Let these gorgeous homes inspire you to add a dose of colour to your kitchen.

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Kitchens are one of the most functional spaces in the home, but that doesn’t mean they need to be bland. While there is nothing wrong with a sleek and neutral kitchen, we believe a colourful kitchen can be a lot more fun. If you long for a kitchen space that’s more vibrant and inviting, try one or more of these five bright ideas in your kitchen.

1. Make Your Island a Feature Piece

An island is an ideal design focus for any kitchen space. If your kitchen is neutral, adding colour to the base (or cabinet section) of your island is a fabulous way to add some vibrancy and visual interest to your kitchen design. A simple coat of paint on this central piece can completely transform the feel of the room.When choosing a colour for your island, pick a few (varied) shades that you love and do a patch test to see which one looks best and gives the space the feel you are going for. Both bold and muted tones can have a big impact, so take your time and choose the right one for you; go for the shade you feel will make you happiest when spending time in your kitchen.PRO TIP: If you’re working with white cabinets (and a mostly light kitchen), use a fresh and vibrant colour, such as Benjamin Moore’s Jamaican Aqua, Coral Pink or Good Morning Sunshine. If you’re working with medium to dark wood floors, you can use jewel tones to amp up the richness. A few shades that are particularly lush are Benjamin Moore’s Adriatic Sea, Gentle Violet and Gypsy Pink.

2. Seating That Inspires

Infusing colour into the kitchen with chairs or bar stools will bring energy and character to the room and create a more relaxed and happy vibe. Colourful chairs give your kitchen an approachable (and even family-friendly) feel. Coloured stools will freshen the look of the space and give your kitchen a more contemporary vibe. They are a great way to make the best of your kitchen without changing the design or spending too much.PRO TIP: Mixing styles, shapes and colours gives the room an eclectic and playful vibe. Choose colours with similar colour temperature (pastel, bright, deep or jewel). The colours can vary drastically but keeping a similar intensity is key. You can also tie the kitchen design into the rest of your home by featuring colour(s) in your stools that already exist in an adjoining room. This geometric low-pile rug creates an eclectic feel in this playful kitchen. It also makes the room feel like a place where you’d like to sit back, relax and enjoy your surroundings. (Photo: Black Lacquer Design

3. Find a Fabulous Rug

Rugs not only bring colour and character to your kitchen, but they also infuse a feeling of relaxation and comfort into an otherwise practical part of the home. When working with a relatively neutral palette in your kitchen (as most people are), the incorporation of a rug or runner increases comfort and creates a more curated and designed look.PRO TIP: Rugs in the kitchen can require a little work. While luxurious rugs can look stunning in your space,  avoid using a wool, silk or high-pile rug. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you might want to explore more low-maintenance options like a low-pile, easily washable rug. This way you can keep it looking good for a long time. These bright, bold and complementary fabrics chosen for this cozy kitchen nook make us want to curl up with a hot cup of tea. The tropical and solid stripe fabrics go together well and create a beautifully balanced feel in this otherwise neutral kitchen. (Photo: Koffka Phakos Design

4. Accentuate Your Kitchen Nook

Kitchens always seem to be the place where people naturally hang out. There’s something beautiful about the act of making food and eating it, and nothing brings people together in a kitchen more than a beautiful and comfortable sitting nook. A kitchen nook offers loads of way to personalize your design as well as options to infuse some vibrancy, character and comfort into your space.Custom bench cushions and throw pillows—chosen in a fabric, pattern and colour palette of your choice—can create a more colourful and comfortable space. Adding a rug into your nook can introduce even more character and vibe while further defining this fun and functional space.PRO TIP: If you don’t have a proper nook in your kitchen, adding a bench or cushions can give your traditional dinner table a nook-like feel, amplifying your comfort and enjoyment of the space. The use of turquoise on these traditional cabinets creates a unique and eclectic feel. By using this vibrant shade only on the top cabinets, this kitchen isn’t overwhelmed with colour, but balanced in its bright and more natural (wood) hues. (Photo: Erica Islas/EMI Interior Design, Inc.

5. Add a Happy Jolt of Colour to Cabinets

Painting your cabinets or getting them custom made in a colour of your choice is a big step in creating a more vibrant and energized kitchen. While incorporating colour into your cabinets is one of the braver ways to make a statement, you don’t need to go bright with your colour choice to see a big and beautiful change. People often assume that incorporating colour means it needs to be bold, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. When designing your home, it’s about choosing colours that speak to you, no matter how bright or pale the hue.A soft, pale or light blue can make as much of an impact as a hot and glowing red, so it’s all about picking a colour that feels right to you and trusting that it will look great simply because you love it. A well-chosen colour will naturally capture exactly what you want it to in your design.PRO TIP: If you’re not confident choosing the colour on your own, you can always hire a designer to help.

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