13 Blue Kitchen Ideas to Steal, From the Boldest Pops of Color to Clever Tilework
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There are plenty of indicators of time passing—birthdays, the constant exit and return of low-rise jeans, and kitchen color palettes. It’s easy to lean on white as your color base, but working in a pop of color can transform your kitchen into a topic of conversation (in a good way). Today, we’re digging into blue kitchen ideas, highlighting the hue that has the power to go big on trends or evoke a casual elegance.
“It’s one of the safer and more timeless color options you can choose for a kitchen,” says Paul de Andrade, founder and principal designer of Studio Kestrel. “Blue tends to have broader appeal than shades like red or orange—especially if part of your plan is to do a kitchen renovation to boost resale value.” From accent walls and bold cabinetry to eye-catching tiles and monochromatic molding, the following kitchens show just how versatile the color can be. But first, let’s hear from some experts on some burning kitchen questions.
What is the best blue kitchen color?
“I love using blue as a way to bring the outside natural world into interior spaces,” says wallpaper designer Elizabeth Lamb. “There’s a sense of calm that comes from any shade of blue, recalling a clear sky or the sea. I [also] love a cornflower or porcelain blue that references traditional ceramics and tiles, lending a bright and timeless feel to the kitchen.” For most people, like Elizabeth, the color blue brings with it a personal connection. To bring a piece of yourself into your space, go all in on whatever bond or memories you have of the color.
If you’re looking for something a bit more neutral to drop in unexpected places, Andrade has suggestions. “I love a good smokey blue in a kitchen, something with enough color to make it pop but some subtle gray undertones that make it feel chic and refined,” he says. “This makes sure that your kitchen feels like a beautiful feature in your home, but it also blends seamlessly with most other decor to help the kitchen fit into the overall scheme of your home design.”
Are there any blues to steer clear of?
Instead of avoiding hues, consider how much blue you’re using in your space. Be aware of changing light and how it can impact your blues. “Since it is a cold color, I tend to use blue more sparingly for accents in a room rather than the full surrounds of it (like wall paint or wall coverings), because I find that, on cloudy and overcast days, it reflects blue light throughout the room which can create a somber or dismal feel to the space,” Andrade says.
Color preference is always going to vary from person to person—for instance, Andrade doesn’t gravitate toward primary colors. “They seem basic, childlike, and uninteresting when we have an endless spectrum of shades of blue to choose from,” he says. “Things like Mets Blue are a big no-no for me—both in the kitchen and honestly anywhere in the home. I might make an exception for a kid’s room.”
What are the best paint colors for a blue kitchen?
Think about the mood you want people to have when they walk into the space—blue has the power to bring energy or calm down. “Blue is an incredibly soothing color when used in lighter or grayer tones, and it has an inherently tailored and masculine feel when richer, darker tones are used,” Andrade says. “A few of my favorite paint finishes on cabinetry are colors like Benjamin Moore’s Providence Blue and Blue Spruce.”
Don’t forget: Wallpaper is another option when thinking through blue kitchen ideas. Lamb looks to iconic patterns for her own inspiration: “Painted Tile is one of my favorite prints to use in a kitchen because it is inspired by the traditional blue Delft Tiles that have so much history,” she says. “This print creates a big impact without a big overhaul of your home. Using Delft Tiles as a starting point, I set out to create a pattern that was geometric with strong repetition but at the same time full of individuality and whimsy.”
Photo: Meghan Marin1/13Opt for moody cabinetry
The Shaker-style, dusty blue cabinets in celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh’s NYC home are dreamy. This is the perfect example of Andrade’s earlier point: It’s soothing when the blue is grayer or lighter in tone. For an even more dramatic effect, match the cabinets to the backsplash or wall paneling.
Photo: Tara Rice2/13Make your countertops pop
Create a delightful space for meal prep, like writer and carpenter Matthew J.C. Clark did with the Mediterranean teal counters in his Maine home. For a maximalist vibe, pair the hue with an equally strong partner. In this example, a tomato red boosts the counters and manages to make them a fun little detail—it’s a fun magic trick, considering how strong the color is.
