Spruce up your kitchen – dark vs. bright colors?

Colors bring joy, especially during depressingly dreary autumn evenings, or long winter nights – they make the difference and can turn your mood from the lowest to the greatest. If you are planning to renovate your home, or are in the middle of the process, and it’s kitchen’s turn to go through a huge makeover, you are probably wondering what to do with it in terms of color. Should you follow current trends, do they fit your needs, or should you give it a personal touch and stay away from modern tendencies?

When it comes to trending, on the one hand there are people who follow trends; whereas on the other, there are people who are not that keen on trending and do everything they can in order to leave their personal stamp on interior design.

If you are one of the people who are in the middle – who like following trends, yet allowing space for personal touch – here are some pros & cons guidelines that can help you decide between dark and bright colors in your newly remodeled kitchen.

Bright colors

If you have a small kitchen, painting it white and investing into brightly colored kitchen cabinetry will definitely open it up. Bright colors are famous for making the space look bigger, whereas dark colors tend to make the space look smaller than it really is. Bright kitchens look more modern, contemporary, European, and what is best about them is that you will easily repaint them once you get tired of them.

The bad thing about bright countertops is that if you make a mess or leave stains on them – it will practically enhance the fault and make it look even worse than it already is. Remember that bright colors need constant maintenance, and will soon show traces of time (especially if you are a smoker, this will reflect on your cabinetry color), so it would be best to opt for darker tones.

If you want to create the illusion of vastness in your small kitchen, you can also hang a big mirror onto one of its walls, because mirrors make the space look bigger than it really is. Adding natural sources of light will also help you achieve the similar effect, so, if you can, dig another window hole (or enlarge the existing one) and help you kitchen breathe in bright colors and beautiful daylight.

Dark colors

On the other hand, when it comes to dark colors, primarily, they are easier to maintain because you do not have to clean them every hour or so or worry about leaving marks. Aesthetically, brighter colors may look as a better option, but if you do not plan to keep your kitchen sterile – do opt for darker tones. Here are some ideas for dark kitchen cabinets in combination with natural stone, wood and other kinds of materials.

If you are thinking about resale, the bad side about dark kitchens is that they really do not sell as good as bright ones. So, think twice before you combine your beautiful sink with a dark shade of green, because it may come back to haunt in the long run, that is, you once you decide to resell the place.

Mix & match

There is also the option of making balance between the two, that is – try to find the middle ground and combine, for example, bright flooring and walls with dark countertops and cabinetry. You can also make room for dashing multicolored countertops in combination with bright runner rugs to protect your feet during the winter or simply when standing for a long period of time. These can be your best and most practical choice if you want the decor of your kitchen to be like from a magazine cover.

In the end, what matters is your personal liking, so if you decide to have a dark kitchen – you may as well have one, because there are many good reasons for it. The same goes for a bright one. What matters is that you express yourself through this remodeling project, and enjoy cooking in it in the end.

And of course, if you have anything to add, please do not hesitate and write your comment in the section below. We would love to hear about your experience with both kinds of kitchen!

About the author

Marie Nieves is student of economics who loves unusual trips, gadgets and creative ideas. She is an avid lover of photography interested in interior and exterior design. Marie loves to talk about her experiences and she is regular author on Smooth Decorator. You can find Marie on Facebook or follow her on Twitter and G+.

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