Kitchen Paint Colors

Kitchen paint colors, like with any room set the mood and ambiance.

There are certain psychological factors you may wish to consider when selecting kitchen colors. Paint colors are often divided into warm or cool colors. Years ago, some curious scientists decided to test the temperature differences between warm and cool colors and discovered there is a minute difference. Warm colors actually registered with warmer temperatures.

Color is a powerful decorating tool. It can evoke involuntary emotional responses. For example, the color red has been documented as causing an elevation in blood pressure, respiration and heart rate in test subjects.

The color red is known as a passionate color and with good reason. The color stimulates and taps into strong emotions. It also creates a feeling of anticipation and the need for movement and action. Not surprisingly, it's the most commonly used color in restaurants.

The psychology behind the use of red is that it over-stimulates the senses. People who sit in a red room become nervous, fidgety and unless distracted will eventually leave the room. For a restaurant this means diners won't be lingering over dessert for a long conversation. The restaurant will be able to move people in and out of the dining areas quickly. A green or blue dining room on the other hand is relaxing and restive and encourages diners to linger.

Before you make a choice of paint color for your kitchen, you'll want to consider how your kitchen décor flows with the rest of your home. If your kitchen and den area are open, you may opt to use the same color in both rooms and reserve one wall in your kitchen for a different color to accent the room. If your kitchen is typical and has very little wall space, you can use brighter and bolder colors than you might normally select for a splash of color.

The modern kitchen has become the hub of the home and a place where multiple family activities take place, especially in newer homes where the kitchen and family room or den occupy the same open space. You may want your kitchen to reflect this flurry of activity and movement by choosing a vibrant and bold color. On the other hand, because there is so much activity going on, you may decide to choose a more restive and relaxing color.

When you use bright and bold colors, your design focus becomes contrast. You'll need to be sure your cabinets and appliances as well as the floor and countertop provide enough contrast to make this color work in the over all kitchen design.

Check with your local paint supply store for the latest color trends for kitchens. Like fashions, home interior styles are always changing.

Red is also associated with fire and heat. It makes an excellent choice for a very bold statement in your kitchen. Red walls used as a backdrop for stark white cabinets and black granite countertops will create a pallet that can be ultra sleek and modern. You can use a black and white checkered floor and highly polished chrome bar stools for a retro 1950s look.

The gold and yellow color spectrum is another popular range of colors. Like red, these colors stimulate and excite. Both of these colors create a feeling of comfort and nurturing in a décor. Dark wood stains and floors will help to bring out these colors in a contrasting technique.

This is a very versatile color to use in your kitchen you can select from a large pallet of hues for green paints. Go with a light pale or take a daring plunge and paint your kitchen walls a rich emerald color. An apple green color of the walls will go well with an apple red contrast color for your décor. Green walls will also blend with yellows or blues. If green is your main color, you can use bold colors like purple or orange for accent colors in your décor.

Blue offers a wide range of hues from aqua to midnight navy. Blue is a cool color and creates an ambiance of restiveness and peacefulness. This can be carried over into the family room or den for a décor that serves not just as an aesthetic addition to your interior design, but also in the creation of a décor that gives a sense of a retreat for your family.

Dark browns and chocolate walls have moved from media and dining room walls onto the kitchen walls.

It's widely accepted in the interior design industry that basic trends impact design, especially color trends. This was very prevalent during the late 1970s and early 1980s when Native America art was spotlighted, especially turquoise jewelry. The Southwest color themes of corals and aquas were very popular color choices and still are today.

Other factors that shape color choices are news events and cultures that suddenly take the spotlight, like China has over the past decade. As a result of China taking the world stage, red has become a very popular color choice in designs, as well as the red and black.

The interest and trend of Tuscan colors, especially the terracotta pallet are still strong, but many interior designers are abondoning this trend to embrace a newer pallet of earth colors that reflect a growing interest in green living. Fresh colors like new green (the color of the first growth in spring) and sunlight colors of gold and yellow are becoming more and more popular color choices.

You can look through home décor magazines and browse websites for inspiration in choosing your kitchen paint colors.

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