This year, it’s out with boring, bland kitchens and in with more characterful designs. Whether you love bold colors or muted hues, tri-color kitchens are the trend designers are most excited about.
We’ve all heard of two-tone kitchens, but the three-color approach takes your kitchen color ideas from basic to interesting, filling your space with contrast, depth and visual interest. And it’s easier to get right than you might expect.
To help you get the look in a trendy, yet timeless way, we’ve turned to designers to find out how they are approaching this color-focused kitchen trend, and a few examples that will convince you to add a third hue to your design.
What is a tri-color kitchen?
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
So, you’ve heard of two-tone kitchens, but what about tri-color designs? This approach sees three different colors coming into play, giving your kitchen more dimension, contrast, and interest.
‘Incorporating multiple colors within a single kitchen scheme gives the space room to breathe and creates a sense of considered balance,’ explains kitchen designer, Tom Howley.
And this isn’t a trend that only suits colorful kitchens – three pared-back hues or earthy tones work just as well for a neutral kitchen. It’s not necessarily about creating a bold design, but rather a more dynamic, personality-filled one.
‘We continue to see people gravitate towards creating unique and personalized spaces that fit their individual style and preferences. This can be done through using bolder colors or more unexpected color combinations,’ says Arianna Barone, color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore.
‘A tri-color kitchen beautifully blends three distinct colors to create a visually interesting space. Monochromatic looks will always be popular, but tri-color schemes offer a fresh alternative for people looking for more contrast and depth,’ she explains.
5 tri-color kitchen ideas for every style
Designing a successful tri-color kitchen is all in the palette you choose and where you apply it. There are plenty of different areas of the kitchen to consider, so have fun with the colors and the application.
‘Kitchens have a lot of different surfaces, which makes them a great candidate for a tri-color scheme. Countertops, backsplash, flooring, cabinets, walls, and ceiling all need to be thoughtfully curated to create a kitchen that has visual interest but isn’t too distracting,’ says Arianna.
1. Opt for dark cabinetry, light walls, and wooden accents
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
The colors you choose will usually depend on your kitchen style and the hues you gravitate towards. But for Arianna, applying your darker shade to the kitchen cabinets and the lighter shades to the walls is a classic approach.
‘I love a darker kitchen cabinet. Using something like Mysterious AF-565, shown here, is a great way to ground a space and bring depth to a room. Keeping the walls light and bright with Steam AF-15 creates the perfect backdrop for open shelving and blends seamlessly with the white kitchen countertops,’ she explains.
And for the third color in this kitchen, natural wood has been chosen to bring in an organic, textural element that works with the home’s architecture. ‘A weathered wood ceiling and beams bring added warmth and character to the space to prevent it from feeling too stark or cold.’
2. Decorate with unexpected color combinations
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
Classic color palettes, like blue, white, and wood, are a great choice for a tri-color kitchen, but so are bolder hues for more of a statement. With the right shades, you can create a space that’s full of contrast and personality.
‘Kitchens are also a great place for a playful color combination. These spaces are often the heart of the home and can greatly benefit from more saturated hues to bring energy and life to a home’s color palette,’ explains Arianna.
In this small green deVOL kitchen, dark green cabinets form the base of the design, while off-white walls keep the space feeling bright and uplifting. To bring in an unexpected pop of color, blue open shelving has been added – it’s a subtle way to bring in a third color, but it has plenty of impact.
3. Introduce a statement furniture piece in a third color
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
If you’ve already got two-tone kitchen cabinets, or if you want to bring in a strong color that feels less permanent, bringing in one bold piece of freestanding kitchen furniture to add a colorful accent against more neutral hues can be incredibly effective.
‘For those looking to dip their toe into color, a feature dresser, chimney breast, or even a selection of pastel-toned backboards can be a beautiful, understated way to add interest,’ suggests Tom.
‘Blending three complementary or contrasting tones allows you to define different zones in the kitchen – from statement islands to soft cabinetry and subtle backdrops – adding depth, character, and a cohesive, curated feel.’
4. Add a trending color to a neutral kitchen
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
This kitchen is a striking example of a tri-color kitchen. The white walls and wooden island have a very classic, timeless feel to them, but to add a more vibrant hue, the cabinets and shelving have been painted butter yellow.
But this space proves it doesn’t have to be complicated. By having a color story that covers the walls, cabinets, and island, you can create a visually interesting kitchen that doesn’t overwhelm.
Using wood as one of your colors, especially in a richer, darker tone like this island, is a great way to bring in a natural material that pairs with almost any color, which is particularly good if you’re someone who likes to switch up the statement colors in your space.
5. Bring in all three colors through your cabinetry
(Image credit: Naked Kitchens)
If you really want to have fun with the tri-color kitchen method, why not bring them all in through your kitchen cabinet ideas? It will instantly add visual appeal to your space, while also breaking up solid runs.
This kitchen is a perfect example of how to decorate with three kitchen cabinet colors without overwhelming the scheme. A timeless yet unique color combination of blue, wood, and taupe offers the perfect balance of color and neutrality.
The kitchen island and lower cabinets are a strong shade of blue, while wooden upper cabinets add an organic element, and the taupe full-length cabinets are more subtle, almost fading into the background and helping the kitchen to look larger and brighter. It’s the perfect way to balance the bolder hues.
Tri-color kitchens continuously prove to be an easy way to bring style, personality, and interest to designs. Choose a kitchen color combination that speaks to your interior design style, and don’t be afraid to experiment with unexpected or overlooked kitchen colors. Sometimes, going for the bold choice is the best way to create something more unique.
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