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.
Modern graphite kitchens
To give a graphite kitchen a modern look, just add a cabinet for a built-in refrigerator and place the oven at eye level.
Modern style is smooth facades with a glossy or matte surface. Lack of decor, minimalism in details.
Multi-level lighting creates shadow effects. Graphite kitchen changes color saturation. Depending on the direction of the lamps, the headset will look amazing and different every time.
Related article: Creamy cuisine
The versatility of the gray palette
Gray color can be more or less saturated, and can also be diluted with other pigments. This allows us to talk about the richness of its shades. Many of them, due to their originality, have gained great popularity.
The scale of light gray shades can be represented as follows:
- granite;
- concrete;
- pebble;
- lichen color;
- pearl;
- silver;
- white lead;
- smoky gray;
- vanilla.
The dark gray palette includes the following tones:
- black-brown fox color;
- twilight;
- cashmere;
- graphite;
- mineral gray;
- color of wet asphalt;
- steel (mouse, metal);
- marengo (blue with a grayish tint);
- coal-ashy.
When decorating a kitchen, most of these shades will cope with the role of a base tone. No wonder colorists jokingly dubbed the gray palette a “workhorse.” It not only serves as an advantageous backdrop for the room, blending perfectly with other colors, but also hides many design errors.
Textiles and decor
A gray kitchen does not have to be consistent in one tone. It can be diluted with extravagant flashy decor or original textiles. For more conservative interior designs, products made of wood, stone, glass, and clay are ideal. This can be not only catchy decorations, but also dishes. You can also hang an original panel in a new, but already popular food art.
For a more daring interior, textiles with rich splashes of bright colors (pillows with geometric patterns), handmade products and decorative plants of unusual shapes (for example, Japanese moss or Crassula) are perfect. Do not forget that the kitchen should be functional and practical. Any elements of textiles and decor must delicately complement the atmosphere and space, but not clutter it with their abundance.
Finishing
The choice of finishing materials for the kitchen space must be approached with special responsibility.
- Floor. The most common coatings in the interior are ceramic tiles, parquet or laminate. Linoleum is also an excellent option. Quite often, floor finishing is combined in the kitchen, for example, the work area is laid out with tiled material, and the dining area is decorated with a warmer wood covering.
- Walls. For walls, it is appropriate to use wallpaper with an unobtrusive pattern or plain canvases for painting. A rough texture will effectively shade gray surfaces, for example, brick, concrete or natural stone.
- Ceiling. In ceiling cladding, ordinary painting, stretched fabrics, multi-level plasterboard structures with built-in lighting, slats or plastic panels can be used. In terms of color, it is recommended to give preference to white shades. The light ceiling plane against the background of gray wall decoration visually looks much higher.
- Apron. The apron area in the interior is finished with small mosaics in a steel color scheme or tiles in the shade of wet asphalt. Gray cabinets will look unusual in combination with an apron lined with brick or its imitation. A luxurious solution is to use materials in the form of marble or painted tiles with ornaments.
The photo shows a kitchen in gray and white tones with an accent backsplash decorated with red boar tiles.
For doors, choose panels with a pleasant wood color, such as gray oak. These designs do not overload the interior and become an excellent addition to any design project.
Furniture ensemble facades
The tone of the kitchen set, which occupies 60-70% of the room's area, largely creates its image and determines the overall aura of the interior. A gray furniture ensemble can be made in a strict, smooth technique or decorated with carvings and exquisite fittings.
Plastic, laminated chipboard, and MDF will serve equally well as materials for its manufacture. A good move to visually expand the room would be to “flow” the light shades of the upper cabinets into the dark, rich tones of the lower tier.
The organic neighbors of gray will be a wide variety of tones of white. So, a milk buffet will be an excellent companion to a gray set. As for the tabletop, it can also contrast favorably with the furniture. A striking granite or silver pigment will make it the headliner of the entire room.
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.
Walls and floor
Choosing a gray color for the base of the kitchen is a more than successful option. A small kitchen or a living room combined with it - in all cases there is exactly the right shade that will turn any room into a unique design idea.
When choosing the color of the walls, it is worth taking into account the dimensions of the room - the smaller the square footage, the lighter the shade. The floor is chosen light gray if the height of the walls is small. With a sufficient indicator, a dark gray tone can be allowed.
