From country style to Scandinavian-inspired to ultra-modern, white has been the most popular kitchen colour since... well, since people have had kitchens. There are plenty of reasons why white has been the most popular kitchen colour for centuries and, no, it’s not because designers have a lack of imagination. 

When it comes to a kitchen remodel, you’re better off sticking to a simple kitchen design, and going with white. There is no limit or set rule to how white your kitchen should be. It all depends on your sense of style and your kitchen design. You can pick up a can of white paint and go all the way with white walls, white kitchen cabinets, completing the look with white marble worktops. You can also tone it down and choose one of these surfaces and scatter colours on others. 

Another good quality of the white colour is that there are almost endless shades of it. With the rise in interest in lighter and airier spaces, paint manufacturers have been producing colour charts dedicated to various whites for some time now. If bright white feels a little overwhelming to you, you can always choose more creamy shades with a hint of yellow or cooler ones with bluish or greenish notes. No matter if you have a farmhouse kitchen, rustic kitchen cabinets, or something completely contemporary, you know you cannot go wrong with white. Here’s why. 

This may sound like an obvious one, but dark colours really do make rooms feel smaller. If you have a small kitchen, white can help create the illusion of space and ‘airiness.’ If you have a larger kitchen, having a predominantly white colour scheme will only serve to make the space feel more open and welcoming. In that case, you might choose between wall paint colour, kitchen cabinets or just cabinet doors to use white as the main colour. 

When we say a “white kitchen” we don’t mean that absolutely everything has to be white. The beauty of having white as a base colour is that it’s a blank canvas for you to add pops of colour, texture and personality. These can include feature walls, a backsplash, brightly-coloured bar stools, colourful utensils or shiny copper pots. Wood floors are a good idea to add some sophistication to an all-white kitchen. Likewise, the veins of real granite or marble countertops will definitely bring a degree of elegance to otherwise dull surfaces. Stainless steel appliances coupled with metal cabinet handles is another way to add some diversity to a white kitchen. 

White is such a versatile colour that if in a few years’ time you feel like a change, you’ve always got a timeless canvas to work from.

There are plenty of emotional reasons, as well as practical ones, why white is a great kitchen colour. 

In terms of psychology, we tend to associate white with purity and cleanliness – both of which are qualities we’re likely to look for where food is being prepared. Colour therapists also suggest that white is strengthening, calming, nurturing and that it awakens creativity - Perfect for inspiring new recipes! 

Yet, as we said before, we don’t mean it has to be all white! You don’t want it to feel cold and clinical, especially if you’re introducing accents of stainless steel (nobody wants a kitchen that feels like an operating theatre). If you use white as your base however, you can easily introduce warmer colours and textures. Wooden furnishings or coloured walls or tiles will help you add warmth to the space. You can also add elements such as flowers and fresh vegetables to create a welcoming feel that puts guests at ease. If you have white kitchen cabinets, for example, the unique texture and patterns found in real wood or natural stone can offset it without being too intrusive.

White sounds like it might be restrictive, but there are plenty of ways to be creative (plus, white inspires creativity, remember?) Firstly, there are a multitude of shades of white to choose from: From cooler, blue-toned whites to warmer yellowy tones of ivory, so you can select one that suits your taste best. Plus, with a blank canvas to work from you can introduce other textures and materials like wood, dark granite countertops or statement light-fixtures. Your white kitchen really is your oyster. 

When it comes to selling your home, the safest bet is to go for white. After all, if you buy a ‘trendy’ property from the 70s then that avocado enamel and dark wood paneling is probably going to be the first thing you rip out. It’s therefore likely to impact what you want to pay for the property. For a timeless kitchen design, white is the way to go.

Looking for kitchen inspiration? Browse our range of elegant, eclectic appliances  to complete the look.