White kitchens are classic staples in interior home designs. Other than the timeless, clean, and sophisticated vibe it exudes, the color white also makes spaces appear and feel more spacious, it enhances the natural light inside a room, and it becomes the perfect backdrop for any piece of decor.
There is no doubt that white color schemes will remain trendy for years to come!
But if there is one thing to be mindful of when looking at turning your kitchen immaculately white, it is the risk of being too monotonous and borderline lifeless. There are many ways to avoid this, including adding a pop of color, lining some patterns here and there, incorporating some bold textures and hues.
Here are 40 white kitchen ideas that will help you give a bit more life to your kitchen.
1. Paint the Town Red
Go big and bold with the color red. Known to be a stimulating color, red is a great color to accent your white kitchen. Go for the earthy red hues, which interior designer Karen Vidal describes as always appealing and makes for a dramatic focus in your kitchen.
The red paint used in this kitchen adds visual depth to a small space as well as complements the earthy beige color of the kitchen countertops.
2. Exquisite Golden Accents
If you’re not the type to add a pop of color, perhaps a few accents of gold will do the trick for you. Adding a few golden accents, such as the cabinet handles and elements in this stylish kitchen, gives a touch of elegance to an already sophisticated-looking kitchen.
3. Marvel at the Beauty of Marble Countertops
Marvel countertops are another popular kitchen addition. According to architect S. Russell Groves, marble is a natural material that creates beautiful natural patterns that you don’t usually get with most artificial materials.
If you want to break the monotony of your white kitchen, go for a darker shade of marble that serves as your kitchen’s functional focal point.
4. Marble from Head to Toe
The seamless marble wall and flooring introduces eye-catching patterns and elegant texture to your all-white kitchen space. Complementing marble with a warm metal such as silver enhances the subtle grains in the limestone, making it stand out more.
Other than being elegant, durable, versatile, and sleek, marble is an excellent choice for a decorative piece as, according to Living Spaces, it is a design material that will remain a timeless decorative staple for years to come.
5. Industrialize It
One of the most popular modern designs these days are industrial interiors. For white spaces, Smooth Decorator recommends exposed piping and ducts to enhance the look of your kitchen.
Notice how the metal piping creates a fantastic contrast to the white ceiling and grey walls. The innovative use of radiators to support the island cooktop also adds character to this modern room and makes for a great conversation piece for dinner parties.
6. The Classic Black and White
A timeless and minimalist kitchen idea is opting for black and white palettes. The black marble countertop, bar stools, window frames, and countertops add drama to the overall white features of this kitchen.
The addition of a black range hood also makes for a great focal point in this space, breaking the monotony of the immaculately white walls.
7. Simply Black and White
Another take on the classic white and black color palette is having your floor completely black. The black flooring and black appliances, along with the minimalistic black furniture, make this kitchen simple yet sophisticated at the same time.
According to Spruce, the black and white combination undoubtedly adds elegance to any room. For more tips on how to use black and white in your home, check out their guide to decorating your interior in black and white.
8. Stainless Steals the Show
A recent study by NHAB (National Association of Home Builders) revealed that stainless steel appliances top the list for kitchen appliances.
This statistic is not surprising, especially as stainless steel gives your white kitchen that modern look without compromising its elegance. For consistency, add in some oversized stainless-steel pendant lamps for that much-needed lighting.
9. Bring Life into the Kitchen
Bringing the outdoor colors into your indoor space is an easy way to add some color and life to your white kitchen. The white walls and furniture in this kitchen make the perfect background for these beautiful green plants.
If you have limited knowledge about plants or are not sure about the type of plant that suits your space best, a good starting point is reading the Better Homes and Gardens’ guide on choosing houseplants.
10. Use Backsplash to Your Advantage
Apart from creating the illusion of a brick wall, a tiled backsplash also creates added texture to your otherwise seamless kitchen. Try to shy away from the usual white subway tiles and opt for darker hues to give an added contrast to your kitchen space.
11. Add Character by Adding in a Chalkboard Wall
Declutter your kitchen fridge from notes by adding in a chalkboard (blackboard) wall. This added feature is a fun and interactive addition, creating space in your kitchen for messages and reminders.
Contrary to popular belief, chalkboard walls do not necessarily have to be black, and a variety of chalkboard paint is available for you to choose from. Check out this informative article from House Beautiful about the six things you should know before adding a chalkboard wall in your home.
12. A Bit of Black is More Than Enough
You don’t need too much black to give your white kitchen a good contrast. Simply adding in a few accents, such as the black kitchen faucet on the matching black kitchen sink, is enough to render a stark contrast to a predominantly white space.
13. Something Blue
A minimalistic design does not have to be monotonous, as seen in this modern minimalistic white and blue kitchen. The blue hues give an added mood and tranquillity, which is perfect for those quiet coffee times while looking out those gorgeous white panoramic windows.