Riccardo Gasperoni3/13Go big with your color-blocking…
There’s something special about a pop of color—it can be as big or small as you want it to be. In this space, a project from the Italy-based Chromastudio, cobalt is king and queen. The color can be seen all around the apartment, but the kitchen shows just how big an accent color can go. It also helps block space when you’re working with a tiny footprint.
Photo: Jeff Herr4/13…or keep it small
Unlike the previous example, this Atlanta kitchen has the smallest touch of sky blue—but it works hard. In this case, it helps bring out a similar color in the artwork leaning up against the wall on the counters. On that note, we need more art in kitchens!
Photo: Megan Taylor5/13Paint a partial accent wall
Consider this yet another angle on color-blocking. Instead of painting the entire wall a single color, go all in on part of it. This London kitchen takes a light blue from the cabinetry (please take note of the beautiful recessed handles) up onto an adjacent wall. We love how the homeowner added small shelves in the same shade in her blue kitchen.
Photo: Sabrina Cole Quinn6/13Incorporate rectangular tile
One of the most beautiful things about working with blue is that it plays so well with other colors. Take, for instance, this Boston-area basement, where the kitchen mixes blue and green in a way that the former makes the latter seem even more saturated. The rectangular shape of the backsplash is a touch unexpected and accentuated by the ridged construction of the island.
Photo: Ami studio7/13Spotlight funky columns and ceilings
Homes come with their fair share of unexplained elements—the weird recessed part of a ceiling, an awkwardly shaped support beam, or an oddly placed nook. The owners of this Paris home worked with Ami Studio to create a space dotted with Yves Klein blue. In the kitchen, architectural elements are washed in the color, bringing the eye to the overall structure of the room, elements that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Photo: Robert Peterson / Rustic White Interiors8/13Play with different shades of blue
Teal and powder blue are friends in this calm Georgia kitchen. The island has a sense of seriousness, anchoring the entire space. Small leather pulls make easy work of accessing the hidden storage inside the island, and the tilework behind the sink looks like a light rain dripping down off the wall when taken in straight on.
Photo: Lynne Graves9/13Use blue cabinets to tone down bold walls
Childhood memories of a bright blue kitchen fueled one couple’s kitchen renovation. In the end, they opted for a light blue to help balance vibrant wallpaper—a great reminder that blue doesn’t always have to be leading the space.
Photo: Hanna Połczyńska10/13Install dramatic monochromatic molding
A kitchen with molding is unexpected, but it’s also super posh. Polish entrepreneur Michal Pacułt went with a deep blue wall and matching molding in his kitchenette to frame a collection of art—and balance the custom burl wood cabinetry (swooooon). When faced with a lack of light, he decided to go all in on the moodiness. Bravo all around.
Photo: Kiely Ramos11/13Hide ugly kitchen fixtures behind wood paneling
Stove hoods are incredibly hard to hide, but Studio Sonny did just this in a Victorian home in Toronto. The vent is housed behind a wood panel painted teal to match the blue kitchen’s tilework—it also repeats the same tongue-and-groove details that can be found on a nearby staircase.
Photo: William Jess Laird12/13Channel farmhouse style with French blue cabinets
It’s easy to go too far when it comes to farmhouse-inspired spaces—the line between chic and rustic is thin. In this historic New York City home, AD PRO Directory member and interior designer Melissa Lee of Bespoke Only gave the color a modern edge with a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Van Courtland Blue on the cabinets paired with brass hardware.
Photo: Yohann Fontaine13/13Match your ceilings to the floors
Anthony Authié of Zyva Studio made a bold choice when he decided to paint a good chunk of his Paris home sky blue. The stripes behind the sink are a nod to one of his favorite comics (Lucky Luke). The deep gray countertops and cabinetry ground the space—a little bit, at least. The effect of the floors and ceilings almost make the workspace feel like it’s floating in the sky.
