A kitchen in gray tones is a cool alternative to white, but there are a couple of nuances in the combination of colors that we will look at. To do this, we will use the following digital magic:
There will be no rules for planning kitchens here; I have already described them in other articles:
- Kitchen interior - basic rules and examples of unusual designs
- Small kitchen design - 7 rules and 4 common mistakes in small kitchens
- 7 tips for choosing a kitchen
- Corner kitchens - 5 placement ideas
Gray kitchens: pros and cons of color
“Gray is the second beige.” This is the golden mean between black and white, but the versatility of this color is not always beneficial. Let's see what advantages and disadvantages there are in using gray in kitchen design.
pros
- universal base: ideally combined with bright and pastel shades;
- suitable for almost any style;
- always in fashion.
In skillful hands, it can make almost any kitchen noble and harmonious. It is easy to work with and combines with all shades of the color wheel. That is why designers often use it as a neutral base for creating beautiful interiors in loft, high-tech and art deco styles.
Minuses
There are not many cases when it is better to refuse gray, but it is important to know them.
- Dark gray is not recommended for use in a small kitchen (up to 8 sq.m.).
Light gray, on the contrary, can visually expand a small space.
- Dark gray is undesirable when the kitchen has poor natural light due to small windows or a shady side.
- A monochrome interior can look cold and uncomfortable.
Gray has a huge range of saturation and has many shades - graphite, platinum, marengo, etc.
The right shade and its intensity are the key to success. We’ll talk in more detail below about how to use gray correctly to reveal its best properties.
Tip 7. Think through functional areas as much as possible
Natural wood will never behave perfectly:
- it will produce resin - resin;
- dry out, become covered with cracks;
- sag and bend.
You shouldn’t worry about such little things and try to disguise them - they give the kitchen and the house as a whole uniqueness and coziness. It is better to think through the use of functional areas as much as possible.
- Hearth (stove, cast iron stove). It must be taken into account that the walls next to the stove heat up - it is important to prevent a fire. It is better to choose stone or tile for finishing. It is important to think through the issues of exhaust hood and thermal insulation. Particular attention should be paid to the laying of the stove - if it is done incorrectly, then all the smoke will go into the house, which will not add comfort to the room at all.
- Work zone. This is where food is most often cut, so it would be logical to place a cutting area between the stove and the sink. It is important to pay attention to the apron - its material should be easily washed from grease and dirt.
- Storage. Proper storage organization will make the cooking process faster and more enjoyable. All storage, namely the refrigerator, shelves with cereals and vegetables must be located in the work area.
- Washing. The splashes that fly from the sink are especially dangerous for wood, so you need to choose the bowl very meticulously so that the least amount of drops fly off from it. Wide, but not very deep models seem to be the most optimal. There must be a plane with a dryer nearby. You can take a double sink or with a wing.
- Dinner Zone. The table and chairs should also be located at a distance from water and the stove and fireplace.
Layout features
Does gray color play a role in choosing a layout?
Designer tips
Irina
Irina Polyakova is the founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
Shade can really be important when the size of the kitchen is very modest. For example, if the design concept involves dark gray facades, which are undesirable for a small space, then eliminating the top row of cabinets may be a compromise. Thus, dark shades only in the design of the lower tier of the set will not affect the visual perception of the size of the room.
Another solution is a combination of a gray bottom and a light top for a corner, straight and U-shaped kitchen.
The idea of a two-row kitchen is difficult to implement, as it will require taking into account not only the size of the room, but also its proportions. To prevent the space between two dark rows of cabinets from turning into a narrow portal, decorate the apron in light colors.
Watch a review of a beautiful U-shaped kitchen in the video :
Flooring options
One of the most practical and durable flooring options for a kitchen in a wooden house is tiles. This material tolerates moisture well, has high wear resistance, and is easy to maintain.
It is worth noting that the tiles on the floor will be quite cold, which is not very comfortable for walking especially barefoot, but if desired, you can create a “warm floor” system.
Laminate and linoleum are also considered good flooring options; it is only recommended to choose a waterproof laminate.
