Gray is a neutral color that stands the test of time. When done right, grey can be the perfect backdrop for a gourmet kitchen, a family gathering place, or the designer kitchen of your dreams. Check out these five design tips for gray kitchens to ensure your space is warm, welcoming and well-balanced.
Choose the Right Shade of Gray (Undertones Matter)
Not all grays are created equal. Some grays have a blue or purple undertone, while others have beige or green undertones. These subtle pigment changes make a world of difference in kitchen design. You need to be strategic in what you choose for your home.
Whether you’re picking your wall color, cabinet color, tile, flooring, backsplash, or any other gray element in your kitchen, make sure you check a sample of the materials in the kitchen – not just in a showroom. You can certainly get an idea about your kitchen design in a showroom, but the lighting there is going to be different than the lighting in your kitchen. If you plan to replace your light fixtures, be aware of how that lighting could change the colors in the room. If the color looks more blue or brown than what you want, you may need to choose a different gray with different undertones.
Use Those Undertones to Dictate Other Color Choices
Once you have finalized the grays you will be using, you can incorporate accent colors that complement it. You can either choose colors that bring out the undertones or choose colors that detract from them. If you are incorporating more than one shade of gray in the room, you’ll likely want to stick with similar undertones. Otherwise, the design may appear mismatched and in-cohesive.
Avoid the All-Gray Kitchen Trend
Monochromatic kitchen trends come about every few years. All-white kitchens and all-gray kitchens are popular right now, but they are already starting to fade in favor of more creative kitchen designs. Before you decide to make everything gray, think about using other neutrals to break up the space. You can use a mix of brown, grey and white tones to create visual interest and extend the longevity of the design.
Warm a Cool Kitchen with Wood Accents
Certain shades of gray have a cold appearance, which can make the kitchen feel stark and sterile. Wood tones can warm up the kitchen to make it feel cozy and inviting. For example, you could put a butcher block countertop on your gray kitchen island to create contrast and soften the gray. You could add wooden corbels below your upper cabinets to give your kitchen a custom look. You could even mix gray and wood cabinets for a two-tone design. Pay around with different options to find a good balance between cool and warm features.
Coordinate Your Kitchen Design with the Rest of Your Home
Each room in your house can have its own personality, but all the rooms should tie together in some way. If your kitchen is the only room with gray in it, it might feel unfinished or poorly planned. Look for ways to incorporate your kitchen design into the rest of your home. Perhaps you use the same flooring in all the living spaces of your home, or you use different shades of the same wall color on most of the walls. Imagine your kitchen as an integral part of the rest of your home, and choose your design elements accordingly.
If you’d like help designing a gray kitchen, O’Hanlon Kitchens has designers on staff to assist you. Contact us at 443-285-0558 to schedule your kitchen design consultation.