14. Wooden Accents
Add an earthy feel to your white kitchen with an oak finish to your countertops and shelving. Use a timber table as the centerpiece of your warm and cozy space, pop in a couple of black pendant lights for some added contrast, and finish off with a wooden kitchen utensil set to complete that organic look.
15. Color Me Pretty
You can never go wrong with colored upholstery. It’s the way to go if you want to try out colors and aren’t brave enough to have them painted on your walls or cabinets.
The different shades of blue, peach, pink, teal, and orange incorporated in the furniture of this kitchen creates that ocean sunset feel, which perfectly matches the balcony overlooking the beach.
Small elements also do wonders – like the eye-catching sky-blue kitchen knife set and matching pot that gives added character to this white space.
16. Terracotta Floors
Incorporating terracotta tile floors against a white kitchen background gives your kitchen a rustic, warm, farmhouse feel.
The Victorian pendant lights with brass hardware and the vintage fridge together with the ceramic induction cooktop and espresso machine create the perfect mix for a modern yet vintage feeling kitchen.
17. Open Your Shelves Up
If there is one thing this kitchen tells us, it’s that open shelving can be visually pleasing. Other than the well organized set up, the addition of some indoor plants, colorful pasta, and food jars, as well as patterned ceramics, add subtle hints of color to an overwhelmingly white kitchen.
18. Wooden Backsplashes
When we think of backsplashes, tiles immediately come to mind. But have you ever considered using wooden backsplashes?
The apparent downfall is they’re not as easy to clean and maintain as tiles, but this kitchen serves as an example of the visual aesthetic and warmth that wooden backsplashes bring to a white kitchen.
19. Brass it Up
The pale gray paint on these kitchen cabinets creates a subtle contrast to your white kitchen, but the brass hardware is the accent that makes this kitchen stand out. The brass chandelier features also work as great decorative pieces.
20. Play with Rugs
A cost-effective way of sprucing up your white kitchen is by using colorfully patterned rugs. The Pottery Barn gives some helpful tips on choosing the right carpet for your space. For small kitchens such as this, a small rectangular rug gives your kitchen character without overlapping the other kitchen elements.
21. Patterned Backsplashes
Instead of going for the usual subway tiles for your backsplash accents, try going for patterned tiles to give your kitchen added depth. The backsplash used in this kitchen also creates a focal point amidst the seamless white cabinetry.
22. Contrasting Cabinets and Shelves
Neutral contrasts to your cabinets and shelves are a great way of breaking the stark white space in your kitchen. As opposed to dark tones, neutral hues create added dimension and character to your white theme while maintaining the open feel of your kitchen.
23. Dark Floors and White Cabinetry
Having a white kitchen from floor to ceiling can sometimes be hard on the eyes. To add contrast and ease the burden on your eyes, accentuate all-white cabinetry with a dark-colored floor.
Dark hardwood works best for adding a warm ambiance to the room, while more colored tiles give out a colder feel.
24. Texture, Texture, Texture
Other than having a play with colors, mixing and matching textures also give tons of character to a white kitchen. Look at this kitchen come to life with the variety of textures in play – industrial feel overhead pipes, tiled walls and flooring, brickwork, wooden furniture, and a whole lot of green, among others.
This kitchen design is the perfect combination of textures – enough to give variety, but not too much to overwhelm the eyes.
25. White it is
There is nothing wrong with a unified white look, if that is really what you are wanting. However, to make it easy on the eyes, consider incorporating chrome or stainless-steel appliances and fixtures.
It doesn’t have to be excessive, just enough to break the sterile white space. Small decorative pieces are also great color-infusing alternatives if you don’t want to go for the more permanent fixtures.
26. Pick A Single Contrasting Color
Choose a single contrasting color for your kitchen utensils and watch these pop out against your white kitchen’s backdrop. Look at how the apple green features on this kitchen appear to float against the white background whimsically.
Speaking of colors, did you know that colors are powerful design tools that can evoke certain moods and make a room in your home cheerful, dramatic, comfortable, or calm?
If you want to know more about colors and how it can affect the mood of your home, have a read through the Home and Garden TV’s article on the Psychology of Color.
27. Bring Out the Copper
Your copper cookware can be used for more than just cooking. They are also great as hanging ornaments – the warm copper glow adds brightness and color to any white kitchen.
If you are bold enough, try adding in some stainless steel and basket ware to give a variety of colors and textures to your overhead decors.
28. Add a Bright Focal Point
What better way to add character to your white kitchen than popping in a bold and brightly-colored appliance or furniture. We love the visual statement this vintage yellow fridge creates against an otherwise crisp white background.
29. Make the Backdrop Pop
A bright monochrome backdrop is another alternative for the subway or patterned tiles. This kitchen used polished yellow tiles to add character to their white space, but other options, such as colored glass backdrops, can also be used in place of tiles.
