Become a Color Expert in 3 Steps

The colors you put in your kitchen will determine its mood, enhance its style and—if done right—make you feel right at home. But unless you have a degree in fine art or design, staring at multitudes of swatches can be a crippling, panic-inducing experience. Fortunately, color is a science that can be studied.  Learning color basics in three easy steps will help you determine what color choices are right for you.

Step 1:     Start your education by revisiting the color wheel and discovering color types. These essential color categories will serve as a foundation for imagining your kitchen's color scheme.

Step 2:     Deepen your understanding with a vocabulary lesson on describing color. Knowing the difference between a hue and a shade will pay off when you try to express just what that perfect red looks like to you. Understanding the difference between cool and warm colors will also help you evaluate your color choices.

Step 3:     Once you’ve got the lingo down, you can explore basic color combinations on the color wheel for color schemes that might work for your kitchen. Whether your favorite color combos are monochromatic or complementary, you’ll find a starting point for your own design. As you begin to coordinate your products’ colors, your kitchen’s inspired design will begin to take shape—and color—before your eyes.