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Color Effects

Make Color Work For You



A rule of thumb says to color a room with a 60-30-10 split between three colors: use one color on a majority of the space, a little bit less of another, and an even smaller amount as an accent color. In the kitchen, your major color might cover the walls or the cabinets; your secondary color the floor; and your accent color the countertops.

You can use color to influence how large or small the kitchen feels:

Desired Effect 

Color Choice

Expand space 

Cool, light, or dull colors; minimal contrasts

Shrink space 

Warm, dark, or bright colors; maximum contrasts

Lower a ceiling 

Warm colors and dark tones

Heighten a ceiling 

Cool colors and light tints

Shorten a room 

Warm or dark colors

Lengthen a room 

Cool, light, or dull colors; limited contrasts

Hide an undesirable feature 

Surrounding color