20 green kitchen ideas to add fresh color to your cooking space
A green kitchen is a good kitchen look and this versatile color is trending in all its hues. From rich forest green to soothing sage and balancing mid tones, whichever way, it’s guaranteed to bring character to a space, small or large.
Bringing the outdoors in, it's a color that connects us to nature. It might be time to re-think gray or neutrals as the fail-safe option when it comes to trying out different kitchen color ideas and looks. And if you’re not sure about committing to green cabinets with color, then mix up cabinets with a wood or white on the top, a tiled backsplash, or painted freestanding piece such as a dresser or larder cabinet. You could even pick a botanical wallpaper and it may be just the injection of green your kitchen needs.
1. Paint your kitchen cabinets a pretty shade of emerald
Creating a green kitchen doesn't mean you have to go ripping out cabinets and starting over. If you're happy with the style of your cabinets, why not test out the green trend by painting them?
It's not a super quick job but a couple of lockdown weekends and you could have a whole 'new' kitchen. Just check out our guide to how to paint kitchen cabinets for everything you need to know.
2. Go for an apple green feature wall
Taking a feature wall idea and running with it is the go-to for adding interest to a room for a reason. They are quick, easy and cheap as you can DIY one in a matter of hours. If you are a bit of a colorphobe wanting to change their beige loving ways, painting or wallpapering one wall is a great way to do so without committing to something more permanent.
The green in this kitchen is super vivid, and we love it and how it ties in with the branches – makes us yearn for spring! But you could go for a more subtle muted green if you are just testing the waters.
Sage greens work well with other neutrals too, just bringing in a hint of color but nothing too crazy. Try Farrow & Ball's Cooking Apple Green if that sounds like your vibe or Emerald Green if you wanting something brighter.
'If your kitchen is a neutral, white, ivory, cappuccino or a natural wood, then a strong green paint for the walls, with maybe a strong geometric tile design in a complementing dark green color, will transform your space with minimal disruption or cost,' says Rachael Kilby-Tyre interior design director at My Interior Design School.
3. Choose pink and green for a bang-on-trend combo
Pink and green should never be seen (or is it red and green? Blue and green? We never know) right? Wrong! Pink and green is the color combination to be going for right now, in fact, it's been an on-trend combination for centuries.
When you are rewatching Bridgerton for the 10th time, check out how many times pink and green come up in the interiors – it's a classic color scheme that would still totally work in a modern kitchen.
The tones you choose can totally change the style of your kitchen. Pick a deep green and a dusty pink for a very contemporary look.
Or go for a more Regency vibe with pale pink and pale green if you have a more period-style kitchen. Check out our traditional kitchen ideas for more inspo.
4. Tile a wall green
See, more pink and green! If you are looking to add some green tones to your current kitchen, tiling a wall or a backsplash will add plenty of drama. Really practical, tiled walls are easy to clean and perfect for areas that get splashed a lot or get splattered while you're cooking, but they also can add so much interest and texture to a kitchen.
We love these green tiles and how each one is unique, you can find similar ones at Tiles Direct, and if you want any more tips on how to choose kitchen tiles, head over to our guide.
5. Pick jewel toned greens for a sophisticated vibe
We are seeing this deep teal around a lot, it seems to have overtaken sage as the green. It's definitely more glamorous and less country kitchen than muted greens so better suited to more styles we think.
Paint your cabinets with this jewel hue and keep walls crisp and white, then pair with darker woods, whether that be with the floor or some shelves. Gold or silver hardware would work with this look but we do particularly love the look of the 'antique' mirrored splashback and the pewter handles.
6. Mix a vivid green with warm woods
Loving the retro, mid-century modern vibe of this kitchen and the bright olivey green gives the simple space a clear focal point. The wooden wall cabinets bring in a depth and warmth that you wouldn't get if this was an all white kitchen, the natural texture stops the space from feeling a bit 2D.
Pair this tone of green with bright accessories in reds, blues, and yellows, and pick out retro decor to complete the look.
7. Pair dark green with marble
If you're getting drawn in by darker greens but wondering how to keep your kitchen from feeling gloomy, lighter worktops are the answer. Marble worktops to be precise.
Marble with any dark-colored cabinets works, creating a really luxe feel but at the same time bringing in that all-important light. If you are on a bit of a tighter budget marble effect worktops will look just as gorgeous and why not take it all the way up as a backsplash, too? Pick gold hardware and fixtures to complete the look.