Against the background of the general “grayness”, any color will be fully revealed. Therefore, no matter what color of furniture is chosen (be it white, lilac or dark pink), in addition to accessories and kitchen appliances, the final look of the kitchen will exceed the expected result.
Tabletop
Discreet countertops in ash or granite colors have the amazing ability to blend seamlessly with any shade of furniture facades.
What is attractive about this solution is the easy care of the surfaces and the long-lasting aesthetic appearance, since dirt hardly stands out against the gray background.
A gray countertop is a fashionable and popular solution on the way to creating a functional kitchen interior
Using a gray countertop made of artificial stone will greatly simplify the housewife’s work at home.
Advice! Considering that the countertop must be very durable, withstanding the shock loads of blunt and sharp objects, it is best to make it from stone - artificial or natural.
A modern popular material is acrylic with a wide palette of shades and patterns. Less common are cabinets with a wooden top, which requires careful handling.
A glossy acrylic stone countertop is a universal solution for any kitchen interior
Apron
The design texture is determined at the last stage of design work. It can completely blend in tone with the walls or be contrasting and bright.
The calm, monochromatic gray gloss of the kitchen apron will look organic if the room has rich decorative elements. A textured ornamental print will be appropriate in spacious rooms.
A kitchen apron made in light gray tones and complemented with bright details will look natural and harmonious in any kitchen
Considering the practicality of the grayish color, it is logical to use it to decorate an apron in a kitchen that is frequently visited by household members. The mosaic surface in a steel, expressive color scheme looks great.
A mosaic apron in a well-chosen color will help create a bright, memorable interior
What wallpaper is suitable?
Wallpaper for a gray kitchen can be of a wide variety of colors and materials. Let's look at the most popular of them.
Light wallpaper.
Dark.
Bright.
Subtleties of choosing accents
Accent colors are just as important as companion colors. With them, a gray kitchen comes to life and gets its own character.
- The combination of gray with sunny shades looks organic. The yellow palette gives the kitchen a cheerful note. Details in orange tones make the interior warmer and more dynamic. But only a few elements can be decorated with such accents: a pattern of curtains, several sofa pillows in the living room, an ornamental set. That is, these will be exclusively details: it is better not to paint either facades, wallpaper, or tabletops in solid orange tones. Both yellow and orange colors are more organic in accents.
The photo shows the implementation of a gray design idea with orange accents.
- Modern design can use a combination of gray and a palette of green tones. It can be glossy, metallic, rich herbal shade, or deep emerald. Dark green can be the floor, the surface of the stone countertop, partially the facades and even the apron tiles. This color of curtains would be more appropriate in retro styles. Then a matte finish on walls, furniture, and kitchen units is preferable.
The photo shows a light gray palette with the addition of other shades in green tones.
- Gray is harmonious with pink and shades of lilac. Ash itself can also contain similar notes, which will make the interior romantic and quite openwork. The lilac palette is universal: gloss looks cooler, like metallic, but a matte lilac surface will make the kitchen cozy.
- The blue palette blends organically with the gray palette. Light shades of blue can become the background for an ashen set, and a dark blue range will make the design more mysterious even when used in detail. A blue pattern looks beautiful if it is used to decorate backsplash tiles, light gray facades, or curtain trim. A gray kitchen in dark colors will become lighter, but light wall decoration and furniture can be emphasized with a dark blue palette. This could be an accent wall ornament, a curtain pattern, or wallpaper in the dining area or living room.
The photo shows a combination of blue and gray in the kitchen interior.
- The palette of red tones requires careful use in any room. Against a gray background, the fiery range becomes less aggressive and more pleasing to the eye. Burgundy accents will easily complement a composition in light ash shades, and red-hot details will decorate any design.
The photo shows glossy gray and red facades.
Lighting: principles of proper organization
The gray background softens the light fluxes, so several sources can be provided.
It is important to properly illuminate the kitchen work surface. For this purpose, LEDs are mounted above it, which are conveniently located under the lower surface of the upper tier of cabinets
.
LED lighting for the work area is well suited for both modern and classic gray kitchen interiors
The dining corner is easily zoned by installing a bright chandelier directly above the table. Two wall sconces or a lightweight portable floor lamp will create a subdued atmosphere.
