You know what’s wild? Last week I entered the kitchen of my friend, and I actually paused in the middle of the sentence. She had turned her gray bland room into this gorgeous green pool that made me doubt all of my design decisions in my life. Green kitchens are not merely a moment, they are here to stay and in fact, I am completely obsessed.
Green has no limits whether you are looking to redo your entire cooking space or simply inject life into the space. This color is used in sage whispers up to emerald statements, which make the nature inside a home and make everything fresh and contemporary. You are about to dive into some of the game changers in the world of kitchens which will have your kitchen being the talk of every dinner party guest.
Embrace the Power of Green Cabinets
We can begin with the king of them all green kitchen cabinets. It is not your grandmotherly avocado green (although that is also making a comeback). Green cabinets of this century vary to high-end forest color, to delightful mint color that you will be smiling at in the morning.
Sage green cabinets are killing it so much currently. They are not too many or too few to work with pretty much any countertop, but appealing enough to make a statement as well. I have witnessed them combined with brass hardware and the combination is chefs kiss. The beauty of sage? It captures well and it never appears dated.
To the slightly bolder ones, shades of deep forest green are dramatic without being overpowering. Imagine deep, somber colors that bring your kitchen to your own personal cabin stay. Combine them with light countertops and you have contrast that works.
Here are the most popular green cabinet shades right now:
- Sage green (the crowd favorite)
- Forest green (for drama queens)
- Mint green (surprisingly sophisticated)
- Olive green (earthy and warm)
| Shade | Best Paired With | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Sage Green | White/Cream counters | Calming & Modern |
| Forest Green | Light marble | Bold & Luxurious |
| Mint Green | Natural wood | Fresh & Playful |
Create a Stunning Green Backsplash Feature
Talking about backsplashes a minute? They are the jewels to your kitchen, and green ones are beautiful indeed. Green subway tiles will provide you with the classic look with a twist, and emerald hexagon tiles with the scream of a modern luxurious look.
This amazing organic effect is produced by the slight differences in each handcrafted tile that I recently installed in the kitchen of my own home, using sage green zellige tiles. Sure they are more expensive than the ordinary ceramic but the personality they contribute? Totally worth it.
Green mosaic tiles are a good choice when you need to have a texture that does not overpower the room. They fall in various ways and change across the day and make this play of background that shifts as you change. NB, the darker the grout and green tiles, the more definition they will have and stand out indeed.
Life hack of my contractor friend: Green glass tiles are very easy to clean and shine well. These are ideal when your kitchen does not receive lots of natural lighting, but you would like to feel like you are in the sun.
Incorporate Green Through Natural Stone
There is nothing like the real thing and the green marble countertops are seriously on a spurt. Verde Guatemala marble produces these unbelievable veining effects which appear as the works of nature. Every slab has its history and to be honest I could stand and stare at the designs all day long.
Sage green granite is durable, and has the preferred green color. It is virtually unbreakable, and it can be selected in both light mint to dark forest colors. My neighbor picked it 3 years ago and it even looks like it is new when two teenagers are living there and the kitchen is their arena of a tornado.
In case of something very special, why not green onyx. Its transparency allows you to back light it to get this amazing glowing effect. Be warned however, this is very expensive to maintain and is not not everyone. But man, when it works, it WORKS.
Add Life with Green Kitchen Islands
Need to have the biggest impact at the least commitment? Paint your kitchen island green. This allows you that color statement boldness without too much boldness permeating the whole space. I have seen gorgeous navy kitchens with sage green islands that form this ideal color match.
Two tone kitchens are enormous at present, and green islands are a good base to the space. Make your perimeter cabinets neutral and the island do the talking. It is as though one has a piece of furniture which is incredibly useful.
Consider these island ideas:
- Dark green island with brass pendant lights
- Mint green island with butcher block top
- Forest green with waterfall marble edges
- Sage green with open shelving on one side
Bring in Greenery and Natural Elements
The best green kitchen ideas sometimes do not touch the paint or tiles whatsoever. Planting your walls or herbs gardens will bring living things to your kitchen. I have planted a small herb wall close to my window and the availability of fresh basil and thyme has completely transformed the way I cook.
Megawatt potted plants perform miracles. The organic green element is accomplished through a fiddle leaf fig in the corner or trailing pothos on open shelving, but not on a permanent basis. Besides, plants better the quality of the air- win-win!
Color is added through furniture in the form of green bar stools or dining chairs. This is the best strategy when you are renting or you are simply not prepared to make big changes. Change them after every season, in case you get tired (but, good green never becomes out of fashion).
Style with Green Accessories and Textiles
It is so much fun here and will not cost you the bank. Green kitchen linens such as dish towels, placemats and curtains give burst of color which can be switched with the season. I change between sage and forest green depending on the mood I am in and it is like having two kitchens!
Displayed on open shelves are green pottery and dishware which are interesting to the eye and act as a dual purpose. The pretty sage green mixing bowls of that fashionable ceramics make? They appear beautiful on the counter and are used on a day-to-day basis.
Green pendant lights on your island or dining table create a statement but there is no long term commitment. There were some amazing bottle green glass pendants which cast the most beautiful light that I came across. They will be the topics of conversation each time someone visits.
Quick styling wins:
- Green glass canisters for coffee and tea
- Sage green dish towels and pot holders
- Forest green bar cart for entertaining
- Mint green small appliances (yes, they make them!)
Consider Green Flooring Options
This may be ridiculous, but listen to me- a green floor in the kitchen can be very beautiful under the right circumstances. Green terrazzo restores such retro feeling in the most ideal manner. It is tough, different and, frankly speaking, is not bad fun.
Concrete floors with a green color are also quite industrial and can be used successfully in the contemporary houses. They are convenient to do in a busy kitchen and the color can be tailored to your specific need. My architect friend has just put up in her loft and they are beautiful.
To be a bit more conventional, one can think of green ceramic larger-format tiles. They are also cleaner compared to small tiles and they give a smoother appearance. Select matte finishes to prevent slippery floors – it is all about safety and style second!
Conclusion
Green kitchens demonstrate that color is not to be feared, it simply needs to be well considered. Be it all the way with green cabinets or begin with small stuff like accessories, this multi-purpose color adds life and character into any cooking environment.
The best part? Green deals with such a variety of styles, including farmhouse and ultra-modern. It is nature-inspired, but not literal, sophisticated, but not stuffy, and fresh, but not trendy.
Begin with a single item that appeals to you – the sage green bar stools you’ve been admiring or the green tile backsplash you have been pinning on Pinterest. When you see how nice green is in your area I know you will want more. I have been there, I tell you, and my kitchen has never been prettier!
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