The refrigerator is one of the most necessary and large-sized household appliances that a modern kitchen is equipped with. Manufacturers offer a wide range of these units in different sizes and colors from classic white to black, with any “filling” and at any price. Recently, the gray color of the appliance has become popular - it adds modernity, solidity and novelty to the kitchen interior, organically fits into the industrial style, minimalism and hi-tech.
Important! Gray household appliances allow you to make the interior less strict, but dynamic and laconic, which looks expensive and luxurious. Innovative silver and steel colors look impressive and win-win in a kitchen with any design, adding charm and nobility. A gray refrigerator visually increases the space of the kitchen. There are no scratches or dirt on its surface, which allows it to maintain its presentable appearance for a long time.
Features of gray color in the kitchen interior
The seemingly boring gray color is actually universal - it does not bother, does not distract, and can be combined with any other tones in the spectrum, acting as a background. Furniture and accessories on gray look expressive - the neutral color emphasizes the shapes of the furniture and makes them stand out against the general background.
The interior of a gray kitchen generally looks elegant, noble and modern. This situation will be in trend for a long time.
The color gray has many shades. The range of light gray shades includes granite, concrete, pearl, pebble, silver, smoky gray, platinum, lichen and white lead.
The list of deep dark gray tones includes cashmere, graphite, black-brown, steel, twilight gray, charcoal, marengo, mouse and wet asphalt.
There are a couple of nuances when working with a gray tone.
- If the room is small and there is not enough natural light, then in gray the room will seem cold.
- Also, you should not make a monochrome setting - mix many shades of gray or take only light and dark tones without adding other colors. As a result, a gray kitchen design will turn out boring, monotonous and even depressing.
Black refrigerator
Refrigerators in black look solid and expensive. They will be appropriate in kitchens whose interior is made in a modern style, where there are chrome and glass elements. It is very important to consider where to install black equipment to avoid direct sunlight. Black refrigerators can be either glossy, almost mirror-like, or matte. You need to choose the type of surface based on the kitchen facades. Also, do not forget that within a small room, glossy surfaces can visually enlarge the space due to their ability to reflect natural and artificial light. In most cases, black refrigerators become a key element of the interior.
An interesting option is black technology, whose surface can be used as a slate board.
Advantages of a kitchen in gray tones
Color does not affect the perception of the room - the design of a gray kitchen does not irritate the eye, and its harmony and balance, on the contrary, calms.
The kitchen interior in gray tones is universal - it is the ideal backdrop for implementing a variety of ideas and design styles. If you want to change the room, just add bright accessories and the kitchen will take on a different look. Thanks to its versatility, gray will never go out of style.
Gray is a practical color; dirt, grease stains and minor imperfections are not visible on it. True, this applies to light shades of gray - dark tones are less practical, but this can also be dealt with by choosing the right texture.
Kitchen furniture
When choosing the design for your kitchen, remember the correct ratio of the base and additional colors.
Since furniture takes up most of the kitchen space, pay special attention to its colors - the final impression of the kitchen will depend on it. A matte set in smoky tones is considered a good solution. If you want to make your room design more glossy, use shiny surfaces. Combining them with stainless steel appliances, you can achieve a truly amazing effect.
Matte set of wooden tabletop
A popular design move is installing a kitchen island. It is recommended to make it more contrasting compared to the rest of the furniture. Another modern trend is the choice of a kitchen set without wall cabinets. This design is often used to create a Scandinavian style.
It is appropriate to purchase furniture made from natural materials - for example, wicker chairs or rattan items. A tabletop made of natural wood will complement the stylish appearance.
The most advantageous color combinations
There are several options for kitchen design:
- monochrome;
- design in gray tones with bright accents;
- combination of gray with another color.
Monochrome interiors use materials of the same gray color, but different textures.
When combining gray with another color, any color is chosen, and the combination of shades occurs within the framework of the facades, according to the scheme: one color on top, another on the bottom.
Win-win combinations for a gray kitchen are with white, beige and brown.
With white
A gray and white kitchen is a classic. White goes with any shade of gray - dark and light. This combination is the best option for small kitchens, as gray and white tones visually enlarge the room. Using white will also help change the character of the interior if it is too dark or bright.
