Blue kitchens? They are going on a serious moment now and frankly I am not angry about it. Blue is the answer to all-white kitchens (yawn) that have been the bane of every person over the years and in the end allow us to actually have a reason to spend some time in your kitchen and have a good time doing so. Team navy or crushing on powder blue: there is something about this color that just works.
I have been designing kitchens more than a decade, and I can tell you one of the colors that the clients are scared of at the beginning but will absolutely love is blue. It is brave enough to declare something but at the same time, it can fit with almost any style. Prepared to make your kitchen change into something easily fancy in blue?
Classic Navy Cabinets: The Ultimate Power Move
Navy blue cabinets are the little black dress of kitchen design in essence. They are old, advanced and do everything with pretty much everything you give them. I’ve installed navy kitchens in farmhouse-style houses to modern condo buildings and never once have they not impressed.
The beauty of navy lies in its depth. Contrary to lighter blues that can at times be chilled, navy gives warmth and richness that makes your kitchen warm and yet classy. Either use brass, to be classic or matte black, to be more modern.
There are several useful features about navy cabinets that make them effective: • Hide fingerprints and are less likely to wear out than white ones, create an instant drama without excessive emphasis.
Stylish in warm and cool colour palette combinations • appear costly on a budget.
Trick: When you are afraid of committing to navy on all your cabinets, test it on your island. It is an excellent experiment to dip into the waters (pun intended)
Powder Blue Perfection: Soft and Serene
Feeling the need to feel like you are inhaling fresh air? Your solution may be powder blue cabinets. I find this light, dreamy colour to be almost ethereal in kitchens, which seems to be completely mesmerising to me. It is as if you had a piece of the sky in the house.
I have just made a powder blue kitchen to a client who desired a relaxing but not dull color. We combined warm white countertops and accents by the natural wood with the soft blue, the outcome was magic itself. The room was elegant and cozy, ideal to the hectic family.
Balance is the secret of powder blue work. You do not want your kitchen to appear like a nursery, so ground it down with: • Rich wood tones • Warm metallics such as gold or copper • Crisp white or cream accents Next, ground in natural textures such as stone or marble.
Two-Tone Blue Magic: Best of Both Worlds
One blue is not enough, better take two. There is a big trend on two-tone blue kitchens and I am on board. This will allow you to play with various shades and make a visual appeal without excess.
My favorite combo? Navy lowers with a lighter blue or white uppers. It provides this unworried harmony in which the darker shade pulls the space and the lighter one makes things feel open and airy. More to the point, it is much more interesting than the more usual one-color treatment.
| Combination | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Navy + Powder Blue | Coastal Chic | Open floor plans |
| Navy + White | Classic Traditional | Any kitchen size |
| Teal + Sage Blue | Modern Eclectic | Creative households |
Blue Island, White Perimeter: The Safe Play
Not prepared to go blue all the way? I totally get it. A blue kitchen island and white perimeter cabinets resemble training wheels in terms of color- and in truth, it looks amazing. This style will provide you with that touch of personality but still keep the whole light and airy.
I cannot count the number of times I have done this combo and it is particularly effective in smaller kitchens where excessive amount of dark color may be overwhelming. The blue island is placed in the center of your kitchen- a functional piece of art that holds the entire room together.
The trick is to select the correct shade of blue on which to have your island. Navy would be good in the classic environment, whereas a darker royal blue would be more modern. No matter what you do, it should be able to blend with your existing finishes and should not clash with other colors within your space.
Sage Blue: The Sophisticated Wildcard
Sage blue (or blue-green, we can be technical) is one of those colors which really should not work as good as it does. It is the ideal union between blue and green which is both relaxing and elegant. This shade was discovered by me a few years ago and I have been obsessed since that time.
I love sage blue because it is versatile. It is excellent in the kitchen that tends to get traditional, but it also looks at home in the more modernized places. The trick lies in the style – combine it with natural fabrics and warm metals, to preserve the classic look.
The color is especially glowing when you: • apply it to shaker-style cabinets • pair it with natural stone countertops • add some toasty brass or copper accents • add lots of natural light.
Blue Backsplash: Subtle Yet Stunning
You may want blue in your kitchen, but sometimes painting the cabinets is permanent. introduce the blue backsplash- your low-commitment means of creating color and personality. I have played with both traditional subway tiles in gentle blue and dramatic navy hexagons and the outcomes are amazing.
The blue backplash is especially effective in those situations when you are planning to align various aspects of your kitchen. Perhaps you have blue bar stools or a blue carpet a coordinating backsplash can be used to tie everything in.
