, a colourful kitchen can brighten and inspire an entire home.


Lighting

Lighting is the single most important way to create atmosphere in any room, but particularly in the kitchen. If you cook as well as dine in the kitchen, you’ll want to have a way of muting the lighting to create a more romantic or softer feel when you sit down to eat. Use spotlights or down lights to create drama or add warmth, or to highlight specific features. Also consider your light fixtures – they too can be colourful, creating a focal point that draws the eye.


Paint

Go all out and paint or wallpaper one wall for dramatic effect. This can be a really effective tactic in an all-white kitchen, creating a ‘wow’ statement that captures the eye. If you lack wall space, think about painting cabinets instead (even just the inside of them), a larder door, the ceiling or even the floor. Make sure you choose colours that you can live with though, and which go with the rest of the kitchen, including the tiles and work surfaces. And remember not to clash too many strong colours.


Accessories

Concerned about painting an entire feature wall? Think about accessorising your kitchen instead with bright furniture, or adding a touch of colour with flowers, vases or glass bottles. Even a daringly bold IKEA teapot or row of mugs on an all-white shelf can be enough to breathe new life into a room.

A neon-bright kitchen aid or a vintage fridge in a classic hue is yet another way of brightening a dull space, as are daringly designed curtains or blinds.

Possibly the cheapest way of brightening the kitchen is by buying vinyl tablecloths – the gaudier the better! Cut them carefully to size and use them to line the inside of your drawers and shelves. When you open a drawer or cupboard you’ll be rewarded with a blast of colour. They also provide a great non-stick surface and are easier to wipe clean than wooden surfaces.

Don’t forget the walls either. Another easy way of providing contrast is by decorating blank wall space with posters, photographs, vintage plates or tiles.


Tiles

A popular way of adding colour to an otherwise non-descript kitchen is to narrow the colour zone down to the splashback area behind the stove or sink. Using bright tiles in this area of the kitchen provides a focal point and could be all you need to inject some mood into the room.

Remember that the kitchen is seen as the heart of any house, particularly if you’re looking to sell, so it’s worth adding a blast of colour to make it stand out.