With black
Light gray and black are a contrasting combination. Black and gray kitchen is an option for the loft style. With dark shades of gray, black looks brutal, but the room will be gloomy, so this design is suitable for large rooms with huge windows.
With a tree
Brown shades bring harmony to a gray kitchen. An option for a kitchen in taupe tones is a combination of gray with natural shades, brown, beige and wood. Warm shades of beige and brown will soften the severity of the environment and add warmth. The range of combinations ranges from warm to cold tones.
Wooden details give the room an expensive look. Options for a gray kitchen are a dining table, plus classic chairs or chairs with wooden details, a countertop, a kitchen apron with a “wood” look, as well as a floor made of wooden boards, laminate or linoleum with a wooden texture.
With bright colors
Gray goes with all colors of the spectrum. Since it reflects the colors next to it, there should not be much of a second shade.
There should be few bright and saturated colors, no more than 30%. Such tones are also used as accents on small objects - an apron, chair backs, flower pots, a chandelier shade or a small pattern on curtains. The exception is a bright refrigerator and facades in a large monochrome interior, as well as one bright wall.
Using pastel shades for facades, countertops, and shelves will soften the interior - they are not as contrasting as bright colors.
Red color is too aggressive and irritates in large concentrations, so you shouldn’t get carried away with it in a gray kitchen. Small color accents are acceptable - one item or small inclusions. No play of textures, patterns or different shades of red.
Yellow, orange, coral, carrot and mustard will add mood to the interior. At the same time, saturated colors look good against the background of dark gray tones, and pastel ones are friendly with light gray shades.
Blue and light blue in combination with gray will add austerity to the interior, but can make the room too cold. The combination with blue looks beautiful, but requires a lot of natural light. Blue color merges with gray, and white or beige tone will dilute their combination.
Green colors balance the severity of a gray interior and at the same time add calm. The ideal decor option is pots of herbs and small trees in tubs.
Beige or cream
Beige or cream refrigerators will fit perfectly into interiors designed in calm, pastel colors. They will harmonize well with sand, cream, cream, beige walls or kitchen facades. Also, beige and cream are suitable for light wood furniture, bamboo blinds and light flooring. This color technique can be called something in between the standard white color and bolder shades. And if you might soon get tired of a green or yellow refrigerator, this will not happen with a beige or cream one.
It is important to choose the correct shade temperature for the overall color scheme, since beige and cream colors can be both warm and cold. In addition, the selected shades may not be pure, but with admixtures of other tones - gray-beige, pink-beige, peach-beige, ivory, creamy beige. Please note that the above tones are in harmony not only with light, but also with dark colors.
Kitchen decoration in gray
To decorate a kitchen in light gray colors, you need to follow some recommendations. The walls are light in color. Furniture of the same tone with the walls will visually dissolve, so the color of the facades is at least one tone darker or lighter.
Bright colors are used for facades or as accents. Facades, countertops and curtains - match the interior or contrast. A general recommendation for facades is that it is better to make them in one color or in large blocks so that the illusion of a checkerboard does not arise.
Household appliances – white, stainless steel and black. Gray-tone appliances will fit into any interior, but white ones are used for interiors of the same color. It is better to integrate the technology - for the integrity of perception. It is allowed to use one or two items of bright color, but small in size.
Glossy or matte facades
Which texture to choose for facades - glossy or matte - depends on the color saturation. Glossy facades in light colors will visually hide all stains, fingerprints and grease stains. But gloss on dark facades is impractical - all dirt will be visible.
Complex, deep and dirty shades of gray require a matte texture. These are tones such as gray-green, gray-beige and gray-blue, as well as colors with different textures - concrete, marble chips, stone.
A gray matte kitchen with a large area and sufficient lighting will look noble even with the use of dark gray colors. Such facades are ideal for neoclassical style.
The optimal materials for facades are MDF coated with enamel, acrylic and plastic.
Which countertop to choose
The color of the countertop for a gray kitchen is white, brown wood or light colors. Texture – various types of wood, natural stone, concrete. Materials for the tabletop: acrylic, artificial stone, textured wood-like plastic.
