How to Choose Paint Color for a Kitchen

Keep your color proportions in check when designing a kitchen color scheme. A good rule of thumb is to divide the use of color into three components, with your primary color being used in 60 percent of the room or on the walls.

Bring along a notebook with samples of the fabrics, wallpapers, counter top and cupboard colors you will be using in your kitchen when you shop for paint. Where swatches are not practical, gather paint samples first and match them to the articles.

Experiment with a complementary color scheme which combines colors opposite each other on the color wheel. For example, a country kitchen might be painted in red and green to achieve this eye-appealing complementary look.

Choose colors which are next to each other on the color wheel to develop an analogous color scheme for your kitchen. Combining citrus hues such as lime green, lemon yellow and orange will create a bright and cheery look in this type of scheme.

Use multiple shades of a single color to create a monochromatic color scheme for your kitchen. This is particularly successful when neutral colors are chosen for a contemporary, monochromatic look.

Choose colors which encourage the enjoyment of food. Color theorists assert that red is a color which whets the appetite, making it ideal for painting kitchens and dining rooms. If the idea of painting your entire kitchen red seems too overwhelming, paint just one wall in this bright color and the rest in a neutral or pastel.

Stay on the cool side of things by painting your kitchen a soothing shade of blue or green. These colors create a restful environment for the eyes and are well-suited to kitchens with a bright western exposure.

Choose paint in a medium value of your chosen hue for the walls to help anchor the room. This shade should be lighter than the color of your floors.

Give your kitchen an expansive feel by choosing lighter values for the ceiling paint. If you have a tray ceiling, you can choose two light values to make a contrast between the angled portions of the ceiling and the center.