Matte or glossy - which facades to choose?
The choice of matte or glossy finish depends on the intensity of the color. Even minor dirt such as water marks will be more visible on the dark gray glossy surface of the facades, which is very impractical for the kitchen. But gloss can highlight light gray facades to their advantage and will not show fingerprints or stains.
Designer tips
Irina
Irina Polyakova is the founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
Complex, deep, and dirty shades look better on a matte surface. For example, gray-green, gray-blue and gray-beige color best reveal matte smooth facades
Color combinations
Is it necessary to dilute gray with bright accents? In fact, monochrome design can be not boring. Shades of different intensities can be used, but thanks to the combination of different textures, the interior will not be pale and boring. For example, smooth matte facades can be complemented by a floor with a marble pattern or a concrete apron.
Brickwork from light to bright red shades will perfectly complement a monochrome interior.
To make a gray interior more interesting, one small bright detail is enough - a tabletop, an apron, a chair, curtains and even one bright refrigerator, for example.
You can combine colors only within the facades. For example, blue top and dark gray bottom.
When combining facades of different colors, do not forget about an important rule: use dark shades in the lower row of furniture, and light shades in the upper row, so that the furniture does not visually overload the space.
The most spectacular combinations are with red, yellow, orange, emerald, and purple. Let's look at interesting combinations separately.
With yellow
Yellow and similar colors (turmeric, orange, mustard) are an ideal pair with gray as a bright accent.
Don’t get carried away: an abundance of bright details can be annoying. Add no more than 30% bright colors to the overall neutral background.
With brown and beige
Gray and beige work well together within the same room. Beige can have varying degrees of saturation, and its warmth will make the interior less formal and strict.
Gray can be successfully combined with both pastel and dark shades of brown. The most successful option for adding brown would be to use wooden surfaces in the design of the apron, countertop, dining table and chairs.
Taupe kitchen
Designer tips
Irina
Irina Polyakova is the founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
The mixture of these two colors gave the world a new complex gray-beige shade, which is now at the peak of popularity.
Gray-beige set
Light gray set on a brown wall with a brick apron
With blue and blue
Blue is as cold and strict as gray. But this does not cease to be an ideal match if the kitchen or kitchen-living room has large windows and a lot of natural light. To prevent the interior from seeming boring and faceless, dilute this duet with a bright accent or select materials with an interesting texture.
A dark gray set combined with a bright blue sofa. Light gray walls bring in more light
Blue top and dark gray bottom headset
When mixed, these colors also give an unusual, beautiful gray-blue hue.
Set with gray-blue bottom and white top
A bright and even shiny blue on the splashback can be a great complement to dark gray facades.
The blue tint will not add contrasts to the interior: when paired with gray, it merges and forms a monochrome interior. It is recommended to dilute this duet with white or beige.
And if you need to add mood, then you can use yellow, orange, coral or carrot colors in small quantities.
With pink and purple
Despite the fact that purple and its shades (pink, lilac) are ideal for placing accents, they must be used in very measured doses.
Gray reflects neighboring colors, and a kitchen that has too much pink or purple can give the impression of a solid bright spot.
With green
The combination with green and its shades - emerald, light green, malachite - deserves special attention. This combination is often found in nature. Therefore, green, like no other color, is able to balance the coldness and severity of gray.
Designer tips
Irina
Irina Polyakova is the founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
Bright green curtains in the kitchen-living room or a bright light green apron can change your idea of gray and appreciate it. Houseplants in white or black pots will help add some green color to the interior.
Mixing these two colors creates a beautiful gray-green shade that looks impressive in the design of smooth matte facades.
With white and black
White will always correct the severity of gray and will save you in any situation when you need to dilute an interior that is too dark or too bright. For example, a white countertop will refresh dark gray facades and create a beautiful contrast, while light walls can make the room more spacious.
Black will contrast effectively against a light gray background.
Paired with dark gray, it looks brutal, but darkens the room too much. For a spacious kitchen-living room with large windows facing south, this fact is not scary.
The combination of gray and black is most often used in the loft style.
