Cream kitchen ideas

Picking the kitchen cabinetry for your new space can be a minefield. From gloss to matt, handleless to shaker, there are endless styles and designs to choose from.

However, if you know you’re after a classic look that will last the test the time, you can’t go wrong with a chic cream kitchen. Oozing style, sophistication, and a calming natural tone, cream kitchens are a versatile option for both modern, country, or traditional settings.

What’s more, cream cabinetry is a great neutral mixer and can be teamed with almost any other colour or pattern. Read on and be inspired by these cream kitchen ideas that will help solve your kitchen design dilemmas.

For more information on what you can expect to budget, take a look at our kitchen design cost guide.

1. Cream gloss kitchen

Cream gloss cabinets are ideal for reflecting light round the space, while also adding a highly contemporary feel. Go for a handleless design and you’ll ramp up the sleek, streamlined effect.

If you have the space, team with a central island for a sociable feel, and don’t be afraid to mix cabinetry colours. That’s the magic of cream units; they are extremely versatile and will easily mix with other finishes, such as graphite grey.

2. Keep it light

If you’re planning a long bank of floor-to-ceiling cabinets along one side of the kitchen, you’ll want to avoid creating an enclosed, oppressive space. Sleek glossy cream cupboards are a good choice for a big expanse as they will help retain a light and bright feel.

Team with a reflective worktop and a light floor surface to continue the sense of the space, while stainless steel appliances will also help to throw back the light and make the room feel larger.

3. Pair with grey

Cream and grey are both popular colours for kitchens as they are calm, laid back and easy to live with, so mixing the two tones in one scheme is a clever combination that will win double style points.

Opt for timeless cream shaker cupboards and marry them with on-trend grey metro tiles for an interesting splashback that will make a focal point in the neutral space.

4. Country kitchen

Shaker style units are synonymous with classic country kitchens. To give this traditional look a modern twist, lean towards the warmer end of the cream colour palette and choose an organic stone finish for the cabinets.

Mix with rich, timber worktops, natural textures and earthy tiles and you’ll have a welcoming, relaxed kitchen that’s bang on trend.

5. Introduce pattern

Cream kitchens are a timeless classic but you can easily bring them into the 21st century by adding some pattern.

Choose patterned floor or wall tiles to contrast with cream walls and cabinets. If you haven’t got the budget for new flooring or wall tiles, then you can purchase vinyl tile stickers that will stick on top of your existing flooring or splashback but will bring it back to life.

6. Warm hardware

Cream, unlike stark white, has a warm undertone so it’s a good idea to complement this with warm fixtures and fittings.

A brass tap and door handles will work perfectly with a cream-coloured kitchen and will immediately make it feel modern and contemporary. You can always spray paint your existing handles if you don’t want to replace them all.

7. Combine cream with black

You may be surprised to find out that cream and black is a winning combination. It’s a bit less harsh than white and black paired together but still creates a striking impact.

Go for cream cabinetry and walls with black lighting and accessories. This will update your current kitchen without costing a fortune.

8. Wooden accents

For a Scandinavian-inspired kitchen scheme, think about incorporating wooden accents into your cream kitchen.

A solid wood worktop is a stylish addition however to keep costs down you can always choose wooden accessories instead to achieve the same look on a budget.

9. Sage green walls

Green is undoubtedly a popular colour in the world of interiors right now, particularly sage green.

It is a calming tone that feels relaxing and earthy. Update a cream kitchen by painting the walls sage green and bringing in lots of natural greenery to amp up the green factor.

10. Marble worktop

A marble or quartz worktop works really well with a cream kitchen. It helps to keep the space feeling light and bright and is also extremely practical.

Marble itself is very expensive and can be quite porous. However, quartz is a more affordable alternative and is definitely more durable – they are barely distinguishable from each other.

11. Statement kitchen island

Because cream is a neutral colour, a fully cream kitchen can feel quite sparse. If you’re lucky enough to have the space, it’s a great idea to incorporate a kitchen island into your cream kitchen design.

This will make a design statement without having to go too bold with your choice of contrasting colours and accessories.

Not got room for a fixed island? Opt for a moveable kitchen trolley instead that has the same effect.

12. Modernise with lighting

If you want to steer away from the traditional country kitchen look and prefer a more modern scheme, then you can easily bring a cream kitchen up to date with modern lighting choices.

Opt for LED strip lights underneath your kitchen cabinets. This will offer a beautiful downlight, perfect for functional work spaces as well as looking cool and contemporary.

13. Two tone cabinets

When designing a kitchen, it’s easy to think you just need to commit to one colour and roll with it. However, a two tone kitchen is effortlessly stylish and allows you to pick more than one shade.

The kitchen pictured above boasts a cream kitchen island and grey cabinetry, the ideal contrast for a neutral kitchen but with added interest.

14. Scandi inspired kitchen

Interiors that are inspired by Scandinavia are all about minimalism and letting in lots of natural light.

Adopt this way of thinking when it comes to your cream coloured kitchen to make it feel like more of a relaxed space.

15. Brick slip walls

Are industrial interiors your thing? Well, a brick slip wall might just be the answer to updating your plain cream kitchen.

A brick slip is a thin layer of brick, almost like a tile that can be stuck onto the wall to create the look of an authentic brick wall. When painted white, it looks bang on trend. Take a look at how much a brick slip wall could cost.