Natural wood is an impractical material that requires special care. The texture of the countertop and wooden furniture should match.
A kitchen with a gray countertop will balance the interior if dark gray tones are used.
Interesting options are a stone countertop that exactly matches the color of the facades or a contrasting bright color against a monochrome background.
Apron for a gray kitchen
The basic rule is this: if the kitchen is monochrome gray, then the apron is bright. In the case of bright details in the interior, choose an apron in calm gray tones. The most minimalistic option is tempered glass without a pattern.
When choosing an apron for a gray kitchen, any options are used - skins with a medium-sized pattern, decorative glossy and matte tiles, small mosaics, brick-look tiles. The shape of the tiles is square, triangle, pentagon. You can use grout in a contrasting color.
Material – plastic, tempered glass, polycarbonate, porcelain stoneware. Texture – imitation of natural stone, concrete, marble, brickwork, polished metal.
Wall and floor decoration
Design options for kitchen walls are painting or washable wallpaper.
In the first case, the walls are painted light gray in whole or in part. Textures range from smooth to rough. When painting part of a wall in a complementary color, you should use neutral shades - white, beige and brown.
We leave bright colors for furniture and accessories. An interesting wall texture is obtained by using gypsum plaster.
Gray wallpaper in the kitchen is a backdrop for additional color. The interesting texture of the wallpaper will add originality to the interior. The choice is wide - gray wallpaper, with a concrete, marble pattern, for painting with a rough texture.
Large patterns on the wallpaper will not be visible, since most of the walls are occupied by cabinets and household appliances, and unoccupied space remains near the window.
The standard and most correct solution for the ceiling is white with a glossy texture. When decorating walls and ceilings, it is necessary to maintain color balance - use no more than two primary colors.
Flooring – ceramic tiles, imitation parquet boards, laminate and linoleum. At the same time, the pattern of the tiles is simple and laconic, without excessive diversity.
Curtains and lighting
Bright colors are used for curtains if they are an accent in a gray kitchen. If the accent is something else, then the shade of the curtains matches the color scheme of the kitchen. The best option is Roman blinds, roller curtains, short curtains. The most suitable color is rich graphite.
Pendant lamps above the dining table are chosen with diffused light - this will give the interior coziness and softness.
The work area requires additional lighting with LED lamps. The apron lighting switch is located at the entrance - this is more convenient when you need to go into the kitchen for food or drink water.
Pendant lamps - simple geometric shapes made of glass and metal or designer options from similar materials.
Choosing furniture for a gray kitchen
The basic rule when choosing furniture for a gray kitchen is dark colors at the bottom, light colors at the top. This will make the room visually easier to perceive. It’s easier with bright colors - the fronts of the upper and lower cabinets can be made in the same tone.
The layout for a gray interior is light gray facades for the upper cabinets and dark gray for the lower ones. Instead of light gray facades, you can choose white ones. Another option is to abandon the top row of cabinets.
If dark gray furniture is arranged in two rows, then make the apron light - this will prevent the kitchen from turning into a gloomy portal.
If the task in the kitchen is to fit a refrigerator into the furniture row, then it is easier to buy a gray appliance - the kitchen set will look complete. Or play in contrast - a black glossy refrigerator against a background of gray facades.
A large kitchen with a separate place for a refrigerator allows you to use an option with a bright accent, since refrigeration units are now available in all colors of the rainbow.
Decor
The kitchen interior in gray tones is an excellent background for various decor. These are bright plates, picture frames, watches, beautiful dishes. The decor should be small in size and fit into the decor in terms of color scheme.
An interesting decor option for large kitchens is a classic fireplace of a simple shape, without stucco, or a modern version made of glass and metal.
