Impressed by the craze for painted Kitchen Islands but are reluctant to try it out in your own kitchen?
Here’s why Kitchen Islands Should Be a Different Color than Cabinets
A kitchen island can be painted a different color than cabinets, and most at times, it turns out an excellent venture. White upper and base cabinets for instance, don’t need the same boring white paint slathered across the island in the middle, instead, a navy blue paint would easily isolate the island and make it an interesting focal point for the kitchen.
Below, we’ll discuss more concerning painting kitchen islands a different color.
We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of painting island a different color than cabinet, when to paint an island a different color, how to paint it, and some of the most popular and interesting kitchen island ideas of 2022.
Are Painted Islands Trendy?
Painted islands in 2022 are still very much trendy.
As a matter of fact, it seems the trend is only getting better with time.
There’s literally many ways to come at painted kitchen islands and still get magnificent results.
You can try the popular navy blue island in an all-white kitchen and it looks stunning! Add some accent to it and its special. Kick things up a notch with a bar stool and you have a monstrous cohesion.
It’s truly very difficult to go wrong with a painted island, and even if you do, it’s only a matter of buying new paint and giving the island a complete makeover. As simple as that.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves right now, just as with other trends we thought couldn’t fade out, for instance the harvest gold, hats for toilet seats, wall to wall carpeting and many more, it may only be a matter of time before they hype over painted islands hit a decline.
How long it’ll take and what trend takes over its place is definitely something to anticipate.
In my opinion though, I think painted kitchen islands aren’t a fad. I believe they are timeless if done the right way.
I’ve come across many painted islands a couple years back and fallen for them, fast-forward today, I still marvel at their gorgeous look!
What Are The Advantages Of Having An Island Painted a Different Color?
It breaks up uniformity in the kitchen
A uniform cabinetry (and flooring) almost always works in the kitchen, but sometimes, it can be a bit too off, especially when there’s an imposing wood-on-wood character.
For instance an oak cabinetry sitting on an oak flooring or maple.
The solution to this boring look is a focal point in the kitchen that has a complementary color to the cabinetry to break things up — so nothing dominates so intensely.
When you have an island centered in the kitchen space already, half the problem is solved. Just paint it a harmonizing color to the cabinetry and it’ll break up the dominance instantly.
It makes a space look bright, open and inviting
Having uniformity all over the kitchen (from floor to cabinetry) can sometimes not go right.
The kitchen might end up looking dull, especially when you have a pretty dull palette in the kitchen to begin with.
To uplift the atmosphere, add brightness and make everywhere seem inviting, consider painting the island a different color than the cabinetry.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Having An Island Painted a Different Color?
You may not like the idea in few years to come
No doubt, painted kitchen islands are a trend, and much like other trends, there’s a peak and nadir period.
We may have been witnessing the peak of painted kitchen islands for the past few years now, including the current year of 2022, but with time, newer trends will emerge and pinch hit its place.
Then, you might not like the idea you found interesting a few years back.
It may turn out a mess
Not every kitchen will benefit from the idea of a kitchen island, and certainly, not every kitchen will look good with an island painted a different color than the cabinets.
I could say with quite a bit of confidence that small and poorly lit kitchens, or those having two different countertops in place will easily fall into this boat.
It’s easy to get a lot going on with them.
A mini or small kitchen will easily become overwhelmed when it has an island positioned close to the cabinets, and then painted a different color.
When there’s poor lightening in the kitchen too, painted islands won’t perfectly serve their purpose of becoming a focal point or breaking up the uniformity of the cabinetry and flooring.
In as much as sleek designs and brilliant palette can be achieved by mere changing of the island color, lightening still plays a crucial part, and without it, you’re hiding a light under a bushel.
May not sell well
Too much personalization in a space can affect its resale value.
What A likes might not necessarily be what B likes.
Unless you’ll take the time to fix things back to neutrality before marketing the apartment, which might be expensive depending on the bulk of the project, there’s a likelihood you won’t be able to sell at the cap you’d like.
That’s why keeping a house neutral and free from personalization is always a good idea especially when you’re not sure of staying in that apartment for a lengthy period of time.
When it’s Always a Good Idea to Paint a Kitchen Island a Different Color
Honestly for some kitchens, painting the island a different color should be made compulsory.
For instance, really big kitchens that have a really big island positioned in the middle. It begs for color miscellany. Because the island is already in a position to become a focal point, all it needs is that extra accent to spark things to life.
The contrary on the other hand, a small kitchen with the island cramped in the middle of the space, might not necessary be a good idea unless you have excellent lightening and choose colors that really complement.
How Can You Add Interest to A Kitchen Island without Changing It’s Color?
You don’t always have to paint your kitchen islands a different color in order to build up the palette.
Many ways exists to spark interest into a kitchen, without having to slather paint here and there.
Let’s look at some interesting ways to build up a kitchen and add some character to it.
Accents
It’s difficult to find a standard definition of accent in search engines, so let me do the honors of telling you what it is.
Accent is basically all the little décor at home aside the big ones which include furniture, curtains, wall papers, rugs and curtains. Accents help to add some style and personality to a home.
Accents come in many shapes and forms; from stylish trays, pretty vases, to bowls, boxes and special pieces of art work.
Finding one that matches and suit the style of your kitchen certainly won’t be a difficult task.
Just take the time you need and you’ll find the right one.
Pendant light
I’ve seen hanging lights placed many times over a kitchen island with really positive result.
The key to achieving brilliance is to go for hanging lights with some character of their own, and let them be huge enough to be able to steal the spotlight from the island.
Chairs and Stool
A brilliant and popular way to add style to a kitchen without changing the color of the island is to use chairs and stools that are decorative, and have style of their own to add to the space.
