Kitchen Guides
How to Jazz Up a Neutral Kitchen
See these creative ideas for giving a white, gray or otherwise neutral kitchen more personality
White, wood or grey cabinets are usually the preferred choice in kitchens. Neutrals are also popular for kitchen countertops and backsplashes, as well as kitchen walls. But if you find an all-neutral kitchen a bit too plain — or you’ve been living with one for a while and want to spruce it up — there are plenty of ways to add personality to the heart of your home. These eight ideas may get the creative juices flowing. Which one would you like to see in your kitchen?
Colossus
Patterned tile isn’t just for backsplashes — you can add it to a floor or even the back of a kitchen island, as shown here. I recommend that you keep other textures and decorative shapes in the room to a minimum so they don’t compete with your patterned tile.
In this kitchen, the high contrast between two neutrals – white on the upper cabinets and black on the lower cabinets, range hood and window frames – creates a tension that also helps make the room interesting.
Read about three high-contrast kitchens
Patterned tile isn’t just for backsplashes — you can add it to a floor or even the back of a kitchen island, as shown here. I recommend that you keep other textures and decorative shapes in the room to a minimum so they don’t compete with your patterned tile.
In this kitchen, the high contrast between two neutrals – white on the upper cabinets and black on the lower cabinets, range hood and window frames – creates a tension that also helps make the room interesting.
Read about three high-contrast kitchens
2. Hang a piece of art
Kitchens are often overlooked as places to feature a piece of art. But people spend quite a bit of time in these spaces, which makes them perfect backdrops for a favourite artwork. To protect your art, place it in a frame if appropriate. Hang any unframed pieces away from the stove or any water source.
Kitchens are often overlooked as places to feature a piece of art. But people spend quite a bit of time in these spaces, which makes them perfect backdrops for a favourite artwork. To protect your art, place it in a frame if appropriate. Hang any unframed pieces away from the stove or any water source.
A gallery wall brings personalised style to a kitchen that has neutral cabinets, countertops, flooring and walls.
As an alternative to hanging the artwork, you could lean several pieces on a shelf and add a sprinkling of attractive kitchen accessories so that they, too, become part of the decor.
As an alternative to hanging the artwork, you could lean several pieces on a shelf and add a sprinkling of attractive kitchen accessories so that they, too, become part of the decor.
3. Add wallpaper
Wallpaper can have a big effect in any room. This traditional floral wallpaper adds visual interest to a kitchen that has simple white cabinetry, black countertops and rustic wood floors.
Look to vinyl or wipeable wallpaper that you can clean with a damp rag. As with art, I recommend hanging decorative wallpaper away from the stovetop or water to avoid mildew or potential fire hazards.
Find wallpaper in the Houzz Shop
Wallpaper can have a big effect in any room. This traditional floral wallpaper adds visual interest to a kitchen that has simple white cabinetry, black countertops and rustic wood floors.
Look to vinyl or wipeable wallpaper that you can clean with a damp rag. As with art, I recommend hanging decorative wallpaper away from the stovetop or water to avoid mildew or potential fire hazards.
Find wallpaper in the Houzz Shop
In this kitchen, dramatic and playful botanical wallpaper helps define a portion of the room as its own functional zone with a small island.
4. Add an eye-catching window treatment
Window treatments can dress up a room in the same way that a beautiful scarf elevates a plain outfit. A pink patterned Roman shade brings a pleasant punch of colour to this kitchen.
Window treatments can dress up a room in the same way that a beautiful scarf elevates a plain outfit. A pink patterned Roman shade brings a pleasant punch of colour to this kitchen.
This green floral Roman shade livens up the neutral kitchen. Cheery yellow window casings and a matching Dutch door also help.
When using window treatments to pep up a neutral kitchen, I recommend taking one of two approaches. One option is to coordinate your decorative shade with accessories in similar colours. The other is to limit the colour and pattern in your kitchen to just the shade, window and doors, as shown here.
When using window treatments to pep up a neutral kitchen, I recommend taking one of two approaches. One option is to coordinate your decorative shade with accessories in similar colours. The other is to limit the colour and pattern in your kitchen to just the shade, window and doors, as shown here.
5. Install statement lighting
Getting creative with light fixtures can amp up your neutral kitchen’s style, whether you choose one light over an island, or several fixtures throughout the kitchen. Consider unique shapes or dazzling finishes that will stand out against the plain backdrop of your kitchen.
Get 13 ideas for making a white kitchen stand out
Getting creative with light fixtures can amp up your neutral kitchen’s style, whether you choose one light over an island, or several fixtures throughout the kitchen. Consider unique shapes or dazzling finishes that will stand out against the plain backdrop of your kitchen.
Get 13 ideas for making a white kitchen stand out
6. Paint a bold accent wall
Painting an accent wall is one of the simpler ways to add personality to a neutral kitchen. To get enough impact, choose a colour that pairs well with, but still stands apart from, the other finishes in your kitchen.
This neutral kitchen also benefits from one of the other ways to jazz up a neutral kitchen: the patterned tile backsplash.
Painting an accent wall is one of the simpler ways to add personality to a neutral kitchen. To get enough impact, choose a colour that pairs well with, but still stands apart from, the other finishes in your kitchen.
This neutral kitchen also benefits from one of the other ways to jazz up a neutral kitchen: the patterned tile backsplash.
In this kitchen, a pretty lavender coats the walls and ceiling. The shade is a surprising and refreshing companion to the taupe cabinets. With the light hitting the shimmery backsplash, it nicely reflects the purple hue.
Find an interior designer to help you choose a kitchen wall colour
Find an interior designer to help you choose a kitchen wall colour
7. Accessorise with colour
Adding pops of colour through accessories is another simple way to dress up a neutral kitchen. You might place playful, colourful accents throughout your kitchen – try a kettle, boxes, canisters or vases. The bar stool upholstery adds an invigorating zing of colour to this white kitchen.
Adding pops of colour through accessories is another simple way to dress up a neutral kitchen. You might place playful, colourful accents throughout your kitchen – try a kettle, boxes, canisters or vases. The bar stool upholstery adds an invigorating zing of colour to this white kitchen.
Coordinating your colourful kitchen accessories with your bar stools, artwork and even fresh produce and flowers will make your kitchen look picture-perfect.
8. Go for gold
A little bling goes a long way, especially in the kitchen. Adding gold accents in the form of cabinet pulls or bar stools can give a luxe look to the plainest kitchen. The three pendants over this kitchen island bring in an energising dose of gold.
A little bling goes a long way, especially in the kitchen. Adding gold accents in the form of cabinet pulls or bar stools can give a luxe look to the plainest kitchen. The three pendants over this kitchen island bring in an energising dose of gold.
These gold pendants lend a tasteful touch of glamour to a mostly white kitchen. The gold cabinet pulls, oven knobs and sink faucet coordinate with the lighting finish to give the kitchen unmistakable style.
Read more:
9 Kitchen Organiser Racks That Ensure Utmost Order
These Space Savers are a Boon for Small Kitchens
Tell us:
Tell us your hacks to add character to a dull kitchen. Share below.
Read more:
9 Kitchen Organiser Racks That Ensure Utmost Order
These Space Savers are a Boon for Small Kitchens
Tell us:
Tell us your hacks to add character to a dull kitchen. Share below.
Adding a patterned tile to your neutral kitchen can give it colour and personality. This blue-and-white tile pops against soft grey cabinets, white countertops and dramatic wood ceiling beams. Gold fixtures and cabinet pulls further liven up the space.
Find a kitchen designer on Houzz to help you pick out a patterned tile