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 |