Many types of chairs exists in different styles, colors and shape.
Take your time to check carefully and look for a chair or stool that’d really light up the kitchen island.
Ledge stones
One way to add color to an island without actually painting it is to use a decorative ledge stone on it. Then add some down lightening at the junction between the island and the countertop and watch how your island goes from monotonous to exciting.
Play around with the countertop
Instead of focusing on the island to do the magic job for you, why not pay more attention to the countertop that goes over it.
There are many countertop ideas out there from marble, granite, wood to quartz and even tiling.
All these have their tones that can add depth to a kitchen.
Stoneware
Placing a few pieces of stoneware on the kitchen island too can help add some interest to it. The stoneware should be large enough to grab attention and also have so character to it. Need an example? Vintage porcelain Corningware!
Colorful glassware and dishware on an open shelving
I’m not really a fan of open shelving due to how easily items on them can accumulate and collect dust.
Open shelving however, is no doubt one of the best ways to create a focal point in the kitchen.
With an open shelving, you can layer colorful glassware and dishware and they’d converge interest effortlessly.
Wall and backsplash tiles
Instead of trying so hard to make the island the focal point of the kitchen, why not try something else with the wall? Use a backsplash tile to capture attention or paint the wall an interesting and complementary color to the cabinetry.
What Kitchen Island Color Goes With White, Brown, Cherry and Oak Cabinets?
Below is a table showing you the different cabinet colors and the island colors that would match or complement them.
Remember you can always check out shades of colors to discover even more interesting colors for your particular type of kitchen. Don’t just settle with the colors we provide you below.
| s/n | Kitchen Cabinet | Kitchen Island Color That Goes With It |
| 1 | White Cabinets | Soft blue, Slate blue, Navy blue, Brown, Lime green. Bright red, Orange, Ocean blue, Dark brown, Light gray, Black, blue-gray, gray, teal |
| 2 | Brown Cabinets | White, light green, various shades of brown, navy blue, ash |
| 3 | Cherry Cabinets | Gray, white, ash, black, |
| 4 | Oak Cabinets | Black, sage green, chocolate brown, vivid red, ash, light or cool blue, off-white, white, soft gray |
Below are some few examples to see for yourself
1. White cabinet with navy blue island
2. White Cabinet with Ash Island
3. Brown Cabinet With Blue Island
How to Choose Color for Your Kitchen Island
Look At the Cabinet Color
By far, the most important factor when deciding which color to paint your kitchen islands is the cabinet color.
It holds so much weight of importance that skipping the process could result in a serious clash between the color of the cabinetry and that of the island.
Cabinets come in different colors, but the most popular include white, black, ash and various shades of brown.
Whatever the color of your cabinet is, use the table above as a starting point to decide what colors to go for the island.
Let personal preference and kitchen style influence your final decision.
Island can be painted lighter or darker than cabinets with no issues. For example, a white kitchen cabinet accepts a navy blue and chocolate brown island so eagerly, so also a black or umber cabinet harmonizes well with tortilla or white cabinet.
The most important thing is selecting the colors that work, and not conflict. We have provided a table for that.
Look At the Countertop
You can also use the color of the countertop as guidance.
White countertops go well with nearly every color. But the most popular of them include the Bermuda blue, brown, orange, gray and black. When you have a black granite countertop, go for the color orange, gray or brown for the island.
Use the Wall Too
Another way to find really interesting color profiles to work with is from the wall.
If you have the color of the wall echoed in the middle of the kitchen by the island, that’s a great way to build visual appeal.
Repeat Colors In the Kitchen to Bounce Back Colors
When you’ve finally decide on a color and finally painted the island, there’s still much you can do to add build interest in the kitchen, and make the color of choice dominant.
Bounce the island colors all over the kitchen with the aid of walls, light fixtures, rugs, and accessories that match its color.
Do All Kitchen Cabinets Have To Be The Same Color?
Aside Island, cabinetry itself can have variation in its coloring.
Most often, it’s done by two-toning (where both parts that make up the cabinetry have different color), but the island, if present, would bear a similar color to any one of the two-tones.
Trying out a much complex palette in the kitchen with the island, upper and lower cabinet all having a different color may not really be successful, but a different color for upper cabinet and base cabinet is definitely an idea that has been tried out countless number of times with great success.
One popular two-tone design is the white upper cabinet and a black lower cabinet with the accessories of the cabinets varied in their colors to match and complement the two-tones.
Light mint and gold is also another great idea, so also deep green and warm wood, white and stainless steel, navy blue and cream, light-green and wood, cherry-wood and greige, white and wood, blush and rust and finally navy with light gray.
You can also try shifting or even alternating colors between individual cabinets, but be very creative with it, otherwise, you may end up ruining the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen.
Do Countertops Have To Match Cabinets
There’s no rule that states countertops should match kitchen cabinets. In fact, giving the countertop a different color than the cabinetry is a great way to break the uniformity of the cabinetry and impose visual appeal.
Countertops, should always be a different color than cabinet. They should be given colors that match or compliment the cabinetry a lot. Here are some beautiful countertops to take inspiration from.
What Is The Most Popular Color For Kitchen Island?
The most popular colors for Kitchen Island include:
- Grey
- Light blue
- Brown
- Light pink
- Navy blue
- Black
- White
How to Change Your Kitchen Island Color
If you’re not satisfied with the color of your island, or have some inconsistencies going on, you can always paint it a different color. I’ve found a very helpful video to help you with that.
What Are The Kitchen Islands Trends And Ideas Of 2022?
Here are some of the most exciting trends of painted kitchen islands of 2022
