17 Effective Kitchen Color Combinations

If a feature marble countertop catches your eye, make sure the color scheme of the rest of the room matches it. This lovely kitchen is energized and warmed by pale pink paint and interesting green marble countertops.

Photo: Bespoke kitchen from British Standard Cupboards

Red and green are opposites on the color wheel, which usually indicates a high contrast between them. We love a letterbox red chair next to a very subtle and contemporary sage green.

Photo: Custom Kitchen by Pluck

A masterpiece that balances tradition and modernity, this kitchen is filled with classic design markers, like Shaker cabinets and decorative cornices, paired with a modern white and navy color palette, clean lines, and simple hardware.

Photo: Custom kitchen by Olive & Barr

The white palette ranges from cool gray-toned whites to warm off-whites, the latter perfect for classic or country-style kitchens. Pure white creates a modern design scheme, while off-white creates a soft, warm environment that welcomes vintage accents and accessories.

Photo: Bamboo Venetian blinds from House Beautiful by Hillarys

This is a really nice combination. The light apple green Shaker cabinets, along with the deep reddish wood countertops, create a strong boundary between the cabinets below and the pink limewash wall above. The wood works a little better with the countertops than with white countertops, which might be too much contrast against the black appliances.

Photo: Custom kitchen by deVOL

In Homebase's House Beautiful Camberwell kitchen, unexpected black accents contrast beautifully with modern pastel blues, while marble countertops and pale wood floors also soften the richness of the clean lines.

Photo: HomeBase House Beautiful Camberwell Kitchen

If you want black cabinets but don't want the entire room to be dark, make sure they're all below eye level. Black overhead cabinets will make a room look heavy, but glossy white tiles can brighten up your kitchen and are a great way to bounce light around it.

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While the traditional terrazzo pattern is very dense, these terrazzo countertops are modernized on a larger scale that feels more spacious, allowing the bright white to shine through. Turquoise usually feels very contemporary in the home, but that doubles up here with the sleek handle-less cabinetry.

Photo: Custom Kitchen by Pluck

The design lesson here is the brilliant extension of the white marble countertop from the wall to the shelves, which mitigates some of the heaviness and richness of the green, which can become overbearing if used too much on both the cabinetry and the walls.

Photo: Custom kitchen by deVOL

Cool tones are perfect for a clean, minimalist kitchen. Glossy whites, combined with deep blues and forest greens, complement light, natural woods perfectly. Keep the lines clean and accessories subtle – this is an easy scheme to pull off, even on a budget.

Pictured: Country Living Peacock Blue Matte Splashback

If the pastel pink color doesn’t match your kitchen, it will look washed out. This beautiful kitchen was designed by an interior designer and House Beautiful Columnist Sophie Robinson's botanical wallpaper from Harlequin (and lovely matching blinds, if you can find them) perfectly matches the pink Shaker cabinets below.

Read more: How to Create a Mood Board by Sophie Robinson

This kitchen is a showcase for material combinations: dark veined marble, medium wood and highly reflective stainless steel all work together. The key here is that everything has a warm finish; stainless steel is cold by nature, but it reflects its surroundings, making it appear warmer or cooler depending on the setting.

There's a retro feel to the lovely light fixtures, handleless kitchen cabinets, and redwood that pairs perfectly with this avocado hue. The third match here is a pale buttery yellow, or a hint of sky blue, just hinted at in the dried bouquet.

Photo: Custom Kitchen by Pluck

A splash of pastel pink might make this neutral kitchen look a little washed out; instead, a beautiful peachy salmon pink is used to draw attention. If you find the brass and pink combo too garish, antique brass hardware is the perfect choice.

Photo: Bespoke kitchen from British Standard Cupboards

When using lots of pink in the kitchen, contrast is your greatest ally: dramatic black works brilliantly, but so do rich jewel tones. Pink's favourite colour, emerald green, is also featured in a stunning marble splashback.

Photo: Original Harvey Jones kitchen