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Last updated: 31 January 2024
11 classic kitchen colours that won't date
There are many classic kitchen colours worth your time and consideration. From midnight blue, emerald green, and monochrome to classic white and wood tones, learn how to embrace a timeless look so your kitchen never goes out of style.
What colour kitchen is timeless?
Classic kitchen colours that stand the test of time always embrace white. Of course, there is a spectrum of shades and hues, from brilliant and pure to matte and off-white. It's just about finding your perfect base and building up your design elements from there.
The versatility of white is undeniable, which is why it fits a variety of aesthetics, from country, coastal, contemporary, Scandi, and organic modern.
What is the most popular colour for a kitchen?
Alongside the stylish simplicity of white hues, other popular colours include sage green, navy blue, black, blush, and grey. To fit a classic style, many of these colours are paired with various earth and neutral tones for a modern finish.
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Classic kitchen colours for timeless appeal
When it comes to timeless hues, there are five classic kitchen colours that just won't go out of style. If you want to give your kitchen a brand-new look but aren't sure where to start, these concepts will provide plenty of inspiration.
1. Green should always be seen
No matter the shade, green is a versatile and refreshing colour. It invites the great outdoors into your home, embracing biophilic trends while evoking calm and signalling renewal.
Emerald shades are a striking and classic addition to any home. With shaker-style cabinets, open wood beams, and white subway tiles, it's a kitchen that stands the test of time.
2. Classic kitchens wear red on Wednesdays
Red acts as the perfect pop of colour for any kitchen in need of a lift. Whether you're opting for a striking look with blood-red cabinetry or a paired back finish with muted burgundy, tone down the boldness with white and light wood for timeless elegance.
Related content: 12 fiery red kitchen ideas.
3. Never overlook grey when considering traditional kitchen colours
Grey is a stylish and versatile colour that remains enduringly popular. As evidenced by the charcoal flat-style cabinets, grey is at its most timeless when paired with light wood and white finishes.
The kitchen is finished with contemporary features such as hexagonal splashback tiles, white gloss floors, and a matching dining table, resulting in a clean and calming ambience.
4. Coastal or countryside aesthetics embrace blue
Blue is a fresh and invigorating colour for your kitchen. However, if you choose a brighter shade, you run the risk of making a room feel cold and uninviting.
This is why classic kitchens often use darker shades to overcome this risk. However, if you're a fan of light blue but want to warm it up, pair it with medium or dark wood accents to create a cottage-by-the-coast aesthetic.
Related content: Coastal kitchen colour ideas: Making design waves.
5. Salt and pepper are the original classic kitchen paint colours
Monochrome kitchens remain popular due to their high contrast and low-impact finishes. Stylish yet understated, introducing natural materials to a black-and-white colour scheme warms it up and keeps it casual.
This salt-and-pepper kitchen uses black to frame most of the features, letting the white do most of the work. Glass pendant lights and seagrass bar stools create interest, while the white brick splashback and wood-panelled ceiling add character and texture.
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Classic kitchen colour schemes to consider
There are several classic colour pairings that you might not have thought of. Here are six of our favourites.
6. Taupe and lavender
For a rustic edge to your classic kitchen, consider warm and gentle colours such as taupe and lavender. They're both light shades on the warm end of their hue spectrums, which makes them perfect for kitchens with plenty of natural sunlight.
Distressed counters and a matching small kitchen island add an edge, while the floating shelves and traditional accessories and appliances offer a sense of familiarity.
Related content: 12 two tone kitchen ideas.
7. Cream and sage
Sage is a versatile and homely colour – perfect for the hub of your home. It works well in modern, contemporary, and rustic kitchens, offering a dash of invigoration and comfort at any hour.
This kitchen livens up the sage with patterned splashback tiles and a colourful rug. The design works harder by adding interest through the contrast of white upper cabinetry and the sage lower cabinets, making a statement with flat and shaker-style designs respectively.
8. Sky blue and light wood
Sky blue kitchens are often associated with coastal and cottage aesthetics. However, contemporary and traditional interior design styles enjoy this shade too, especially when paired with off-white hues and light wood floors.
Furthermore, this classic kitchen employs raised-style cabinets with glass cutouts and metal handles to add some design interest. The white gloss splashback tiles play with the light – alongside the stainless steel appliances – while the light wood counters and matching floors keep the result grounded.
Related content: Colourful kitchen ideas: Creative concepts and vibrant visuals.
9. Yellow and mahogany
For a traditional kitchen that speaks of opulence and class, play with darker colours and mood-defining shades. For example, embrace a traditional design by choosing mahogany cabinets, cream walls, and black marble counters.
If you want to inject some light to counter the dark, consider a yellow chevron splashback with mahogany, white, and black accents. It ties the space together and allows both natural and artificial light to cast a warm glow.
10. Mint green and black
Two-toned kitchens work best when you choose a complementary dark and light shade. This L-shaped kitchen chooses a black-and-white monochrome design to make up most of the workspace, with beadboard cabinets and ring pull handles.
For an aesthetic contrast, mint green makes up the storage cabinetry on the opposite side of the kitchen, with raised cabinets and rounded bronze handles. Grey floor tiles are then used to tie the space together, the shade working well for most colour pairings.
Related content: Small galley kitchen ideas: Long and narrow design inspiration.
11. Grey and bronze
When contemporary meets traditional, transitional design is born, which the striking concept (pictured) demonstrates beautifully. Grey shaker-style cabinets offer a traditional nod, fitting well with the white and charcoal marble splashback and coffered ceiling.
However, the bronze accents, strip lights, and seamless layout are undeniably contemporary, as well as the kitchen island and charcoal bar stools, which sit beneath a pair of statement pendant lights.
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