Kitchen Color Trends: Pastels That Stay Timeless

Soft pastels are one of the easiest ways to follow current kitchen color trends without painting yourself into a corner. Think sage, mint, powder blue, blush and pale butter, paired with wood, stone and a little metal so the room doesn't read as a nursery.

If you're wondering what color is replacing gray in kitchens, warm off-whites and gentle greens are the usual answer, and pastels sit comfortably in that group. Below you'll find how to choose a shade, how light changes it, and how to keep the result from going stale.

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Which pastel colors work in a kitchen?

Temperature is the first decision. Warm pastels such as peach, blush and soft apricot feel cozy and suit family kitchens where people gather. Cool pastels such as seafoam, mint and powder blue feel calm and clean, and they fit minimalist or Scandinavian rooms.

Saturation matters as much as hue. A low-saturation color is quieter and easier to live with all day. A slightly stronger one adds energy without shouting. If you're unsure, go one step grayer than the swatch you love, because color always looks stronger across a full wall.

Does blue really change how a room feels?

There's some research behind the calm-blue idea, with a caveat. In a study led by Isabella S Bower at Deakin University, participants exposed to a blue built environment showed a wider range of respiration and skin conductance than with white or no environment. Her team wrote that "The findings show that blue coloring of the built environment increases autonomic range and is associated with modulations of brain activity linked to emotional processing." So blue affects people measurably, but that isn't the same as proving it relaxes everyone. Pick a shade you enjoy standing in.

How does light change a pastel?

Natural light makes pastels glow, and it also shifts them. North-facing rooms tend to cool colors, so a warm pastel balances them. South- and west-facing kitchens get warmer light, so cooler pastels keep things from tipping into yellow.

Bulbs count too. Warm LEDs around 2700-3000K flatter blush and peach. Neutral to cool LEDs around 3500-4000K keep mint and blue crisp. Paint a sample of about 2-3 feet square and look at it in the morning, at noon and at night under your own fixtures before you buy gallons.

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Pastel cabinets or pastel walls?

Both work, and the choice follows how much commitment you want. Cabinets in a pastel become the focal point and are easy to repaint later, which fits current kitchen cabinet color trends toward softer, more personal colors. Walls in a pastel make a quieter backdrop, and they're the better pick if you already love your cabinets.

The best colors for kitchen walls are usually the ones that sit a shade or two away from the cabinets, not an exact match. If you can't decide, paint a pantry door or a small accent wall first and live with it for a week.

Kitchen color schemes that hold together

• One pastel on the island or lower cabinets, with white or warm off-white elsewhere.
• Sage cabinets with oak or walnut shelving and brass hardware.
• Powder blue lowers with creamy uppers, a simple two-tone pairing.
• Blush walls with natural wood and matte black fixtures used sparingly.

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What materials and finishes pair best with pastels?

Pastels need contrast, or they look flat. Wood in a warm, medium tone grounds them. Darker grout, a deep wood countertop or a stone surface adds weight under light cabinets. As an architect, I'd keep the heavy materials neutral and let the pastel carry the color.

Brass and satin gold suit blush and peach. Brushed nickel and chrome sit well with mint and pale blue. If you choose soapstone, know that it doesn't need sealing but, like butcher block, needs regular oiling, according to Iowa State University Extension.

Matte paint on cabinets avoids glare and looks softer. Semi-gloss on trim and any spot that gets splashed is easier to wipe down, which helps if a muddy-pawed dog walks through daily.

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Small kitchen color trends

Pale pastels on both cabinets and walls make a small kitchen feel larger because there are fewer visual breaks. Keep the backsplash close in tone, add a glossy tile or glass cabinet doors to bounce light, and use continuous countertops to stretch sightlines.

In a large kitchen, you can vary the tones: a softer wall color with a slightly bolder island keeps the room from feeling clinical. For more cabinet ideas, see rustic kitchen cabinets and Scandinavian kitchen decor, which pairs well with cool pastels. If the kitchen opens to another room, a divider between kitchen and living room can help define the zones.

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How do you keep a pastel kitchen from looking dated?

Put the permanent things in neutral or natural materials: floors, counters and the cabinet layout. Express color in what's cheap to change, like cabinet paint, tile, hardware, textiles and ceramics. Repeating the pastel in a few small items ties the room together.

• Choose one dominant pastel and support it with neutrals.
• Layer lighting: under-cabinet task lights, ambient ceiling light and a pendant or two.
• Limit patterns to a subtle tile and one or two textiles.
• Add plants or a herb rail for a natural counterpoint.

Check any plant you bring in against a pet-safety list, and ask your vet if you're unsure.

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Frequently asked questions