What Color Would You Paint Your Walls When Remodeling a Kitchen With Copper Accessories?

Complementary Color: Green

• Try to locate copper, which is sort of an earthy orange, on the color wheel. Now look across at the colors on the opposite side. You'll find they're in the blue and green family. When combined in a decorating scheme, hues across from one another on the color wheel are known as complementary. These high-contrast color pairs draw the eye whenever they're used in interior design. You can capitalize on this drama by painting your walls a light green. Then proudly hang your copper accessories, such as pans and utensils, from hooks on the walls. The green walls behind the pans will put a spotlight on your copper utensils. To blend with the green and contrast with the copper, install a light blue backsplash on the wall around the sink.

Warm Colors

• Copper is a naturally warm color, so it will coordinate well with other warm colors like red and orange. Earthy orange paint on the walls, with red gingham curtains, can create a steamy and cozy atmosphere, perfect for in-kitchen dining. Consider purchasing a dark wood bench-style table to model your kitchen after a romantic, sultry Italian restaurant. These colors are best used in a larger kitchen as smaller spaces decorated this way may start to feel claustrophobic.

Earthy Colors

• Copper, being an earthy color, will work well with other earthy hues. Paint your walls a light taupe and decorate the rest of your kitchen with natural materials and earthy colors. Wooden cabinets, either finished to a dark brown or painted white with dark brown knobs, would be attractive in this type of setting. In addition to copper accessories placed around the room, try to decorate with splashes of green like green cotton towels or green and white checkered curtains.

Clear Blue, Soft Gray

• Light gray-blue and soft, neutral gray make the perfect backdrop for a room accessorized with copper. These colors allow the copper to jump forward and grab the attention of anyone who enters the room. Gray and blue are also soothing and recessive, so they work well in smaller kitchens. If you have one, keep the other colors in the room light: paint the cabinets white, put up white cotton curtains, and try not to overdo the use of copper in the room. A little goes a long way.

More Ideas

• If you haven't already, extend your use of copper beyond copper pans and copper utensils. Look for copper-colored hand towels, a copper framed clock for the wall and maybe a copper sink, if your budget allows. Try to integrate this accent color into your kitchen in creative ways: in the curtains, a painting on the wall, or decorative tiles on your backsplash.