Key Points
- Warm off-white paint creates the illusion of a larger kitchen.
- Dusty green-gray colors reduce visual noise in small spaces.
- Light and mid shades of blue add a sense of airiness to small kitchens.
Spacious kitchens are a luxury. However, a small kitchen can be functional and beautiful if it’s designed well. Whether it’s a narrow galley kitchen in a historic home or a pint-sized alcove in your studio apartment, there are ways to create the illusion of additional space in this frequently used room.
We asked three designers to share their favorite paint colors to use in a small kitchen, and it’s got us itching to pick up a paint roller.
Warm, Off-White
Studio Peake
All three designers we interviewed agreed that white with warm undertones is a perfect paint choice for creating the illusion of more space in a kitchen.
“A warm white with just a touch of creaminess is perfect for walls and ceilings in small kitchens,” says designer Jacqueline Gonçalves. “It reflects natural light beautifully, helps open up the space, and pairs with virtually any accent color. It’s a timeless choice.”
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Dusty Green
Becca Interiors
Muted green-gray is another color that more than one designer cited as a go-to color for painting a petite kitchen.
“These hues are mid-value, low-contrast, and slightly muted, so they recede visually. The surface bounces less light back to the eye, letting it fall into the background instead of shouting for attention,” Saab says. “That softness lowers visual noise and leaves the room feeling breathable.”
Gonçalves loves using green-gray paint in conjunction with warm whites and earthy wood tones in a small kitchen.
“I love this color for cabinets, but it would also be great on walls with kitchens with stained wood cabinets,” she says.
Light to Mid Shades of Blue
Design by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Designer Karen Germond is always drawn to using shades of light and medium blue in her designs, but especially in small kitchens, because it adds a sense of light and airiness to a space. To really leverage this effect, she suggests pairing it with white.
“Combining blue and white in kitchens, especially smaller ones, creates a soft and pleasing contrast that doesn’t overwhelm the space,” she says.
According to her, blue is an excellent choice for cabinets paired with white walls, and vice versa.
Mushroom and Putty Tones
Victoria Bell Design
A mushroom tone is Saab’s go-to for cabinetry when square footage is tight, and she often pairs it with walls that feature a similar light reflectance value.
“High-contrast kitchens photograph well, but in person, the sharp break between dark and light chops the room to pieces,” she warns. “Taupey mid-tones melt those boundaries so your eye glides uninterrupted, tricking the brain into reading more volume. Pair them with a warm white wall and suddenly the kitchen feels layered, fluid, and twice its size.”
Cool-Toned Gray
Arbor & Co.
If your small kitchen contains any stained wood features on floors or cabinetry, Gonçalves suggests trying out a cool-toned gray on the walls. Then, finish the look off with creamy white trim.
“It complements warm wood tones and pairs beautifully with off-whites,” she says.
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