How to choose colours and finishes

Choosing colours and finishes can feel like the most personal part of the kitchen and the one people overthink the longest. It’s exciting, but it can also feel daunting once you start scrolling and saving ideas. The good news is there are a few simple principles that help you make choices you’ll still love when the kitchen’s in daily use, not just on screen.

 

Start with the light and the space

Before falling head over heels with a colour online, look at your kitchen’s natural light. North facing rooms tend to feel cooler, so warmer tones can help balance things out. South facing spaces can take deeper colours without feeling too dark or heavy.

Lighter shades can help smaller kitchens feel more open, while larger rooms give you more freedom to go darker and moodier. Think about how to room feels at different times of day too. Morning and evening light can change a colour more than you expect.

Ordering samples and living with them for a few days often tells you more than any image ever will. Take a look at our samples and order a few to see how they behave in your own light.

   

Choose a colour palette that lasts

Colour works best when it’s purposeful. Two or three tones is enough. A main shade for cabinets, a secondary for walls, islands, or splashbacks, and a grounding tone through worktops or flooring.

Neutrals don’t have to be boring. Soft greys, warm whites, muted green and deep blues can bring warmth and a sense of calm into your kitchen space.

If you love bold colour, give it a role. An island, pantry, or splashback lets you add personality without committing the whole room to it. Glass splashbacks are especially good here, offering colour where it can be enjoyed and changed more easily over time.

 

Think about finishes and real life

Matt finishes soften light and are far more forgiving with fingerprints which you’ll notice quickly after breakfast, making them a good choice for busy homes. Gloss finishes reflect light and can help smaller kitchens feel brighter, but they do show marks more easily especially in strong daylight.

Painted doors often feel warmer and more natural and age gracefully, but they do need a little care. Wrapped finishes are more robust and lower maintenance, standing up well to everyday knocks and moisture. If you’ve got pets, children, or a kitchen that’s always on the go, that resilience earns its keep.

   

Tie it all together

Worktops, handles and splashbacks should support the main colour choice, not fight it. A bold or heavily veined worktop works best alongside quieter cabinet colours, or tones that gently pick up on the veining itself. Simpler worktops give you more freedom to add interest elsewhere.

Handles should feel intentional too. Warm metals like brass soften painted doors, while black or stainless steel keep things crisp and modern. When finishes sit in the same family, the whole kitchen feels balanced and considered.