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by Rachel Lyon, Editorial Director for The House Designers®
Designing a kitchen gives you a lot to think about in terms of functionality and style. If you’re looking for a way to set yours apart and personalize it for your own tastes, adding some color could be the answer! A colorful appliance draws attention and brings focus to the space, and depending on your particular selection, can affect the feel of the whole room. Keep a few things in mind when you design and you can have an uncommonly beautiful and striking kitchen of your own.
Consider Your Background
When working with color, you have to look at the whole picture. And when you want to make a statement with an appliance, it’s best to keep the other parts of the kitchen—cabinetry, countertops, wall and floor materials—neutral to allow it to pop. Shades of gray or greige are perfect, because they don’t compete and clash with saturated colors. Think about how dark or light the surroundings should be, too, because that’ll also affect how the appliance stands out.
Pick a Feature to Highlight
Less is more when it comes to using bold colors in a room! Whether it’s all the same hue or a mix, being surrounded by bright or niche tones can overwhelm the viewer and make a kitchen seem very dated. Take a look at some kitchen designs from the 1950s to the 1970s and you’ll understand—whatever the color, too much of it is just too much. As with anything, different manufacturers offer a variety of options, so it’s up to you to select wisely. If you couldn’t tell, we love to put emphasis on the range; it’s where most of the action in the kitchen happens, so it’s only natural!
Set the Tone with the Right Hue
If you don’t have a favorite color that immediately jumps to mind, consider your cooking style and how you want to feel in the kitchen. Many people love using bold warm colors like red and yellow because they inspire energy. Those who want a more relaxed cooking experience should look into cool colors like blue instead. The colors around you affect mood and perception—just look into color theory!—so use this opportunity to instill the right vibe into the space.
Remember Smaller Accents
Whether you’re dressing up an existing kitchen, afraid to commit to a colorful major appliance, or want to expand your color choice beyond your main focal point, countertop appliances can help. Everything from kettles, to toasters, to blenders, to food processors, to even hand appliances come in fun colors. They can break up a plain design to make it look more focused and balanced, and instill the vibe you want, of course. Think about your design and how smaller accents will affect it; if you’ve already committed to a colorful major appliance, would you rather carry that color to the countertop or choose something complementary to offset it? When in doubt, keep it simple!
Add Personality with a Custom Color Choice
Some appliances give you more color options than others. KitchenAid® stand mixers are famous for their selection, with dozens of options ranging from soft to striking and shiny to matte. New colors are introduced regularly, so keep an eye out if you want something specific. The same design rules apply as with other appliances, but you might feel particularly inspired when you explore the spectrum available.
Whatever sort of kitchen design you have in mind, KitchenAid® has appliances to complete it! Their new commercial-style ranges come in nine colors to complement subdued and vivid schemes alike. If one of their iconic stand mixers is more your style, you definitely won’t be lost for lack of beautiful options. There’s a great wide world of colorful kitchen appliances to discover!