Brushed chrome and stainless steel appliances have taken over from the traditional white appliances we’ve been used to in the kitchen.
Just like black in clothing, it is not true to say that stainless steel goes with everything. We look at the best kitchen colors that match with stainless steel.
But remember, you should pick the color of your color taste. As William Smith from Foodies Wiki said, The best color is what I like. It can be dull to you but brightest to me.
Kitchen Colors that Match with Stainless Steel – The Best Color Matches
Whilst kitchen colors that match with stainless steel are wide and varied, it is not true to say that stainless steel appliances match with any color. We look at the best colors to use with stainless steel, and those colors you should avoid.
Special notice is taken of the colors used on the walls (either paint or tiles), what countertops work well, and what are the best color matches for cabinets and stainless steel. Images are included.
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Color Choices
You’ve lingered over paint swatches and read the paint color selection guide, but are still unsure what color to use in your kitchen. Colors that match with stainless steel are wide and varied, but that doesn’t mean to say that stainless steel is a good match with any color on the chart or tile sample you find.
In a kitchen, your color choices are more restricted than with most other rooms as you don’t have soft furnishings to fall back on, as a way to introduce color. Color in a kitchen tends to revolve around the paint on the walls, tile splashbacks, countertops, and cabinets.
Metallics are one of the hottest color trends in decorating at the moment, so pairing stainless steel with other current colors would give your kitchen a highly trendy appearance; Try zesty green, warm yellow, mushroom, and deep berry tones. Using black and grey in small spaces, or as a metallic would also work well.
Walls – Paint, Tiles & Splashbacks
Stainless steel softly reflects color, especially strong color used on the walls, so care should be taken not to overwhelm a room with too many different colors, as with the reflections from the stainless steel, it will create a confusing and busy looking kitchen decor.
Tiles with a gloss finish are not a good idea for a kitchen with many stainless steel appliances, although a splashback area in stainless steel or mirrored-type tile can work well.
Otherwise, tiles are best kept to those with a more matt, or textured look. Many colors for tiles work well, but don’t use more than 2, as again it will overwhelm the room.
Neutral, and earth tones, are good kitchen colors that match with stainless steel and give appliances a complementary backdrop. Although, don’t be afraid of using more vivid red, black or purple, if that suits your scheme better.
Paint colors to avoid when matching with stainless steel would be brown, mid/dark green, orange, or deep pink. Using an ice blue color would also be a shade to avoid, as accompanied by the steel it could look cold.
Countertops
The range of countertops available now is astonishing, whether you buy storebought, or opt for building your wood countertops.
There are more types of wood from the palest beech to the darkest iroko, before we even start with granite type worktops. All this means is there is more choice in both color and texture to use in your kitchen, so which countertop color best matches with stainless steel?
The good news is that stainless steel matches well with almost all-natural materials, so if you have a wood countertop, granite, or a faux finish stone, this is a perfect combination for stainless steel.
The only thing to watch for would be using a similar shade of granite to your appliances, as it can seem a bit dull and grey unless you counterbalance this with rich color on the walls.
Cabinets
When looking for kitchen cabinet colors that match with stainless steel, it is more a question of what other colors are already in use in the kitchen’s decor. The cream is a color that works very well with stainless steel, as does the current trend for gloss finishes on cabinet doors.
Red and black are popular options for kitchens now, and both work well with stainless steel if the color on the wall isn’t competing for attention. Wooden cabinet doors with a natural finish, also have a natural affinity with steel colors.
Whilst it’s true to say that matching colors with stainless steel isn’t a hard task, you should think about the whole picture, of cabinets, countertops, etc., and how all these colors combine, before making your main color choice.
Resources & Image Credits
- Kitchen Colors that Match with Stainless Steel: Cream kitchen, wood floor: Kendyl Young: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kendylyoung/2834109318/
- Kitchen Colors that Match with Stainless Steel: Wooden cabinets – Michael Radwin: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mradwin/3132545592/
- All New Kitchen Idea Book by J K Bouknight, Taunton Press, 2009.
- https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/colour-inspiration
1 comment
I have stainless steel appliances and shelves. I have french quarter madi gras tile throughout my cottage. I have no idea what color the counter tops, cabinets and back splash should be. I am at a loss. Help