Pairing two contrasting or complementary colours is one of the oldest design tricks in the book. From monochrome patterns to romantic purples and creams, the shades we paint our kitchens say a lot about who we are.
Lovers of simpler, stripped-back aesthetics often stick to traditional styles, like neutrals and dark woods. If you’re naturally cheerful, splashing your walls yellow and cabinets green might make your life that little bit brighter. Painting your kitchen isn’t the hard part: it’s knowing where to start. Luckily, Rehome has no shortage of inspiration! Learn more about our two-tone kitchen ideas for a fresh and dynamic design.
1. Black & White
Monochrome colour schemes are a classic choice for kitchens.
Often favoured by gourmet or high-end kitchens, monochromatic palettes balance drama with uniformity. Black base cabinets paired with white upper cabinetry, for example, offer a wealth of design opportunities.
Glossy black units on the lower half of the kitchen create a strong foundation, while white cabinetry prevents the space from feeling ‘closed off’. Practically speaking, black-and-white schemes are also clever visual tricks.
Using lighter tones on the upper half of the room helps smaller kitchens appear larger. White cabinets reflect natural light, and the darker base units ground the space.
You’ll see plenty of luxury ex-display kitchen brands, like Schuller and Mark Wilkinson, using this technique.
2. Navy & Warm Wood
Marrying warm and cool tones can be difficult, especially when you’re working with a smaller space. But navy and warm wood are a match made in heaven.
Approved used kitchens with this colour scheme often sell quickly. But what makes such a simple combination so inviting? Navy, with its rich, deep hue, provides a calming base, and the warmth of wood introduces a more earthy element.
You can create a division between the coolness of the navy by using these cabinets on the lower half of the kitchen, paired with upper cupboards in a warm wood finish. Or, look for kitchen islands manufactured from wood as a warming focal point.
3. Royal Blue & White
Bring the seaside closer to home with a nautical, royal blue and white colour scheme.
Reminiscent of British seaside homes, bold blues and crisp whites perfectly capture coastal living. Blue kitchens with white features, like a marble white island or upper cabinets, can make a room feel sharp and clean.
There’s a feeling of freshness with this palette that makes it equally suited to seaside homes and city dwellers who want to bring the coast indoors.
4. Forest Green & Brass
As kitchen designs go, forest green and brass are a staple trend. More and more, we’re seeing luxury designers leaning towards this combination for its earthy opulence.
Green kitchens with peppered brass fixtures, such as handles, taps, or lighting fixtures, stand out beautifully against the darker green backdrop.
Forest green's dark, nature-inspired tone is calm. The brass accents, an already refined touch, work to bring out the green’s depth. Together, the two colours emphasise organic materials and tones, the perfect choice for nature lovers.
5. Soft Pink & Charcoal
Soft pinks, like blush or dusky rose, work surprisingly well with deep charcoal tones. The intensity of the grey, combined with the pale tint of pink, can make a kitchen feel romantic without feeling overly masculine or feminine. To complement charcoal cabinets, use a blush-toned quartz or marble worktop. Pair this with pink-toned or copper handles to subtly introduce the colour scheme without favouring one colour.
Another option is to introduce soft grey using a custom splashback. Use tiles or a grey-toned glass panel behind the stove or sink area to create a contrast between light-coloured cabinets.
6. Deep Plum & Soft Cream
Deep plum has long been associated with royalty, so why not bring this richness into your kitchen? If you don’t want to commit to this darker colour in large areas, use deep plum on a feature wall and keep the rest of the cabinetry in soft cream.
You could even integrate deep plum through appliances, such as ovens, fridges, or small appliances, set against a backdrop of soft cream cabinetry. Deep plum and soft off-whites have been a long-standing, romantic favourite for those who love cosy kitchens.
7. Olive Green & Mustard Yellow
The pairing of olive green and mustard yellow is a cheery colour combination that goes beyond typical kitchen designs. Olive green has a grounded earthiness, whereas mustard is a lot brighter. Consider mustard yellow tiles or a patterned floor that features both of these tones. A geometric or vintage tile design could weave these two colours into a cohesive backdrop for your kitchen.
Or, instead of using olive and mustard in typical upper and lower cabinetry, feature them on a split kitchen island. Paint the front-facing cabinets in olive green and use mustard yellow on the sides or the worktop base.
Shop for two-tone ex-display kitchens with Rehome!
Re-jigging your kitchen’s colour scheme, whether that’s by painting a feature wall or installing a backsplash, is one of the best ways to breathe new life into a tired kitchen.
However, there are those kitchens that even a fresh coat of paint can’t fix. If you’ve been meaning to upgrade your cabinetry for years (but have been delaying due to budget barriers), we’re here to help.
Rehome is offering customers heavily discounted ex-display kitchens from luxury brands. From retailers like John Lewis to premium appliances from Miele and Fisher & Paykel, we’re here to make the impossible possible.
