For those of us with smaller a kitchen, packed with storage units and appliances, there is usually less available natural lighting. Plain white kitchens are therefore consistently the most popular, as they make smaller rooms seem larger and reflect the natural light around. However, sheer whites can make a kitchen spaces a little cold. If you are seeking some warmth and a cheery atmosphere in your kitchen then yellow may be the right color to theme your kitchen with.

Sometimes yellow is rejected as a color for interiors because it can be a little overwhelming, even maddening. Use bright yellows but do so sparingly. Lighter tones of yellow will bring warmth to your kitchen and can be used more extensively than canary yellows. Walls, floors, ceilings, counter tops and cabinet fascias can all get the yellow treatment, but don’t turn the lot over to your chosen theme. Mix yellow with white and gray for the best effects.

A Twist Of Lemon.

The bright citrus hue of a lemon yellow will add warmth, cheeriness and a certain élan to your kitchen, no matter what size it is. Avoid the temptation to cover all of your wall space with a vibrant yellow. Combine zesty hues with white so that the effect is warm but not overly strong. Restrict lemon yellow to the ceiling or one accent wall only and set it off with an accessory or two in the same tone. Yellow kitchen towels, a cushion or two or a canary kettle will do the job perfectly.

Lighter Yellows.

If you want to apply the color theme more extensively in your kitchen come down a tone or two from a bright, banana yellow. This is particularly effective if your kitchen is larger or you have a kitchen/diner. Utilise yellows that are closer to creams and off whites rather than fruity tones. You can get away with cabinet fascias that are a tone brighter than your yellow walls, so long as you mix the look up with some pure white elements such as a window frame or counter tops.

Cabinet Doors.

Mixing yellow into the kitchen design is tricky if you want it to be the main color. If you use it to brighten an otherwise conventional kitchen, however, the look is easier to get right. A simple idea to update a kitchen with an existing white décor is to paint one wall with an accent yellow and then exchange your cabinet doors for yellow ones.

Canary Counter Tops.

An excellent alternative to the accent wall and cabinet door approach is to change your kitchen’s counter tops. A single slab of intense gold or citron yellow will be enough to raise the whole mood of the room. You may feel that it is quite possible to leave your yellow designs at the counter tops, alone. However, brightly tiled counter tops are also good choices for a kitchen that has been given over to lighter yellow tones on the wall coverings.

Coordinated Tiling.

Matching tiles will set off a yellow themed kitchen very well but, as before, don’t be tempted to cover wide expanses of splash back in a single yellow tone. Break the look up with white grout and the occasional use of a differently colored tile. Select yellow tiles with a glaze that will bounce light back at you, for the best results.

Accessories.

Don’t forget to accessorise your yellow themed kitchen. If you have fitted a couple of yellow cabinet fascias or a counter top, set it off with a coordinating light fitting or an appliance. Yellow refrigerators and range cookers are easily sourced these days.

Picture sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.