Contemporary Kitchen Paint Colors

Daniel Levin, Daniel Levin
Color is all the rage these days, and stylish, contemporary paint colors can often work wonders in your kitchen.
Classic, Contemporary Kitchen
See All PhotosWhite, blue, yellow, red, green, and orange are all popular kitchen paint colors, but there are many ways to modernize these shades.
Blue has always been a smart shade to use in a cooking space. Lighter blues have an ethereal quality and bring the beach and sky to mind. But to really add interest to a space, many homeowners and interior designers are opting for bright blues such as turquoise, aqua and cobalt and darker blues such as navy. Striking and sophisticated, these colors can take kitchens to a new level, but it's important to use them sparingly and only in a room that already gets a lot of natural light since navy blues could make a kitchen feel dark.
Neon yellow and green have been getting lots of attention in the fashion world in the last few years, and these shades are now taking their place in the kitchen as well. Electric and often shocking, these bright shades can really wake up a cooking space, but they work best in small doses. Try a citron, chartreuse or lime in your pantry, inside your cabinets or on an accent wall. If neon paint colors feel too dramatic, there are many neon kitchen accessories that will bring pops of these fun colors into your kitchen.
Orange is great warm color to use in kitchens, and it can instantly warm up a space. This soothing shade shows up in a lot of Tuscan-style kitchens, but shades more reminiscent of tangerine feel more modern. Bright and playful, this contemporary color pairs nicely with white and gray accents and can make a kitchen feel fresh and fun.
Red has been used in kitchens for years, but to give this shade a more modern edge in your kitchen, choose shades that have hints of pink or orange. Examples include magenta, coral, poppy and cranberry; all four colors feel fun and will wake up a boring kitchen.
If you're really crazy about color, try a popular fashion trend known as "color blocking." Use splashes of contrasting colors or choose varying shades of bright tones. Some good color blocking combinations include aqua/navy, yellow/navy, yellow/turquoise, orange/navy, and purple/yellow. You can also try to pair colors from the same family such as hot pink and red for a striking look that feels more cohesive.