Colour can completely transform a room – you can use colour to enhance the design of your kitchen significantly. Colour is perceived differently depending on who is looking at it. It is something we feel, and has the power to affect our mood. For this reason, it is no surprise that colour plays an essential role in kitchen design and creating the right atmosphere for entertaining, dining and relaxing. Paint is one of the easiest (and inexpensive) ways to make a huge impact too.
However, colour is a little like fashion, and colour trends come and go — sometimes quicker than we would like. Other trends stay around for years. There is a constant shift in response to trends and seasonality. Below are the headlines so far for 2018:
Dulux Colour of the Year
For Dulux, 2018 looks to be the year of Heart Wood – a mix of smoky taupe and dusky mauve, it is described as a ‘warm neutral, with a hint of heather’ and seeks to provide sanctuary for homeowners. Dulux explain: “The warmth of wood reflects the comfort that we need in these uncertain times”.
Pantone Colour of the Year
Pantone have become the trusted opinion for the ‘colour of the year’ and this year, they predict it will be the year for purple. As Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Colour Institute, said “it has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design, it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today”. Ultra Violet is the shade they expect to see everywhere. To explain, we are told “Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own”. Despite its authority, there are inevitably mixed reviews with each announcement. Whether you like it or loathe it, the Pantone Colour of the Year is one of the most established colour institutions, so you can expect to see purple sneaking into interiors and more in the future. You can embrace it or ignore it – but if you want to be right on trend, try injecting it into your home.
Crown Paints Colour Influences
Spring/summer 2018 is just around the corner, so which colours are going to be big this season? As part of Crown Paints annual Colour Influences launch, Crown Paints have made their colour predictions. Provocative is described as “a bold reaction in colour form”, while Linear is about working with the simplicity of lines; “imagine the low light of dusk casting long shadows and you capture the spirit of Linear”. Finally, the third trend, Bloom, is “the romantic token of nature at its most magnificent, with fresh floral tones on a long spectrum from lively greens to deep-seated pinks and purples”. The majority of colour schemes come and go, with new trends emerging every year, or sooner, but of course, there are certain dogmas that transcend time.
Colour psychology exists – the study of how colour makes us feel. Believe it or not, certain colours and shades can have an effect on the mood, ambiance and atmosphere in any room. Depending on what you plan to use your kitchen for, can depend what colours you might want to choose.
Colours and respective merits
Blue is calming – Choose blue if you are looking to create a mood that is both stable and calming. Blue is often associated with depth and stability, and it is proven to slow human metabolism and produce an overall calming effect. This helps to instil tranquillity.
Purple is opulent – Purple is a great combination of blue and red – offering the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is also the colour of royalty. It symbolises power, nobility and luxury. It also has strong associations with wisdom, dignity, mystery and magic.
Red is bold – Be bold and choose red! Passion is associated with the colour red, and is believed to help get blood pumping, literally. It is proven to enhance metabolism, increase respiration rate and raise blood pressure. A symbol of strength, love and danger, it has a long spectrum of psychological associations ranging from war and power to passion, desire and, of course, love.
Yellow is joyful – Combine joy with energy, happiness and intellect, by choosing yellow shades. In addition to its uplifting affects, it also stimulates mental activity and generates muscle energy. Bright, pure yellow is also a great way to grab attention and stand out – in fact, this is why many road/warning signs are painted in yellow. If overused it can have a disarming effect, so apply carefully.
Orange is energising – Bring a new spring of life into your room with a splash of orange. Orange is considered as a colour that stimulates the mind and helps enthusiasm. Associated with sunshine and the tropics, it combines red’s passion and yellow’s joy. Research has found that orange increases oxygen supply to the brain to stimulate activity and energy levels.
Green is peaceful – Create a peaceful and calming atmosphere with a touch of green. A natural colour that symbolised growth, nature and freshness. The colour has great healing powers and is also commonly associated with safety and stability. On top of that, it is also considered a restful colour for our eyes, helping to create harmony.
White is elegant – For elegant style and purity, paint and accessorise with white. As the best-selling paint colour, white has a strong association with light and goodness and, for this reason, is considered the colour of perfection. It is very versatile and will bring positive connotations in any space.
Black is dramatic – Make a statement and allow black to contribute some drama to the room. A mysterious colour linked with the fear of the unknown, black has many associations ranging from power and elegance to mystery and evil. Although it can sometimes suffer from negative connotations (consider “blacklist”), it also denotes strength and can create an elegant space.
Colour in your home should represent your personality. When it comes to choosing a colour for a kitchen design project, it is worth considering if you want your colour to contrast or complement one another. Harvey Jones, offer bespoke handmade kitchens which are hand-painted in the colour of your choice. For kitchen spaces colour is vital. There is an art form when it comes to choosing complementary colours; the process is complex but simplified into six different schemes, all of which Harvey Jones explain here:
A complementary combination:
Complementary – Choosing colours that complement or contrast each other work well in kitchens – and give the opportunity to make a statement. The best colours to use for this combination are colours that sit opposite one another on the Itten colour circle. This is a good scheme for creating a vivid and energising space.
The triad – The triad produce a high contrast colour effect with the combination of three colours, whilst maintaining a level of harmony. Three colours, all equidistant from each other on the colour circle are the best, and work great with pale and unsaturated colours.
An analogous combination – Choose a combination of two to five (ideally two or three) colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour circle if you want to inject a splash of colour into your kitchen. It creates a calming impression and works effectively with greens and yellows.
The split complementary combination – For an overall effect that is not too intense, combine one primary colour with two complimentary colours for a harmonious colour combination.
The tetrad – This is a scheme that includes one primary and two complementary colours, plus an additional colour for accents.
The square – An ideal colour combination if you’re hoping to create a dynamic kitchen. Four colours that are equidistant on the colour circle can be combined for a colour scheme where colours differ from each other in tone, but are also complementary.
There are several ways to introduce colour to your home – and whatever scheme you select for your kitchen design, you can exploit the true impact of colour by incorporating it to your walls, cupboards and central island.