A kitchen with a black apron and glossy dark facades is impractical, but impressive and beautiful
With a tree
Surfaces with shades and textures imitating natural wood soften the cold aristocracy of gray, thereby making the interior softer and more harmonious.
A tabletop, apron, dining table or floor can be made to look like wood.
With red
Red in large quantities and against a dark background can look aggressive, which is undesirable for the interior. But small inclusions in the design of chairs, flower pots or curtains can enliven the interior.
Pastel shades
Are you afraid that a bright accent will upset the color balance in the interior? Then combine pastel shades of yellow, red, blue and any other color with gray. The interior will be calm, without harsh contrasts, with soft color transitions.
Light gray is ideal for a small kitchen, as it visually expands and refreshes the interior.
Gray in different styles
The versatility of gray lies not only in its ideal compatibility with other colors, but also in its ability to decorate the interior in almost any style. There are certain areas where gray is most appropriate.
Loft
A gray kitchen set with both smooth and paneled fronts will fit perfectly into the interior of a loft-style kitchen.
Dark tones look brutal. But if the kitchen is small, then you should give preference to light-colored facades or dilute the dark bottom of the set with a white top.
Metallic facades against a red brick wall. An unusual and bold combination - just in the spirit of a brutal loft
Minimalism
Monochrome gray combined with white and black creates an ascetic space that does not need to be supplemented with bright details. Its only decoration can be complex textures like wood, stone, marble and other natural surfaces. In order not to disturb the order and rigor of a minimalist kitchen, it is better to give preference to facades with integrated (hidden) handles.
Gray wood kitchen
Neoclassical
Neoclassicism in gray tones is an excellent alternative to beige traditional interiors with massive furniture. A strict gray set will be decorated with elegant classic gold handles - antique brass, bronze, forged, etc.
Room tour of a neoclassical kitchen in the video below:
Provence
Pastel shades of gray are ideal for interior design in Provence style. Dusty and slightly faded tones in combination with lavender, olive or pale pink will become a style-defining color scheme.
American style
Another modern take on a classic. The traditional design of the set with facades with frames and panels in gray color will fit perfectly into a spacious U-shaped or island kitchen.
Gray kitchen interior design
The success of any interior design project depends on how harmoniously the finishing materials were selected in color and style. Let's talk about what finishing options for a gray kitchen will be the most successful, as well as what role curtains can play.
Decoration of walls, floors and ceilings
The design of finishing materials should be selected at the design stage. At the initial stage of planning a renovation, it is recommended to draw up a project that will indicate what color each interior element should be. This is the only way to create a harmonious color scheme.
Here you can consider the following recommendations.
- Stick to a balance of dark and light shades . For example, if the set is dark gray, then it is better to decorate the walls in light colors. And vice versa. Do not use more than three colors at the same time in the interior. And at the same time, it is not forbidden to play with their shades.
- Determine what kind of interior you want in the end : calm, in pastel colors, or brutal, bright, cheerful? Based on this, choose colors of appropriate saturation.
- For very bright accents, choose non-volumetric objects - curtains, vases, chairs, etc.
A white matte ceiling is always a universal solution. If there is no need to highlight it from the general background, then you should give preference to the win-win option in all cases.
You can focus on the ceiling if the height of the room allows. You shouldn’t choose flashy bright shades for it, because even a gray textured concrete insert in a suspended structure, complemented by a beautiful lamp, can attract attention.
As for floor finishing, the following options will be most successful for a gray kitchen:
- parquet, laminate, porcelain stoneware or PVC tiles in a natural wood shade;
- gray tiles from light to dark shades;
- light poured floor;
- marble-effect tiles (natural marble is impractical for the kitchen);
- tiles in pastel neutral tones.
Do not use dark gray shades for finishing the kitchen floor: they visually narrow the room.
For wall decoration, you can choose any color depending on the design concept:
- Gray wallpaper or paint is an excellent overall background. Choose light shades for small kitchens or when you need to create contrast against dark furniture;
In a monochrome interior, wallpaper can be embossed, imitating decorative plaster. And from gypsum plaster, using simple techniques, you can make an imitation of concrete.