30. Show Off Those Beams
To achieve a chic and country feel to your white space, don’t be afraid to expose the wooden beams in your kitchen.
There’s definitely a play on texture on this kitchen, with the timber floors and wooden bar stools adding a natural contrast to the industrial frames and elegant marble countertop.
31. Play with Gray
If you want to keep a monochromatic color scheme, an interplay between gray and white is the way to go. Because of its subtle hue, gray gives a high contrast to your white kitchen base, without overpowering it.
The gray wall on this kitchen allows the white cabinetry to pop out, and the grayish tone to the cabinet lining and hardware are just enough to give an added texture to the seamless white finish.
32. Tranquil Teal
Nothing screams tranquillity more than the color teal. Go for two-toned cabinetry using white and teal to achieve a perfect balance of relaxing hues.
For a more natural and livelier feel, add a tall indoor plant on a chrome planter and balance the tones with a patterned gray curtain. Throw in a patterned rug on your white floor tiles for that final touch of character.
33. Minimalism Goes a Long Way
Known for their modern and elegant features, Scandinavian-style kitchens such as this one put minimalism to a whole new level. The light wooden floors and countertops perfectly accentuate the white hues, and the black hardware finish and some kitchenware add a tinge of bold contrast.
The use of glass walls gives an added openness to this space, enhancing the already bright atmosphere of the crisp white kitchen. The white fridge and pendant lights maintain the consistency of the minimalistic color palette, only slightly broken by the elegant character of the stainless steel oven.
34. Let the Light Shine
A bright kitchen can shine more radiant with the perfect lighting fixtures. These sophisticated pendant chandelier lights bring extra light and sparkle to your kitchen, making it look even more refined. A white kitchen is also a great backdrop to experiment with a variety of lighting fixtures.
The dark-colored wall scones underneath the rangehood balance the soft tones of the marble backsplash, and the multiple undercabinet and recessed lighting fixtures enhances the elegant features of this white and gold themed kitchen.
35. Sleek and Seamless
This relatively small kitchen space has been made more spacious by its smooth and seamless layout and contrast.
The solid black backsplash breaks the white space beautifully, and the use of drawer fronts and panel doors in place of hardware creates flat and smooth surfaces for the cabinetry, giving it that elegant and timeless look.
36. Feature Brick Wall
A white feature brick wall adds texture and contrast to your white kitchen without compromising its crisp white hue. The subtle light wood countertop is a perfect way to separate the smoothness of the laminate cabinets from the rough texture of the bricks.
A potted plant gives added color to the room, complemented by the wooden floor to create an earthy feel indoors.
37. Wallpaper It
An affordable alternative to adding color to a predominantly white kitchen is by using kitchen wallpaper to cover strategic places in your kitchen. Although paint is generally cheaper than wallpaper, the advantage of wallpaper is the added character you get with the various pattern designs available.
It is also a more affordable alternative to patterned tiles, such that if you change your mind, you can always try another pattern or design without needing to break the bank.
If you haven’t installed wallpaper before and want to learn how to do so, check out some of the step-by-step tutorials on hanging wallpaper available on YouTube.
38. Feature Your Furniture
If you are happy with your existing cabinetry, flooring, and wall colors and textures but still want to add a bit of color to your kitchen, you may want to consider adding colorful furniture and appliances.
These gel-green barstools effortlessly give character and a modern touch to this otherwise classic white kitchen, and the light blue appliances lined up against the rustic backsplash create an attractive focal point between the cabinetry.
Finally, the choice of pendant lights perfectly adds a dynamic feel to the existing horizontal line elements in this space.
39. Use All Organic Colors
Another brilliant, cost-effective solution to adding some color to an extraordinarily crisp and clean white space is by using plants, fruits, and herbs. Add touches of green by placing small, low-maintenance indoor plants onto your countertops.
Herbs can be an alternative to these plants, especially if you love to cook and are familiar with your herbs. Fill a fruit bowl with a variety of seasonal fruits and use this to add color and texture to your glossy white countertop.
40. Retro Meets Modern
Vintage checkerboard floors make your kitchen floor appear funky and chic, and adds some vertical and horizontal line elements to your white kitchen. It also creates a distinct break between the walls, and the cabinetry, and adds a retro feel to this otherwise modern kitchen.
The timber countertops, indoor plants, and green pendant lights create a warm natural look that balances out the cold feeling of the tiled backsplash and stainless steel faucet fixtures.
Because of its elegant, bright, and refined look, white kitchens remain a favorite kitchen design choice. White kitchens are also versatile and make for the best backdrops.
The white kitchen ideas we have listed above have shown us that throwing in some color on fixtures, walls, cabinetry, accessories, and floors creates beautiful contrasts to your white kitchen.
It has also shown us the role of various textures, accents, and materials in giving more character and life to a crisp white kitchen space.
What was your favorite kitchen design idea? Do you have other tips we haven’t covered above? Tell us about it by commenting below.
