When planning your new kitchen, the colour scheme plays a pivotal role in defining the space. It’s more than just choosing hues that catch your eye—your kitchen’s colours should harmonise with the layout, materials, and overall style of your home.
This guide isn’t about telling you what’s trending right now, as colour trends come and go. Instead, as creators of luxury kitchens in Sydney with decades of experience, we aim to provide you with the knowledge and tools to confidently select a colour scheme that fits your taste, lifestyle, and long-term needs.
Most homeowners may feel inspired by something they’ve seen online or on TV and want to replicate it, which can be a great option, especially if your kitchen has similar dimensions or layout to the inspiration.
It’s easy to achieve a similar look through your kitchen company with pre-existing colour schemes. However, for those building a kitchen to live in long-term, this is your opportunity to express your personal taste through your design choices.
By taking the time to explore and consider your options, you can create a space that’s uniquely yours and that will serve you well for years to come.
Where to Start
Work Out Your Fixed Elements
Choosing a colour scheme becomes simpler once you identify your fixed elements—those aspects of the room that are either already in place or have been chosen. These could include your flooring, wall colours, or windows and external doors.
While these elements can be changed, many homeowners have already selected these features by the time they start designing the kitchen. The more fixed elements you have, the fewer colour choices you need to make, which is a benefit in avoiding decision overload.
Once you know which parts of your kitchen are fixed, you can begin exploring colours and materials that complement those elements. For instance, if your flooring is a rich timber, you may want to opt for more neutral cabinetry colours to balance the warmth of the wood.
Tools of the Trade
Colour Fan Decks or Paint Swatches
To start choosing colours, work with real-life colour examples rather than relying on digital representations.
Most major paint companies offer fan decks, which are small samples of colours arranged by hue and lightness. These are essential tools for interior designers and kitchen companies alike, and they’re often available to the public for a minimal fee.
Visiting your local hardware store and browsing the paint swatches can also give you a sense of what’s available and how different shades look together.
Samples
Physical samples are crucial when deciding on materials. In the kitchen industry, these samples could include laminate swatches, natural and man-made stone, tiles, timber, or even product samples like handles.
Although online samples can provide a starting point, they often differ significantly from the final product. For natural materials like timber, the variations in grain and colour are impossible to fully capture online. Always request physical samples before making any final decisions.
Kitchen companies and cabinetmakers may sometimes create custom samples for you, particularly for finishes like polyurethane doors or timber joinery.
Although there may be a small fee involved, this investment ensures you’ve got an accurate representation of that material. Keep in mind that some companies may not always provide samples due to production costs.
Showing a commitment to working with a specific supplier or purchasing the sample upfront can help secure the samples you need.
The Flat Lay Board
To visualise how your chosen colours and materials will work together, create a flat lay board, also known as a mood board. Gather your samples, handles, tiles, and paint colours and lay them out together.
This allows you to see if the colours work with each other and whether they match the overall style you’re aiming for. If you plan to reuse your flooring, place the board on the floor to get a better sense of how the materials interact.
3D Visualisation
For a more immersive experience, many kitchen companies, including Dan Kitchens, offer 3D visualisations of your design.
A 3D model allows you to see how the colours and materials will look in the actual space and helps identify areas for improvement. If the initial scheme doesn’t work, the 3D model makes it easy to experiment with alternative options.
This approach offers a good approximation of the final result, but working with flat lay boards is more accurate and should always be used in the decision-making process.
General Tips for Choosing a Colour Scheme
- Always view materials in person before making any decisions.
- Glossy materials like polyurethane doors or mirror splashbacks can cause unwanted glare in brightly lit spaces.
- Match tapware with your handles for a cohesive look.
- Dark colours can create a moody, dramatic atmosphere but can make spaces feel smaller and show fingerprints more easily.
- Natural greenery —whether through plants, arrangements or fresh flowers—always complements any kitchen design.
- Predominantly white kitchens remain timeless and versatile.
- Apply the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of a dominant colour, 30% of a secondary colour, and 10% for accents.
- Natural timbers may change colour over time, particularly when exposed to direct sunlight.
- Don’t forget about furnishings and accessories (e.g., bar stools, vases, or bench appliances) when finalising your scheme.
- Try to match built-in appliances for consistency in colour and finish. If appliances are further apart, you can afford more flexibility if the materials differ.
Conclusion
Armed with this knowledge, you’re now better equipped to confidently select the perfect colour scheme for your next kitchen renovation. Whether you choose to follow a classic timeless approach or explore bold combinations, the key is to balance personal taste with practical considerations.
By working with samples, visual tools like flat lay boards and 3D models, and keeping in mind your kitchen’s fixed elements, you can create a space that’s not only beautiful but functional for years to come.
Your kitchen is an expression of your personality, so take the time to explore, experiment, and make choices that you will love living with every day. If you’re in the market for a new kitchen and need help with picking a colour scheme, why not consider Dan Kitchens?
As part our Design Service, our designers can assist not only with the design and layout of your kitchen, but with the selection of your colour scheme. With 40 years of producing luxury kitchens for Sydney homeowners, you’re in good hands. To find out more about the Design Service, contact the Dan Kitchens team on (02) 9624 2344.