- beige walls or white with a slight warm tint will add warmth and comfort;
- You can make only one wall bright;
Yellow walls against the background of dark facades attract attention, and the absence of upper cabinets allows you to make a small kitchen visually freer
- Wallpaper with a pattern is also suitable, for example, floral or with a graphic pattern.
Light gray set against a background of floral wallpaper. In the apron area the wall is covered with tempered glass
Tabletop
The ideal universal tabletop for a gray set is wood, light shades or snow-white.
An unusual option is a thin tabletop to match the gray-beige set.
And if you want bright colors, then you can place the main bright emphasis on this detail. As, for example, the designers of the “Housing Question” program did it in the project in the photo below.
Dark shades for countertops are impractical, as they immediately show water stains.
Apron
Gray facades allow you to be bolder in choosing your apron design. Bright tiles or skins will help make a bright accent.
Depending on the style of the kitchen and the overall color scheme, a textured apron imitating stone, brick or concrete can look interesting.
An apron with a small pattern will always look good with neutral facades.
A universal solution is light hog tiles and pentagonal tiles. With contrasting grout, these backsplash options look very stylish.
Curtains and textiles
Curtains traditionally set the mood of the interior. Bright short curtains, roller blinds or Roman blinds in rich yellow, red, blue, green tones can look great with a gray kitchen.
If the accent is already any other element of the interior, then it is better to choose curtains in the general color scheme of the room: light or dark gray.
Designer tips
Irina
Irina Polyakova is the founder of an interior studio, architect and interior designer. The main area of work is kitchen design
In addition to curtains, kitchen towels, upholstery of dining chairs, curtains on kitchen cabinets or doorways can play a role in the design.
Apron
The design of the apron in the kitchen usually takes place when the color combinations of the floor, walls, and furniture have been determined. Often, it does not differ in shade from the color of the walls. But if you decide to highlight the apron, then it’s worth doing this, taking into account some rules:
- if bright accents are planned in the kitchen (textured wall, curtains, lighting, etc.), then it is better to leave the apron alone and not draw undue attention to it. Otherwise, the interior will turn out to be intrusive;
- An apron with a print is appropriate for kitchens with a large area. Small rooms will appear visually smaller if you install an apron with a pattern on them. A monochromatic option will be more logical;
- Taking the gray color of deep shades with a combination of pastel or muted tones as the basis for the kitchen, it is recommended to make the apron lighter by several tones, but in the same color as the walls or kitchen. With a light base, it is better to darken the apron;
- the texture of the material should be combined with other interior elements. For example, if a gray gloss is chosen for the apron, then it should not be the only one in the kitchen.
A gray apron is appropriate for a kitchen with frequent use, as it is resistant to various stains, and by choosing a practical material (polymer glass, plastic, tile), caring for it will not be difficult.
Furniture and appliances
The main elements of the furnishings of most kitchens are a kitchen set and a dining group. In a spacious room or kitchen-living room, a sofa and sideboard can be added. It is undesirable to choose furniture that matches the walls so that the interior does not merge into a solid monochromatic spot.
To highlight a set, sofa or chairs against the general background in a monochrome kitchen, choose their design a tone darker or lighter.
If you want bright colors, then you can focus on a bright sofa or multi-colored dining chairs.
The dining table is usually chosen in light colors or wood. A black base with a light or wooden tabletop will also be a good solution for a gray kitchen.
The gray set harmoniously combines appliances of any color in the same style - both built-in and free-standing:
- gray facades and metallic appliances form a single monolithic ensemble;
- Black appliances can play in contrast with light gray facades. For example, a glossy refrigerator will stand out very effectively against a light gray background;
- white appliances will look good with light gray facades in a small kitchen, as it visually looks easier in the interior;
- Colored appliances will dilute the decor of a monochrome kitchen.
The warmth of natural wood
Another common reason why people refuse to make a gray and white kitchen is the fear that it will turn out to be too formal, strict and cold. This is what will happen if you don’t add cozy notes.
Wood will help you do this, whose natural warmth captivates at first sight when placed in a discreet gray-white frame.
