Ask Jane: "I'm planning a kitchen makeover. How do I choose the colours?"

Merryn asks:

“I’m planning a kitchen makeover. How do I choose the colours?”

Jane says:

“Choosing colours is a fun part of a home improvement project, especially for the kitchen, where you and your family will spend so much time. It’s also an important decision to get right, as you’ll have to live with your chosen colour scheme for a fairly long time.

Try starting with working out the style of kitchen that you are planning. This will depend on what you already have to work with and the existing style of your home.

A country or vintage style kitchen will include a strong timber element, a modern kitchen will feature laminate, 2-pac or vinyl wrap cabinetry and neutral colours, a cottage or Shaker-style kitchen may have some timber, as well as cupboards painted in a light colour, and retro kitchens will feature shiny elements with bright colours. What matches your personality and the rest of your house – the light airiness of a Scandi kitchen, the clean lines of a modern kitchen or the traditional warmth of a country kitchen?

Before

Next, decide what colour you want for the cupboards. These make up about half of the visual space in the room, so decide what colour you like that will complement the style of your house. This decision also depends on the material of the cupboards.

Other focal points for the kitchen are the sink and appliances, which normally you’d select a stainless steel finish for. Next is the counter top, another major contributor to visual impact. This area has to work with the style and colour of the cabinetry. I do prefer a light-coloured bench top because this reflects the light and helps to create a lighter, breezier space. Dark colours do work but they tend sometimes to look heavy as well as soak up much of the light filtering into the space.

The splash-back can be used as a statement or as a contributor to the existing decor, and the wall colour must complement the rest of the room – again, this may be a neutral colour.

After

I’m a big fan of white on white with a feature splash-back (which can be changed quite easily in future) with an injection of “wow” with a cool pendant light over the breakfast bar.

Have a look on the internet, at display homes and in magazines to get a feel for what you like and what fits your kitchen. The Paint My Place and Homestyler Interior Design apps are just a couple of tools that allow you to recolour and/or redecorate photos of your home. Don’t forget to experiment with new and exciting shades and themes. The great thing about choosing colour schemes is that you can get some idea of what suits your kitchen before you actually do any physical changes. Have fun; and if you get stuck, employ the services of an interior designer or renovation consultant who will help you create a cohesive, well-designed space that fits with the rest of your home.

Jane Eyles-Bennett is an interior designer and renovation consultant. She’s the creator and driving force behind Hotspace Consultants and has consulted on more than 550 property renovations.