Whether you're thinking of a total kitchen refresh or a quick update, your colour choices can make a world of difference to your space. Choosing colours you love is a great way to make sure your kitchen is a place that brings you joy, whether you're whipping up a mid-week meal or entertaining your friends and family. But did you know that the colours you choose can do more than just look great?
If you're planning on updating your kitchen with a new accent colour, why not take inspiration from colour psychology? As well as making your home feel more welcoming, your colour palette could also help make your kitchen feel more energetic, calm, sociable, joyful, or romantic, and we've pulled together the perfect colour palette for each mood. So, whether you're a frequent entertainer or would like to transform your kitchen into a tranquil haven, take a look at our mood boards below and discover the ultimate recipe for a happy kitchen.
The ultimate recipe for an energetic kitchen
Your kitchen is where you start your day, so if you want to make sure your décor will perk you up for the day ahead, then be sure to choose bold and vibrant colour choices, taking inspiration from our colour pop palette. Orange and yellow are perfect for this, as their sunshiny tones will immediately brighten up your morning. According to colour psychology, these colours also symbolise energy and enthusiasm.
By choosing ingredients in these colours, you can create an energising meal perfect for any time of day. Zingy citrus and punchy spices will brighten up any dish, so be sure to add them wherever you can. Here at Denby, we have plenty of colourful recipes that will help you add some vibrancy to your plate.
Blue is said to be a colour that promotes productivity, and a lively turquoise would be the perfect pairing to yellow and orange. Inject a touch of this colour into your kitchen using tableware from our Azure, Studio Blue, or Blue Haze collections, mixing and matching them with various orange and yellow accents to create a combination that you love.
If you'd like, you can also weave in natural hues such as greens and browns. These colours can create a sense of wellness and health in your space, particularly leafy tones such as those in our Elements Fern Green and Statements collections. These colours are also associated with nutritious, organic food choices, so look to green vegetables, herbs, wholegrains, and nuts.
The ultimate recipe for a calm kitchen
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so you no doubt want it to feel like a soothing space you can relax and unwind in. By incorporating natural tones into your décor, you can transform your space into a calming hub. Choose comforting and cosy browns, such as those in our kiln range, along with clean and simple white and cream tableware.
Blue is a classically soothing colour that naturally occurs in areas that are spacious and calming, such as the sky and the sea. So, using blue in your interior décor can help replicate this feeling of spaciousness in your home. Pastel tones, such as those in our Studio Blue, Elements Blue, and Impression Blue ranges, will add a subtle dash of colour without being overwhelming. Likewise, pastel pinks will add a comforting feel.
To make the most of the calming effects of nature, be sure bring elements of the outdoors inside by choosing natural materials and textures. Add a touch of greenery by growing plants on a windowsill and serve up lighter dishes packed with nutritious vegetables and greens that will help keep your mind and body healthy. For those moments when you want a bit of time out, why not brew yourself a cup of green tea or find a little mindfulness in the matcha tea preparation process?
The ultimate recipe for a sociable kitchen
If you're a fan of entertaining, then you may want to decorate your space to encourage socialisation. Orange is often considered one of the most sociable colours for its ability to create a sense of energy and happiness. When mixed with a bold yellow and invigorating red — two colours commonly said to increase appetite — you can create a winning combination for a dinner party.
Comforting browns can add a sense of warmth and sophistication to your kitchen and table setting, so be sure to add touches of this colour to soften the overall look. Fortunately, plenty of sharing dishes are available in these kinds of hues, from rustic breads and pizzas to hearty stews. We love a vibrant Mexican feast for a dinner party, which incorporates fiery red chillies, tomatoes, and fresh orange mangoes for a sociable feast that will keep the conversation flowing.
The ultimate recipe for a joyful kitchen
To create a space that brings you joy, then choose a combination of your favourite colours that will uplift your mood whenever you step foot into the room. But, if you'd like some inspiration, there are plenty of colours out there that can help lift your spirits.
For example, various tones of pink can create a sense of peace, happiness, kindness, and love, while green can evoke a feeling of optimism and luck. Better yet, these two colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel, which means they complement each other perfectly.
If pink and green don't feel quite 'you' then you could opt for a yellow and orange combo that will remind you of the summer, even on the rainiest of days. These colours also pair well with green, so you can mix and match these happy colours to create a unique combination that makes you smile.
For an extra dose of happiness throughout the day, consider preparing your meals using ingredients in these colours as well, such as fresh spring greens and tropical fruits. While naturally occurring pink foods aren't very common, red berries, figs, guava, and grapefruit will all add this blush tone to your dishes and their natural sweetness is bound to brighten your day.
The ultimate recipe for a romantic kitchen
Is there anything better than a homecooked meal for two? If you regularly like to impress someone special with your culinary creations, then why not set the tone for a romantic night in with some smart kitchen colour choices?
Red is a classic colour for love and can look stunning when matched with a sophisticated black and a dreamy white or cream. Whether you choose to use red as an accent colour or pack a punch with some statement cabinetry, feel free to mix and match your colour combinations to find a blend that you love. If red feels a little too bold, blush pink tableware can add the same intimate tone in a more understated way.
The great thing about red is that it's not just a romantic colour — it can also make you feel hungrier. So, if you're not sure what to serve up for your romantic meal for two, consider dishes that include red ingredients, such as tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, and strawberries, and add a little heat with a touch of red chilli. Don't forget to serve up a drop of red wine to complete your romantic meal.
Nicola Wilson, Design Manager at Denby, said:
"Colours can have a bigger impact on your interiors than you might realise, and colour psychology can be a great place to start if you're not sure what kind of palette to go for. Bright and bold colours tend to make us feel energised, while pale tones can be more soothing, so you might want to bear this in mind if you're renovating your kitchen.
"Of course, not everyone responds to colours in the same way. Your favourite colour might not necessarily be one of the traditional 'joyful colours', but it can still bring you happiness. It's all about taking a look at your colour choices and noticing how they make you feel. If you choose hues that you love, then you're going to love your interiors too and that's really all that matters."
Your home is your haven and, by choosing colours that you love, you can create a space where you feel your happiest. Our mood boards above should give you plenty of inspiration to settle on a winning colour scheme. Whether you like your kitchen to be a calm space or a place that brings you energy, be sure to consider how your colour choices make you feel and don't be afraid to experiment until you find a combination that brings you joy.
Here at Denby, you can shop our tableware by colour. All of our ranges are designed to be used solo or can be mixed and matched with other ranges to create a unique combination, so browse the range today and build your own collection.