Ordinary light bulbs above the dining table will look advantageous if they are decorated in elegant designer lampshades
With good natural light, the kitchen space can be illuminated with one or two chandeliers above the table and several spotlights above the work area
Modern gray matte kitchens
A gray kitchen with a matte surface is perfect for decorating a room in a modern style.
Designers find gray shades stylish. Using this color scheme you can create noble and sophisticated furniture.
Which style should you choose?
We can confidently say about gray color that it will suit absolutely any interior style. These can be historical styles (avant-garde, empire, antique style), ethnic styles (English, Provence, Scandinavian) and any popular styles (country, minimalism, fusion).
The only important thing is how skillfully it is used there. So don’t limit your imagination! You can really experiment with this color.
You can safely decorate the entire design in gray, making only minimal bright color accents. You can combine other colors with gray, or use any shades to combine it as a secondary color.
But the most important thing is that you can use up to 3 different colors and up to 10 different shades in the interior. So, it will not be difficult for you to realize any wildest idea.
Beige kitchen interior with dark countertop
Most people associate a delicate beige shade with warmth, tranquility, cleanliness and comfort. It is often used to create classic kitchen interiors. One of the advantages of this color is its ability to harmoniously combine with all other shades.
The beige tone itself exists in numerous variations, but the most popular are sand, baked milk, cream, ivory, wheat, powder and caramel tones. They are ideal for creating kitchen interiors in European style, as well as in shabby chic, Scandinavian and Provence styles.
Regardless of the chosen style, you can safely install a dark countertop in the kitchen - the combination with beige will be a win-win. Suitable materials for it are artificial stone, solid wood, chipboard, plastic (the choice will depend on the chosen interior style).
As for shades of dark, these can be: black, dark gray, brown, dark green, dark blue, burgundy. To match such a tabletop, you can choose furniture fittings, flooring, decorative elements (flower pots, dishes on open shelves, spice jars, textiles, etc.).
What materials to choose
Today you can find any finishing materials in gray color. This could be a tiled wall, a dark gray backsplash, an accent wall, light gray furniture and gray wallpaper, brick, tiles, cabinets and appliances.
You can choose matte or glossy surfaces, or you can combine them. Perhaps the matte surface is a natural antidepressant; it can calm you down and set you up for new creative achievements.
In general, you can do absolutely anything you want with this color. So, to begin with, it is still better to determine the general concept and design of the interior. And choosing the necessary material in gray will not be so difficult.
Green kitchen interior with dark countertop
Green can have many shades, and almost all of them are suitable for decorating a kitchen interior. However, this rich and self-sufficient color should be diluted with other tones - lighter or darker. When creating a high-tech interior, you can use bright green color in the facades of the furniture.
Such facades will go perfectly with a dark countertop made of stone. The color of the countertop can be dark brown, black or dark gray. To furnish the floor in the room, it is recommended to use porcelain tiles of the same color.
A kitchen in olive and black tones is an excellent option for decorating a spacious kitchen with good natural light. When creating a modern interior, it is worth using both synthetic and natural materials - plastic, metal, stone, wood, glass, ceramic tiles, MDF, chipboard.
In a kitchen in a minimalist style, a set with muted green facades will look great - it should be complemented with a black countertop. The floor can be self-leveling in a dark gray color. It is better to simply paint the walls, choosing the lightest possible tone.
Around the black dining table, it is recommended to place light olive-colored chairs with plastic seats and a metal base. Decorative elements should not be overused (there should be as few of them as possible).
Choosing a headset shape
Based on the size of the room, it is important to choose a functional type of kitchen unit according to its shape. Furniture can be linear, corner, U-shaped or island.
Angular
A corner kitchen set is the best option for a compact kitchen, where the furniture is located along two adjacent walls, in the corner there is a sink or stove, under which there is a spacious cabinet. The corner is also created using a stationary or folding bar counter.
U-shaped
A U-shaped kitchen set looks good in a rectangular kitchen, where the set is located along three walls. The window sill is actively involved here as an additional surface. The disadvantage is that the dining table must be placed in another room. Suitable for a country house with a veranda or dining room.
