How to use colour in the kitchen

Insight from Earthborn

Bright and multicoloured or neutral and monochrome? Choosing the right colour for a kitchen can be a difficult decision as it needs to fit both form and function.

From bold, eye-catching cabinets and feature walls to cocooning colour drenching, Cathryn Sanders, Head of Creative at Earthborn, shares her tips on ways to introduce colour and character to a kitchen.

Drench from floor to ceiling

“Colour drenching is often a style of décor popular in bedrooms and living spaces thanks to the cosy and cocooning feeling it evokes. It can be unusual for homeowners to introduce this look into their kitchens as it’s bold and can feel overpowering – however there are many benefits to colour drenching the heart of the home. As kitchens incorporate so many different textures and materials across a range of surfaces, paint helps to create a more cohesive space. For the most impact, match your wall colour to your cabinet colour for an elegant and considered aesthetic that works across both contemporary and traditional kitchens.”

Go two-tone

“A trend we’ve seen for several years, two-tone kitchens remain in the spotlight in 2026 thanks to the character and depth it adds to a space. It’s a great way for homeowners to express their personal style and colour preferences, without having to choose one colour for their cabinets! A combination of different colours adds beautiful visual interest, and a popular method is to paint your main run of kitchen cabinets in one colour and your island in another. In a classic Shaker kitchen, you may want to modernise it by adding bold colours, whereas in a modern kitchen you may choose more muted, earthy tones.”

Update your kitchen cabinets

“Redecorating your kitchen can often be considered a significant expense. Providing a full kitchen makeover for a fraction of the price of buying new units, painting your kitchen cabinets is an easy way to breathe new life into the space. 

A fresh coat of paint can truly transform your kitchen and allows you to fully experiment with colour, with the ability to change and update it as often as you like. Before you start painting, proper planning and preparation are crucial. Start by assessing your cabinets and repairing any damage such as cracks and holes, before removing the doors, drawers and hardware. Clean and wipe down each surface to remove any dirt before lightly sanding to roughen the surface and prepare it for new paint. Remove any dust before applying a couple of layers of primer – and then follow with your paint using the right brush or roller.”

Choose the right paint

“Our Lifestyle emulsion is the perfect choice for use in busy family kitchens as it offers a durable, washable finish. Kitchens are subject to steam and condensation as well as food spills, so a hardwearing and easy to clean paint that can be easily wiped down is a must. When updating your kitchen cabinets, our water based Eggshell No. 17 emulsion is the ideal option for internal woodwork. Its silk finish and unique formulation means it is totally oil free, virtually VOC-free, washable and scuff-resistant.”

Pricing

The Lifestyle range is priced from £57.50 for 2.5L or £98.00 for 5L tin

The Eggshell No.17 range is priced from £32.00 for 750ml tin or £76.50 for 2.5L tin