Selection rules
Recently, a very popular way to transform a standard interior and make it more modern and bold is to purchase colored household appliances. Fortunately, today there will be no problems with this, since many manufacturers, both European and domestic, offer a wide selection of colors. Before you start choosing a specific shade, you need to familiarize yourself with the useful rules for choosing a color refrigerator:
- You should not focus on the color of other household appliances. It used to be fashionable to select all equipment in one color, and the choice was small - white, black, metallic. Now the color of the refrigerator can be tied to small details or even be an independent color element;
- If the room is small, give preference to lighter colors of the refrigerator. This will avoid the effect of hiding space, and light, pastel shades will make a heavy object visually smaller;
- A colored refrigerator can quickly become boring, so you should only opt for non-standard shades if you are truly a fan of bold decisions and bright experiments;
- If you're hesitant to purchase a colored unit, but don't want to resort to the classic white option, consider patterned refrigerators or custom vinyl decals. This will allow you to diversify the interior and bring bright colors to it without radical changes;
- The desired shade should not be the determining criterion when choosing a technique. It is much more important to choose a high-quality manufacturer and a set of necessary functions, and select a shade from the product line of the selected brand.
Gray color in different interior styles
The color gray has dozens of shades, which makes it possible to create interiors in various styles - from loft to Provence and art deco. Of course, this color is not for the classic style, but there are areas for which a gray kitchen color would be the ideal solution.
Gray color fits perfectly into the severity of the loft style. The walls have the texture of concrete and raw plaster. The floor is gray marble tiles. The set is of pure gray shades with glossy facades, smooth or paneled, with metal handles.
An interesting solution is metallic facades. The table and chairs are made of chromed metal and plastic. The apron is made of brickwork in light and dark tones. Household appliances are gray tones, with chrome parts.
A minimalist interior in gray tones has smooth facades without handles, with a hidden opening system, no curtains, and a minimum of details.
The only decoration of the decor is interspersed with bright primary colors and textures like wood and natural stone. Lamps – geometric shapes, white or black.
You can’t make classics in gray, but neoclassics can be done easily. White walls and ceiling, a floor with a wooden texture and a gray classic-looking set with matte paneled doors, decorated with elaborate antique metal handles.
There is a luxurious glass or metal chandelier on the ceiling. Decor – inlaid furniture made of bronze, copper and gold colored metal.
The setting in the Provence style will be emphasized by a combination of dusty gray and soft shades characteristic of the style - lavender, pale rose and olive tone. Details - glass and lattice inserts on the facades, round-shaped furniture made of wood, wicker items.
GRAY KITCHENS | Gray kitchen | Gray color in the kitchen interior
Pearl or marble
Pearl shade is a more interesting solution due to the presence of an unobtrusive pearlescent shimmer.
Such a piece of equipment will be advantageously combined with facades made of light wood , decorated with decorative carvings and glass inserts. A marble-effect refrigerator will be a good addition to a marble countertop or window sill, marble floor tiles or kitchen backsplash. The presence of a pearl or marble shade in the interior makes it noble and expensive. In this case, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the kitchen will become “cold”.
Arrangement of the dining area
The placement of the dining area depends on the size of the kitchen. The most popular dining room design options:
Classic table and chairs. They are usually located away from the working surface. Sometimes this part of the room is isolated using contrasting colors. There are many design options: round, square, oval, triangular, or an irregularly shaped table. It can be complemented by chairs, stools, ottomans or armchairs. A suitable solution can be found for any style and design. At the same time, a gray kitchen can
to complement
dining area “matching” or in contrasting design;
Kitchen Area. Its peak of popularity has long passed, but still this option for a dining area remains quite in demand. In some cases, its functionality is expanded by making a corner with a built-in sleeping place (for overstaying guests or suddenly visiting relatives);
bar counter. This option is popular for small studios and small families. In large apartments, the counter is sometimes made an independent element in addition to the classic dining area;
wide window sill. Another popular option for miniature kitchens. This solution will not only save space, but will also allow you to admire the view from the window while eating. In some cases, such a kitchen table is made folding or sliding;
on the island. This solution, on the contrary, is suitable only for large kitchens. In this case, the dining area is moved to the island in the center of the room. This “dining room” looks simply grandiose. Moreover, it can be multifunctional (combined with a bar counter or work surface).
When choosing a layout, it is worth remembering the free approach. Any option will seem unsuccessful if the sofa or chair blocks the passage to the sink, and the bar counter prevents you from opening the refrigerator door.