Linear
A linear kitchen set or straight kitchen involves placing all the furniture, oven and refrigerator along one wall. Suitable for any size room and differs in the number of pencil cases. This set looks good in any style, especially in modern high-tech. The advantage is that you can place a dining group nearby, the disadvantage is that the corner space is not used.
Island
The gray island set reveals its beauty only in a large kitchen, where there is a need to reduce the work space and the need for additional surface. This is kitchen furniture, which in the middle of the room is complemented not by a dining group, but by a table from the ensemble set. The island can have a countertop, stove or sink.
The photo shows an island set, where the central table simultaneously serves as storage cabinets, a work surface with a stove and a dining table.
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.
Kitchen in graphite color: features
This shade for furniture in the kitchen is considered a universal solution. It looks decent and can be easily combined with various styles. It is possible to create a large number of color combinations, the basis of which is a gray tint. The interior will not be overloaded, which is why graphite furniture is in demand.
Despite its apparent facelessness, the gray palette is distinguished by its diversity and the ability to create your own duets from it. Unusual ideas help to choose solutions for any style direction, distinguished by the finishing of wall surfaces, combination with the living room, etc.
Most often, gray color is used in modern design. It is presented in shades of pure metallic, becoming the center of the composition.
Gray is considered a neutral shade, so it can easily be combined with numerous colors:
- in the classic design they combine ash color with white, which can be used to paint a dining table, wallpaper, worktop, curtains, apron tiles, the facade of furniture located on a gray wall;
- in the same way, graphite color is combined with beige. But if white looks clean and open, then beige is filled with nobility and severity. It is also used as the main material for wallpaper, curtains, facing tiles, tables and patterns on the walls;
- often gray in the interior is complemented by shades of its own palette. The result is a design that shimmers in the general range, but with numerous shades. The floor is made darker, like natural stone or non-standard wood, wall surfaces are finished in lighter tones. The furniture is different - from light ash to dark anthracite. The set, made in different shades, attracts attention;
- occasionally the graphite shade is combined with brown. If beige looks neutral, then the color of chocolate or natural wood is very specific. Yellow colors and metallic pearls look organic, adding glamor and a sense of luxury.
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.
Interior of an orange kitchen with a dark countertop
The combination of orange and dark shades will help make the kitchen elegant and exclusive. However, not only these two colors should be present in the interior of the room; it is recommended to dilute them with light shades.
You can paint the ceiling and walls white, install a set of black and orange tones in the kitchen, and install a black self-leveling floor. A dark-colored tabletop will fit perfectly into such an interior.
A modern model of a set with glossy facades, metal parts, glass fragments and lighting will set the tone for the entire kitchen. Orange color is ideal for creating high-tech and other similar styles.
A dark countertop made of black, dark gray or dark blue will help to emphasize the rigor and originality of the room. The best material for its creation is artificial stone. You can also use chipboard.
The kitchen apron in such a kitchen can be orange interspersed with dark shades, matching the countertop. It can be made from ceramic tiles, glass and even brick. An apron made of ceramic mosaic, combining beige, orange and black tones, will look very interesting.
In an orange kitchen with a dark countertop, you can install a dining table and chairs made of wood - they should have a strict geometric shape and massive straight legs.
In a room equipped in a high-tech or minimalist style, a table and chairs, the lower part of which is made of metal with a chrome surface, and the upper part of durable orange plastic, will also look harmonious.
Advantages and disadvantages
A kitchen in gray tones looks elegant and stylish, combining chic and sophistication in equal measure. Let's look at the most popular smoky color combinations to make your kitchen design eye-catching and delightful.
Beautiful and festive kitchen
Gray is considered the favorite color of many designers. It helps furniture and decorative elements open up and stand out, focusing attention on form and texture. Imagine that you are looking at a red bedside table - you will only remember a bright, saturated spot.
However, if you start looking at a piece of furniture of this color, then pay attention to the attractive shape and other details.
Design ideas for your design
Apron for a gray kitchen
You can choose absolutely any apron, but it is best to pay attention to the tiles. It can be stone-like or painted ceramics.
White tiles.
Bright apron.
Dark tiles.
Gray apron.
Under the brick.
Multi-colored ones were thrown off.