8. Opt for a muted grey green
Can you tell we are clearly loving pink and green?This kitchen is almost verging on grey but there is a tinge of green going on in there, so if you want to keep your look muted, pick a grey that has green undertones.
You can always bring out the green more by pairing it with colors that make the green pop, a.k.a pink or other greens will bring it out too. For a similar green to this one check out Green 02 by Lick.
9. Work darker colors into a green kitchen
Yep, it's a dramatic look, green and black but it can work if done the right way. You want to make sure there's not too much green going on and not too much black either – plenty of white is going to balance out this look and stop the contrast from being too stark.
The colors are almost in blocks in this kitchen. You've got the black painted floorboards, then the green of the cabinets and the table and then the rest of the room is white. The fact that the colors don't really mix keeps the look fresh and bright.
10. Add a touch of green with an olive island
When considering kitchen island ideas, why not take the opportunity to bring a second color into your kitchen? It helps define the difference between the island and the wall cabinets so you don't end up with just blocks of all one color. The olive green used here brings some more natural tones into this charcoal kitchen and gives in a much more rustic look.
The pale wood used for the worktop brings together the woods used for the floor and in the dining area too, create a really cohesive but still personal space.
11. Pick warmer tones for a country kitchen
Love a country kitchen? You'll want to go for the more muted greens that are soft and welcoming. Pair it with white woodwork to keep the look crisp but add in plenty of wood and natural textures too that will work so well with this look.
And if you are swooning after that wall paneling you aren't alone, but you can actually DIY a similar look with wooden panels – check out The Victorian Emporium for loads of options.
12. Nod to fresh notes of mint green
Mint green isn't a color you often see in kitchens, but we are very much here for it. It sounds bold but as you can see in this kitchen it's actually a really subtle color, barely-there almost and definitely not as saccharine as you would first think. It's actually really calming and serene.
The white walls and worktops give this space a very fresh look but it's still charming and traditional.
13. Go green with your appliances
Excuse us while we slowly fall in love with this dreamy green range cooker! It's by Lacanche and in the color Light Olive and while it might be stuff that only dreams are made of for us, it did make us think appliances could be an easy way to bring those green tones into your home.
Ovens, kettles, toasters, fridges, you can find them all in a rainbow of colors now and there will be something to suit your budget too.
14. Incorporate open shelving into paneling
If you’d rather not have cabinets on the wall but you still need the storage, wall paneling with shelving will echo the traditional detailing of a Shaker kitchen without closing up the space. Painting the wall and shelving in the same green as the bottom cabinets will create a seamless finish, allowing the shelves and peg rails to almost disappear. The deep green base is the perfect backdrop to showcase colorful mugs and bowls.
15. Go for a glossy finish
Matte or eggshell have been the fail-safe option for a modern finish on woodwork, but gloss is back en vogue. Used on selected areas of woodwork such as freestanding larder cupboards or an island, a lacquered finish will give darker shades like olive green a reflective lift and brings character to otherwise ordinary features. Water-based gloss is much easier to work with than traditional oil based paint, but the easy to clean, durable surface is ideal for wiping away sticky finger marks.
16. Pair it with raw materials
A budget-friendly kitchen can still have designer good looks with a few clever hacks.
Balancing greens instantly link us to the outdoors and nature, which is why this unit works so well with the raw, grainy pattern of the plywood. The industrial finishes of the concrete flooring, bare wood and leather handle are softened by the mid green tone.
As Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing and Development at Benjamin Moore explains, 'the green color family serves as a favorite for many people, largely due to our familiarity with the greens that surround us in nature and the balanced quality inherent in green that makes this hue a particularly versatile color'.
17. Go for gold
A timeless combination, whether you have a sleek modern design or classic kitchen, brass will always pop against dark green hues.
'Pairing it with brass hardware is a great way to bring both a classic feel but also a great contrast. It's the jewelry of the space,' says Kylie Bodiya, of Bees Knees Interior Design
For a trad look, classic cup or ball pulls create a more decorative statement, with curvy brushed brass faucets.
For a contemporary kitchen, go for polished brass including sleek faucets, flat ended round pulls and bar pulls to complement the minimalist design of slab doors.
