21 Colorful Kitchen Ideas to Perk Up Your Home

By: Andrew Saladino | 5 min

When it comes to modern home design, color is king. While minimalism reigned for many years, kitchen trends like maximalism and Mid-Century Modern design are on the rise, bringing bright colors back to the forefront of home design.

This colorful resurgence doesn't stop at your kitchen cabinets. Whether you're prepared to fully dive into colorful kitchen designs or just dip a toe in with pops of color, we've got 21 colorful kitchen ideas for you to browse and find inspiration from next time your kitchen needs a refresh.

1. Let the Decor Shine

When you want to liven up your kitchen and make it fun without a total overhaul, add some colorful kitchen decor. This can inject pops of color all around the room without even touching a paintbrush.

2. Work With What You've Got

Feel like you're low on colorful kitchen inspiration? Take a look around and see what features in your kitchen can be used to your advantage. Highlight an existing backdrop, exposed brick, or your vintage cabinets when you're lacking inspiration.

3. Choose Accent Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets a fun color is a breeze compared to more intensive remodels, and is a super simple way to incorporate your favorite color into your space. Whether you go bright and bold or soft and pastel, colorful kitchen cabinets make it easy to go all in on a playful vibe.

4. Put Your Kitchen on Island Time

Kitchen islands are great space savers, giving you extra counter space and storage. A colorful kitchen island is also a great opportunity to spruce up a dull kitchen. Add an accent countertop or paint the sides your favorite hue for a ray of sunshine with your morning coffee.

5. Keep It Complementary

Complementary colors create contrast in your kitchen, which adds visual interest. It can be tricky to hit the right balance, so try using mostly one color, then choose select pops for the contrast, like a rug or other decor.

6. Play Peekaboo Cabinet

Not sure you're quite ready to make your kitchen a maximalist haven? Paint the sides and interiors of your cabinets in your favorite neons. When you're cooking or entertaining, guests will get an intriguing pop of color without being overwhelmed.

7. It's Easy Being Green

Kitchen plants make a space feel grounded, and can help perk up any kitchen. Whether you go with fresh flowers, a cactus or two, or some fresh herbs on your windowsill, you won't regret adding some greenery.

8. Go Maximalist

Maximalism is the perfect way for the indecisive decorator to see all their colorful kitchen ideas come to life. Choose three or four main colors and accent your kitchen with art prints and trinkets to make it fun.

9. Statement Wallpaper

Statement wallpaper does a lot of the heavy lifting to bring some color into your home. If you're indecisive, try a peel-and-stick wallpaper for an accent wall that you'll be able to switch out to keep things interesting.

10. Raise the Ceiling

When you want to create your dream kitchen, you might struggle with how to cultivate a unique space. Think outside the box and paint an accent ceiling to pull everything together.

11. Brighten Up the Lights

Pendant lights and chandeliers are a great option for functional decor in your kitchen. Go with a bold and colorful design to brighten the room every day.

12. Go Monochrome

A monochrome kitchen doesn't need to be dull! Choose a bold color for your kitchen and limit your decor to that color to take some of the guesswork out of designing a fun space.

13. Make a Backsplash

Everyone loves a good backsplash, so why not make yours colorful? Whether you go with a pattern or not, this bold pop is sure to brighten up the room.

14. Coordinate Appliances

Colorful appliances are a fun way to bring your colorful kitchen ideas to fruition. Your kitchen needs a refrigerator and stove top, so why not make them a focal point? For a slightly lower investment option, purchase colorful pots, pans, and a knife set you'll use every day.

15. Design With Vibe in Mind

If you know you love color but aren't sure how to work it into your kitchen, choose a design style and work backward. Certain interior design styles lend themselves to different colors easily. For example, retro kitchens look great in pastels, and Mid-Century Modern kitchens work well with orange and green contrasts.

16. Add Texture

Texture is a key part of designing a great space, but it's easy to overlook if you're hyper-focused on adding more color to that space. Choose a textured backsplash, frosted glass cabinets, or rattan furniture to incorporate some texture into your kitchen.

17. Stained glass

Stained glass instantly elevates any space, whether it's for a window or a glass cabinet. For a budget-friendly alternative, hang stained glass chimes in your kitchen or go with a faux stained glass window cling.

18. Accent Shelving

Everyone's always looking for ways to add more storage to their kitchen, so why not add some accent shelves? Painting existing shelving or adding just a few to an accent wall is an inexpensive upgrade for a clutter-free colorful kitchen.

19. Ombré Kitchen

Working with three shades of your favorite color in your kitchen helps direct your decor while still keeping things fun. When you're looking for decor and tools in just two to three shades, you know that whatever you're adding to your kitchen will look cohesive no matter what.

20. Work With Patterns

It's easy to get ahead of yourself when you're designing a colorful kitchen. Break up all that color and by integrating some patterns. Whether you add a rug or decide to paint a mini mural, this is a great option for when you're feeling uninspired.

21. Go Vintage

There's no better way to add personality to your kitchen than spending a day perusing the aisles of your local vintage shop. Gather some colorful trinkets that speak to you and display them to mix things up and add personality to your home.

Colorful Kitchen Ideas FAQs

Looking to dive deeper into planning your colorful kitchen? Check out these FAQs to answer your top questions.

What are the new kitchen colors for 2023?

Cool-toned colors are projected to be popular for 2023, particularly blues and greens. These colors maintain a calming atmosphere in your kitchen without being boring, and are versatile for many tastes.

How can I make my kitchen colorful?

If you’d like to take on a DIY project, painting your cabinets, walls, or even ceiling can give your kitchen a colorful refresh. Alternatively, thrifting some bright decor can add an exciting pop to your space.

What is the most popular color for a kitchen?

White kitchens tend to be most popular because they're neutral. If your white kitchen feels too stark, use your decor to add color throughout. Deep navy blue kitchens are a popular color choice as well.

What colors work well in a kitchen?

Neutral colors with pops of blue are most traditional for a kitchen. But any color can look great in your dream kitchen, so choose whatever scheme speaks to you.

Life's too short to compromise on your dream kitchen. From fun kitchen cabinets to custom appliances, there are many ways a kitchen remodel can brighten up your day. Think outside the box with colorful kitchen ideas that will help make your house feel like a home.