Add Colour to Your Kitchen Without Overthinking It

The kitchen is more than just a place to cook, it’s the real heart of the home. It’s where meals are made, conversations happen, and mornings (hopefully) begin with a good coffee. So when it comes to design, it’s only natural to want your kitchen to feel both functional and inviting.

A clever way to breathe new life into your space? Colour. Done right, it can brighten up the room, bring a sense of personality, and even make the space feel more open. But that doesn’t mean turning your kitchen into a rainbow. A few carefully chosen shades can go a long way.

Whether you're updating your cabinets, choosing new accessories, or thinking about a feature boiling water tap in brushed gold or black, this guide walks you through simple ways to use colour confidently in your kitchen, no overthinking required.

Why Colour Works So Well in Kitchens

We tend to think of the kitchen as a practical space, all appliances, surfaces and storage. But it’s also where we spend a lot of time, often standing in the same spot, looking at the same wall or worktop every day. Adding colour can subtly shift how the space feels.

• Warm colours (like terracotta, mustard or blush pink) can make a room feel cosy and welcoming.
• Cool tones (like sage, navy or soft grey-blue) bring a calm, fresh vibe.
• Metallics (like brushed nickel or chrome) add sophistication and catch the light in understated ways.

The key is balance. You don’t need to cover every surface in colour, sometimes just one or two accents are enough to elevate the whole room.

Cabinets Are a Great Place to Be Brave

Kitchen cabinets take up a lot of visual space, which makes them a natural place to add colour.

If you’ve got a smaller kitchen, light-coloured cabinets can help reflect light and make the space feel bigger. But if your room is bright and airy, there’s nothing stopping you from going darker. Navy blue, charcoal or olive green can create a moody, modern look that feels high-end.

Not ready to commit to a bold cabinet colour? Try a two-tone approach. Keep your wall cabinets light, and go deeper with the base units. This adds contrast while keeping things balanced.

Subtle Colour, Big Impact: Switch Up Your Tap

When people think about adding colour to a kitchen, they often overlook the tap. But it’s something you use every day, and it sits front and centre above the sink.

Choosing a boiling water tap in a copper or matt black finish is a small change that makes a big visual difference. These finishes work particularly well with neutral kitchen palettes, adding warmth or contrast without being overpowering.

Our Revista, Platina and Helena 3-in-1 boiling water taps come in a range of finishes to suit different styles. They don’t just look good either, they also give you filtered 98°C water on demand, so you can ditch the kettle and keep your worktops clear.

Use Open Shelves and Accessories to Bring In Pops of Colour

Not every update has to involve a full renovation. One of the easiest ways to introduce colour is through accessories, items that are easy to change with the seasons or as your tastes evolve.

Try adding:

• A colourful utensil pot or chopping board on your worktop
• A row of vibrant mugs or dishes on an open shelf
• Cookbooks or artwork that reflect your chosen palette
• Bright textiles like tea towels, aprons or oven mitts

These little touches add personality and warmth to your kitchen without requiring a major overhaul.

Splashbacks, Walls and Feature Tiles

Another great place to play with colour is your walls. Whether you opt for a bold paint colour, statement tile, or textured finish like limewash, vertical surfaces can instantly shift the feel of the room.

• A tiled splashback in a patterned or coloured design can act as a focal point
• Accent walls painted in a rich tone can make white cabinets pop
• Tiles with subtle colour variation add texture and depth

If your kitchen is open plan, colour can also help define the space, separating cooking zones from dining or living areas visually, without putting up physical barriers.

Choose the Right Finish: Not Just What, But How

When it comes to colour, finish matters just as much as the hue itself. A glossy surface reflects light and gives a contemporary feel. A matt or satin finish feels softer and more relaxed.

And don’t forget your hardware. Brushed brass handles, matt black cabinet pulls, or even a matching boiling water tap can be the detail that ties the whole palette together.

A Few Final Tips Before You Start

• Test your colours in natural and artificial light. Paint and materials can look totally different depending on the time of day.
• Less is more. You don’t need ten colours to make a space feel alive — just one or two accents done well.
• Think long-term. Choose colours you’ll enjoy seeing every day, not just what’s trendy right now.
• Layer, don’t overwhelm. Add colour in stages. You can always bring more in — but it’s harder to scale back.

Bringing It All Together

Adding colour to your kitchen doesn’t mean turning it into a kaleidoscope. Often, it’s the smallest changes: a painted cabinet, a warm-toned boiling water tap, or a few carefully chosen accessories, that make the biggest difference.

The right colours can make your space feel bigger, brighter and more cohesive. But more than that, they make it feel like home.

So whether you’re going for bold contrasts or soft tonal layers, trust your eye, take your time, and enjoy the process of making your kitchen a little more you.

Shop our range of boiling water taps and find the right finish for your kitchen, or get in touch with our expert team, always on hand to guide you through the process.