Don't forget lighting, incorporate brass into wall lights, sputnik style chandeliers or dome pendants for a touch of luxe.
18. Add drama with dark wood
If you have tall ceilings or a large open plan kitchen space, lean into the richness of a dark green by teaming it with a dark wood counter top. The combination of the two, instantly draws you in and adds depth, bringing character to a new build or freshly renovated room. Carry the green up the walls to cocoon the room, adding a top level shelf in the same dark wood to bring the space in, even further.
Al Bruce, Founder of Olive & Barr explains how to make it work, 'Keeping the walls free of units allows the green to take centre focus without overpowering the space. Anchor the scheme with dark wood counter tops, complemented by a subtle floating shelf and brushed mental hardware for a crisp contrast.'
19. Go green on green
Create impact with a tonal scheme by selecting shades with a similar base colour, here both have a blue base which means they work harmoniously. Avoid using a yellow based green on the walls with this unit color, as they won't sit together comfortably.
Ben Burbidge, Managing Director at Kitchen Makers why to embrace color, even with small kitchen ideas, 'A concise palette creates a sophisticated look so choose a color for your cabinetry and complement it with one or two accents.Don’t be afraid to use color in a small kitchen, darker rooms, no matter the size, can add drama and luxury to your home and the kitchen is no exception to this.
20. Try trending sage
This tranquil shade, October Mist, is Benjamin Moore's Color Of The Year 2022 and we can see why. Both soothing and uplifting all at once, a pale sage is the ideal choice for a fresh and modern design.
This easy to live with grey tinted green, is refined but not cold. Marble counter tops and backsplash elevate the overall look, but a light wood counter would work just as well for a more grounded scheme.
‘To create a calming effect, marry sage green with cool grey-whites to create a soft Scandi look,’ says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore UK. ‘Or, for an earthier, more natural appearance, pair it with warmer off-whites or beige tones.’
Is green a good color for a kitchen?
It’s totally adaptable and the next best thing to a neutral, just that little bit more adventurous. Green works with almost any other color or material, as Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director atDuluxexplains,
‘Green sits right at the centre of the spectrum and works with every other color and material you pair it with, place a green plant in any room and in front of any color you like and it will never look out of place. Green is the go to color when everything else isn’t working’.
It’s a calming color that instantly connects us to nature,
‘Green is an emotionally uplifting color, that inspires us to nurture ourselves and those around us, which is the perfect vibe for a kitchen,’ says Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
Deep green brings a sense of heritage and tradition, ideal for shaker kitchens, whilst mid greens and minty tones add a fresh update to modern, slab doors, whilst adaptable grey-based sage works on just about any door style.
What colors go with a green kitchen?
It all depends on the color green you choose, but you can almost think of green as a neutral given it's adaptable nature. Give deep green a zingy, modern contrast using shades of with pink, peach, terracotta and yellow.
Team varied greens for a subtle contrast, just be wary of the undertones you're using as Annie Sloan, color expert advises:
'There are so many greens and some have little in common. When combining different shades, stick to using either yellow based or blue based greens. Otherwise you’ll have a very uncomfortable scheme. The closer together the greens are, the better.’
Be sure to order plenty of swatches and samples and see how the different colors pair together and work in your space.
'Darker shades of green really pop alongside metallic touches that will enhance the warmth of the color and give it shine, so I’d recommend going for a brass or gold finish for the brassware and cabinetry handles.' Says Melissa Klink, Head of Design at Harvey Jones.
For some surprising combinations?
'Green looks fresh and energizing against crisp whites or soft creams, but it also looks fabulous paired with more unexpected shades, such as baby pink or turquoise – these colors could go on something as simple as a backsplash, bar stools or any soft furnishings,' adds Klink.
Wooden flooring is the perfect complement to green kitchens. Dark toned wood will set lush greens, creating depth and character. Lighter tones of green work well with mid to pale wood finishes, while still adding warmth. If wood isn’t for you, monochrome graphic tiles or sleek grey concrete effect will create a modern pairing.
When it comes to fixtures and fittings, brass is our go-to suggestion, however interior designer Jennifer Davis of Davis Interiors recommends looking at your green tone first:
'Deep, rich grey green tones pair well with matte black or brass. Intense Kelly green looks amazing with bright metals, like chrome or brushed gold. Lighter, softer green hues look beautiful with brushed nickel.'