In such kitchens, wooden countertops, furniture and floors of various shades look good, including deep and rich ones: yellowish, brown, cherry. For small rooms, light and bright wood is better; for spacious rooms, dark wood is also acceptable.
Lighting and backlighting
With the help of lighting, you can not only adjust the perception of the size of the room, but also change the shade and degree of gray saturation. A lack of artificial light will make the kitchen gloomy. Therefore, even at the renovation planning stage, it is necessary to consider lighting for each zone.
In addition to the main central light source, additional lighting is required for the work area, dining area and living room (if the kitchen is combined with a room).
For central lighting, choose diffused light fixtures. Diffused light will make the gray color softer and the atmosphere more comfortable.
Tip 2. Focus on important things
It is important to draw up a kitchen plan and carefully consider the progress of repairs and arrangement of the room. Professionals remind you of the most important things:
- lighting - the more, the better, because cooking or even just washing dishes properly in the dark is extremely difficult;
- ventilation - you absolutely cannot skimp on this point, since high air humidity can harm the tree;
- work area - the work area and sink can be moved to the window to use natural light, but a refrigerator with cabinets in the corner will be quite convenient;
- communications - it is not advisable to hide them in the walls until the house has completely settled; it is best to run them along the walls, and so as not to spoil the picture, hide them in niches or cabinets;
- coating - in order for wood to last as long as possible, it must be treated with wax, varnish or other special compound.
You can now find many wood processing products on the market. Conventionally, they can be divided into antiseptic and fire retardant. Antiseptics are necessary to prevent the appearance of fungus and rotting of wood. They, in turn, are also divided into two classes:
- impregnating - necessary for primary processing, provide reliable protection;
- film-forming - creates a film on the surface, prevents rotting, necessary for finishing processing.
Fire retardants contain flame retardants, which prevent rapid fire.
Decor
The right decor will help make a cold gray kitchen cozy and homely warm. Small colored details diversify the interior: bright picture frames, colored wall clocks, decorative saucers, plates, home flowers, beautiful dishes in display cabinets.
In a small kitchen there is always a risk of going overboard with too many decorations and overloading the space. There are two rules to follow here.
- It is important that the decor is simple and at the same time effective.
- “Less is better, but better” - another golden rule that will save the interior from clutter
In a large kitchen and kitchen-living room in a classic style, a fireplace will be a beautiful decorative element.
Bright accents
Color, light and texture accents will help make a calm and restrained gray and white kitchen more interesting. The most obvious are chairs, curtains, tablecloths, wall decorations, decor and lighting fixtures. All this can find a place even in a cramped kitchen.
As for shades, rich colors look especially advantageous in modern gray-white kitchens:
- imperial red;
- fuchsia;
- ocher;
- sea wave;
- green grass;
- night blue;
- violet;
- emerald;
- electrician.
Calmer shades, such as olive, dusty pink or lemon, will find their rightful place in gray and white kitchens decorated in classic and rustic styles.
Textural accents are also directly related to the style of the room. These can be linen, silk, bamboo, rattan, cork finishing or decorative elements.
Lighting needs to be mentioned separately. With the help of well-placed main and spot light sources, you can completely transform even the most cramped and poorly designed kitchen. Bright illumination of the working, dining or bar area looks especially impressive in kitchens with an abundance of gloss and mirrors.
A gray and white kitchen is space for self-expression and the embodiment of bold creative ideas. This range will fit into any design direction, so if it is pleasing to your eye, there is no need to abandon your plan. Gray and white does not mean boring at all.
Real photos
You can get more ideas for inspiration in the following video:
Gray Ikea kitchens
"Budbin" apartment in a Stalinist building "Budbin" with a black countertop
"Knoxhult" - a ready-made economy class set
Gray-green set “Bodarp” Facades without handles (with integrated handles) “Vokstorp”
Gray kitchens Leroy Merlin
“Dark gray set of the “Megion” series Gray-green facades “Paloma” Facades “Graphite”
Read more about Leroy Merlin kitchen furniture in a separate article - go to.