My current favorite? A soft blue subway tile with dark grout. It is old-fashioned enough to stand the test of time yet new enough to be special. And when you grow weary of it in a few years, a backsplash is much simpler to replace than cabinets.
Cerulean Accents: Small Touches, Big Impact
Not all blue kitchen should have blue cabinets. Even with a simple redesign of color, like cerulean blue accents (bar stools, pendant lights, or even a set of blue dishes), can make a difference to your space, without the need for a complete remodeling. Incidentally, this is what I usually recommend to those renters who desire personality but cannot make permanent decisions.
Flexibility is the beauty with the use of blue as the accent color. When you feel like having something new there is so much you can easily change. To begin with some of the most important pieces and observe how you feel. You may discover that these little touches furnish you all the blue you require.
My blue accent favorites: • Ceramic pendant lights above the island • displays of blue enamelware in vintage forms • blue or somewhat blue artwork or photography • patterned blue and white dish towels.
Denim Blue: Casual Cool
Denim blue may not work in a kitchen but listen. This medium, easy-going blue has an easy lived-in touch that is highly effective in casual, family friendly kitchens. It is like a favorite pair of jeans, easy, flexible and never out of place.
I applied denim blue cabinets to one of the kitchens of a lake house last summer and the occupants just adored the fact that it was classy and casual at the same time. It is neutral enough but adds personality to the space due to the amount of gray in the color.
This color is effective especially when you wish your kitchen to be cozy instead of being delicate. It is complimented by: • Wood countertops with warmth and tone to them • Hardware reminiscent of vintage designs • Natural fiber textures and relaxed mix seating.
Teal Sophistication: Bold and Beautiful
Ready to go bold? Teal kitchen cabinets are aimed at the bold dresser not afraid to make a statement. This deep and multi layered colour is between blue and green and adds a touch of richness and drama to the guests that cannot be overlooked.
I won’t lie, teal is not in everyone’s taste. But when it hits it hits. I have recently worked on a teal kitchen of one of my clients who desired something totally unique and the outcome was amazing. The trick was to mix the intensity with ample amount of white and warm wood.
Teal performs best when you: • Have good natural light to demonstrate its intricacy • Keep other colors relatively subdued • Incorporate warm metals such as brass or copper • Incorporate a lot of texture to smooth out the starkness.
Robin’s Egg Blue: Fresh and Optimistic
The blue of robin eggs makes me smile whenever I look at it because of the inherent joy it has. This new optimistic color gives a spring-like touch to the kitchen that is both classic and modern. It is like it is always getting good in your kitchen!
The lighter blue is especially applicable in the kitchens that receive substantial natural light. The color appears to shine when the sun is shining, and this beautiful airy mood is achieved, which makes cooking not more like a job, but a game.
The stratagem of robin’s egg blue is to keep the rest of your palette pretty plain. Make this gorgeous hue the star, and reinforce it with crisp whites, warm woods, and perhaps a little more warmth with coral or yellow.
Midnight Blue: Drama Without the Fuss
Midnight blue is the result of navy becoming very serious. It is nearly black with a lot of blue to make it interesting. This very refined color also creates a great effect in kitchens that require high drama but less effort.
I prefer midnight blue to clients who wish to have something different yet not strange. It is special without being too trendy or too modern and old-fashioned to wear. Also, it is so forgiving, the fingerprint and wear character but literally fade on this dark background.
Pair midnight blue with: • Warm white or cream countertops • Plenty of under-cabinet lighting to make it feel light inside the cabinets • Brass or gold hardware to add warmth to it • Light colored walls in the cabinets to avoid cave-like effect.
Making Blue Work: Final Thoughts
That is the thing with blue kitchens, they only can be as good as you think about them. The color in itself is beautiful, however, success is achieved by thinking about your lighting, selecting the colors that match, and selecting the shade that fits your way of life.
When you are not certain on blue, just begin small. Get a blue backsplash or include some blue accessories. This all-purpose color may be the solution that your kitchen is missing, to make it look fresh and intimate.
In my opinion, the most successful blue kitchens are the ones that do not seem like they are there with paint – the colour belonged there all along. You can choose to be bold and work with teal or remain traditional and use navy, but either way, the kitchen is supposed to be yourself. It is where you will spend so many hours cooking, entertaining and living anyway.
Great, we are ready to jump in blue. Believe me, it takes you the magic of a cleverly designed blue kitchen after which you will wonder why you took so long before you jumped.