1. HONEY-COLORED HUES
In this light, airy, muted room, you might be tempted to consider grey kitchen ideas, keeping the whole scheme neutral. But not so, and this daring addition of yellow enlivens the whole space.
2. HALF-HEIGHT COLOR
If you know how to paint kitchen cabinets then you can totally revitalise your space - there is no need to take yellow all the way to the ceiling. ‘We often use a tide-line paint effect, where the color of the cabinets extends above the worktop to eye level, creating one continuous line around the room,’ says Adrian Bergman, design manager at Plain English.
3. CHOOSE A SUNNY YELLOW
When architect Nicholas Agius of Agius Scorpo Architects designed this cleverly configured ‘toolbox’ kitchen for a micro apartment in Melbourne, he chose a brilliant shade of yellow for the woodwork. The color was used to accentuate the cabinets, shelving and framework details, all of which are hidden in a large white cupboard when the kitchen isn’t in use, the smartest of small kitchen ideas. ‘This highly visible ‘signal yellow’ is commonly used for heavy machinery, such as excavators and bulldozers,’ Nicholas explains. ‘This reinforces the utilitarian nature of the kitchen, and the bright color means that it really pops when you open it up.’
4. BOLD VINYL FLOOR
When it comes to floor types for a kitchen, you can add a real injection of color. ‘Vinyl flooring is an inexpensive way to add color to a kitchen without compromising on safety or quality,’ says Carpetright’s David Snazel. ‘Kitchens usually see a lot of traffic, so it’s best to opt for durable flooring that’s low maintenance and will stand the test of time.’
5. SAFFRON YELLOW TILES
‘We love the saffron shade of this authentic zellige tile for its ability to energize spaces like this,’ says Sarah Lonsdale, senior creative director at Californian tile brand Clé, speaking on the kitchen tile ideas used here. The home’s interior designer, Lynn K. Leonidas, selected Clé’s ‘Indian Saffron’ colorway to break up the cream-painted cabinetry of this shaker-style kitchen. ‘The natural color variation in the zellige tiles helps to soften the contrast,’ continues Sarah, ‘while the glossy glaze plays up the perfect imperfections inherent in the handmade tile, acting as a counterpoint to the strong vertical lines in the cabinetry.’
6. ADD COLOR TO COMPACT SPACES
Overhauled as part of a thoughtful redesign, this cheerful U-shaped yellow kitchen was completed by South London firm R2 Studio Architects, who revamped and extended this 1960s home. A palette of red, yellow and blue now defines the space – part of a plan to make small interventions while retaining the original modernist feel.
7. PAIR MUSTARD AND MARBLE
A contemporary reinterpretation of a classic kitchen, this lightweight and modular steel design was conceived by Italian brand Very Simple Kitchen. A collaboration with Swedish interior designer and color expert Tekla Evelina Severin, the kitchen pairs striped marble surfaces with mustard-yellow units - a great way to lift your white kitchen ideas.
8. CHANGE YOUR KITCHEN FRONTS
On the hunt for new fronts to try your own Ikea hack? Look no further than these sleek and simple cabinet doors by Husk, which are handmade in the brand’s Bristol workshop and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. ‘For this project, the clients wanted something bright and minimalist but still in keeping with the home’s mid-century features, says Husk’s in-house kitchen designer, Freya Celeste Gibbons. 'The yellow complements the character of the property, while injecting some excitement and warmth.’
9. MIX YELLOW AND BLACK
Yellow can easily work alongside your black kitchen ideas, if you happen to have a flair for the dramatic. ‘My client, Kim, loved her home’s original 1970s architecture. She also loves cooking and wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the house,’ says Caecilia Potter, design director at Melbourne studio Atticus & Milo. ‘Inspired by her vibrant personality, the original red-brick floor and black steel structure, I sought to bring some sunshine into this happy space with bold splashes of Dulux ‘Yellowstone’ on a palette of soft grey and black,’ says the designer, who topped the high-gloss yellow island with an oiled eucalyptus countertop, a great example of two tone kitchen ideas.
10. GO FOR SHERBET LEMON CABINETRY
When Berlin-based couple César & Maria enlisted Danish brand Reform to design their new kitchen, one of the first priorities was to make the space feel lighter. ‘We liked the idea of a bright color on the wall of floor-to-ceiling storage, and then a natural oak finish for the kitchen,’ says the pair, who also chose the color to give their 19th-century apartment a more modern feel - Reform is known for its kitchen cabinet color ideas. ‘At first, we were a bit nervous about the bold yellow because we picked it after seeing the tiniest sample, but we’re very happy with our wall of sunshine.’