Breathe life into your open-plan kitchen by choosing the right painting scheme
Open-plan kitchens are becoming increasingly popular by the day. The free-flowing space from one corner of living rooms to the other has made it appealing for home designers to combine kitchens and living spaces. Open-plan kitchens allow consistency in the home, and families have an easier time bonding over breakfast, lunch or dinner.
However, the wrong painting scheme can make any open-plan kitchen look dull. It's not just about having the same colour across the home, neither is it about having sudden, uncoordinated contrasts. You need to strike the right balance where there's consistency, interesting blends and a theme that suits your home.
1. Start with a neutral background
When painting any indoor space, it's always best to start with a neutral background. This is even more important for open-plan kitchens. Because of the transition from the kitchen to the living room, you need to have a consistent scheme that doesn't appear out of sync with your home. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't get creative. You can start with neutral options and gradually move to bolder shades around appliances, kitchen cabinets and light fixtures.
A neutral backdrop is also the anchor for your home. Whenever someone walks in, they'll be able to connect the different variations of your original design. White, off-white, grey, yellow and beige make excellent options for a backdrop.
2. Vary the same colour shades and tones
Of course, simply having a white colour throughout an open plan kitchen may look monotonous. This is why you should consider infusing a gradient of colour shades and tones. You may start light in the kitchen and use darker shades in the living room.
Make sure the boundary between your kitchen and living room has a clear change in shade/tone. Lighter shades around windows create the impression of more light coming in, while darker shades around corners and appliances add to an illusion of depth.
3. Match shades with kitchen and living room furniture
You should also make sure that the shades/colours used are consistent with your living room furniture. For example, a large, dark blue couch in the living room will contrast nicely with light blue walls. You may start with a white backdrop in the kitchen and gradually transition into blue hues for your living room space. If you have a light brown dining table, dark hues may work well for your dining room area. Slowly transition to light brown for your living room walls.
4. Don't be afraid to go bold
Finally, consistency shouldn't limit your creativity. You can contrast bold colours such as orange, yellow, and red in an open plan kitchen. The key is to keep the colour wheel in mind and ensure that the transition is soft and expected.
Contact a local painter today to get started.