Inject some personality into your home with these colorful small kitchen ideas. Vivid hues and joyful patterns are an amazing way to make the most of a small space, and there's nowhere better to start than the heart of the home.
From painting walls, picking out wallpapers, to buying a new toaster in a fun, retro shade, there are so many ways to bring extra personality into this all-important room, according to our design experts.
So, don't let the so-called design rules tell you what to do — if you love color and are hunting down small kitchen ideas, stick with us for the best tips from super-stylish influencers and experts to make the space your own.
Colorful small kitchen ideas
Scroll this way for easy and budget-friendly colorful kitchen ideas for small spaces from those in the know. From interior designers to home experts, check out these ideas on how to bring more color to your kitchen.
1. Go bright with appliances
Don't have the budget to re-vamp the whole space? No problem! Get your hands on a colorful small kitchen appliance instead and we bet it will make you smile every time you see it, as well as brighten up your countertops.
Kettles, toasters, and coffee machines are the easiest bet. This pink kettle from Smeg is a total dream for adding a pop of color to a small kitchen counter. This fan-favorite product features a swivel base and smart auto-shutoff.
2. Try the half-and-half paint trend
While painting a kitchen feels like a lot of effort, the cost vs. the impact is actually pretty amazing. Matilda Martin, trend specialist at home decor brand Lick, says, "A coat of paint changes the entire look of a room and can cost less than $100. So, if a dramatic effect is what you're after, I'd always recommend working out if painting is possible."
The best news is you don't have to paint the whole room for a stunning result. Matilda adds, "For me, the half-and-half trend is perfect for small spaces as it can really elongate the ceiling. Paint the bottom half of the room in a bold, punchy hue and keep the top half white. It works wonders and is very on-trend right now. In this example, Lick's Green04 is the perfect balanced green with hints of sky blue undertones."
Matilda Martin is trend specialist at decor brand Lick Home, as well as Editor of the brand's in-house magazine, Lift The Lid.
3. Lean into patterned wallpaper
While you might have thought that busy patterns, like checkerboard print, have no place in a small space, the opposite is true. As the eye is distracted by the pattern, it moves around the room and doesn't focus so much on little nooks, which tend to get lost in the pattern.
Keely Smith, a lead interior designer at JD Elite Interiors, explains, “For your small kitchen, vibrant wallpaper is an excellent option. It's inexpensive, easy to apply, removable if needed down the line, and will transform any space. Consider a bold floral or geometric pattern in colors like lime, cobalt, or tangerine. I would apply it to one wall as an eye-catching focal point behind the sink.”
Peel and stick wallpapers are perfect for creating an accent wall. This botanical mural from Etsy is easy to apply and you can simply peel it off when you move.
Keely Smith is a Lead Interior Designer at North Vancouver-based JD Elite Interiors.
4. Glow up with a neon sign
Don't they say that people always stand in the kitchen at a party? Well, we're about to bring the party to the kitchen with a Vegas-style neon sign. If you're looking for pizzazz, this is it.
Imagine how fun it would be having your friends over for cocktails and lighting the space up with a moody glow? You can even make your own neon sign pretty easily at home for a truly custom and fitting design.
Price: $69
How fun is this pink boot sign? We’re loving the cowgirl trend at the moment, and this neon decor will add a fun touch to any space.
5. Bring texture with a wall hanging
Colorful artwork is a great way to bring different hues to the space, and of course, they can be moved or changed at any time. But, why not try something a little different and instead of a standard print, lean into a wall hanging instead?
The great thing about wall hangings is that they're textured, bringing another dimension into the space. If you're trying to level up your interiors game, this is a great way to go above and beyond the usual picture wall. We are obsessed with this ombre version from Etsy with loads of movement.
6. Jazz things up with a patterned rug
Didn't think rugs were for the kitchen? Absolutely false! Rugs in a flat weave and a smaller shape, like our favorite Target rugs, are an amazing idea for this room, as they add some much-needed warmth and coziness.
Kerry Sherin, a consumer advocate at Ownerly, says, "Don't forget about the floor! It can be so easy, when we're making colorful changes to a space, to only think about smaller accessories or the walls. But a patterned floor is very striking so take the plunge with a colorful rug. It's easy to change if you get tired of the look. Remember, though, no shaggy textures or thick piles — we don't want food or crumbs hiding in there!”
Kerry Sherin is a Consumer Advocate at Ownerly, a website which shares home and property data.
Price: $179
Iris Apfel is a style icon and so, of course, any of us would be lucky to get our mitts on her rug collection with Ruggable. This one is small enough to work in even the teeniest of kitchens.
7. DIY your grout lines
Hats off to Lindsey Isla who has taken her kitchen DIY to the next level with this adorable pink grout. While still colorful and full of personality, she's also managed to incorporate the minimalist trend with aplomb.
Thomas Borcherding, owner and lead designer at Homestar Design Remodel agrees, saying, "Your tile’s grout color doesn’t have to be permanent. Painting your kitchen’s grout lines, inckuding on the floor, counter, and backsplash, can revitalize and dramatically change the appearance of your kitchen. Doing so can add the color infusion that you’re looking for.”
Thomas Borcherding is the founder and lead designer at Homestar Design Remodel.
8. Make boring things, not boring
This tip does what it says on the tin, literally. If a whole kitchen makeover feels a little out of reach, to achieve a colorful small kitchen take a leaf out of influencer Poppy Almond's book.
Use small, eye-catching utensils, decorative cans, and kitchen accessories to make a difference with decor. Scatter these personal decor items around your kitchen shelves to add points of interest as reflect your personal brand of style.
These HAY canisters are iconic and will really pop on your shelves.
Price: $15
These HAY tins are such an easy way to brighten your space that not only don't cost the earth, but also they're Danish, and therefore automatically cool.
FAQs
What color combination should I choose for a small kitchen?
It all depends on your personal taste, but Matilda Martin, Trend Specialist at Lick, does have a few suggestions. "Try pairing an olive green with off white, teal and slate grey, or something really fun like pink and red,” she says.
What is the easiest way to add color to a small kitchen?
Tableware is a lovely way to get more color into your kitchen. Treat yourself to some pretty mugs and hang underneath a shelf on little hooks, stack a few colorful plates on some open shelving or lean into textiles, such as a patterned dishcloth, tablecloth or oven mitts.
We don't know who created the rule that small spaces should only be painted in light, neutral colors but news flash — they were wrong.
If you're looking for the inside scoop on the best colors to try at home in 2024, we found the six shades that are going to be everywhere, according to Valspar's director of color marketing. Run, don't walk!