Two-tone kitchen ideas are ideal for those who just can't choose between beautiful shades. After all, one of the hardest decisions for the home has to be choosing the ideal cooking zone color.
If you're not sure where to start, we've got you covered with a range of different ideas from design pros. Mixing materials, considering light, and maintaining balance are all key aspects to consider.
When plotting our kitchen color ideas, keeping everything within a couple of tones will help you create a space that is chic and cohesive.
Stylish two-tone kitchen ideas
Many modern kitchen color schemes involve two-tone kitchen color ideas, so it's worth incorporating these if you want to go for a contemporary vibe.
We have also shopped useful buys throughout, so you can create your own two-tone cooking zone.
The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.
1. Wood and neutrals
Creating contrast doesn't have to involve going completely wild with color. For example, wood tones matched with neutrals can look sleek and Scandi.
“In one of our projects at Hutter Architects, we redesigned a kitchen by using wood for lower cabinets and a soft gray for upper cabinets, which visually expanded the space and highlighted the high ceilings,” says Pam Hutter, principal designer at Hutter Architects.
Take a subtle approach on this trend by choosing wooden cabinets and combing these with pale walls to keep everything looking soft and streamlined.
Size (in.): H15.75
Made from: Plastic, metal, wood
Price: $65.99 for four
Bring wood texture and breezy neutrals into your kitchen with these chairs that are ideal for placing next to kitchen islands or around dining room tables. The ergonomic backs will give your guests comfort, while the metal frame will provide extra stability.
Shape: Square
Made from: Paper
Price: $2
Finding the perfect white paint color can be difficult, which is why we've sought our favorite out for you. It has white in its undertones, giving it a crisp, sharp look in any space. Try the sample in different rooms around your home, as you may find yourself wanting it for the whole house.
Size (in.): W12 x L12
Made from: Vinyl
Price: $24.87
If you don't want to commit to installing wood, these peel-and-stick tiles are the ideal solution. They come in 23 different style options, including lighter and dark 'wood' variations, so you can choose whichever one suits your style best. The semi-gloss finish will also help reflect light around your kitchen.
2. Black and white
Both classic and classy, a black and white kitchen will allows you to play things safe, but in a stylish way.
“A sophisticated palette of black and white offers a timeless elegance that never goes out of style,” explains Nina Lichtenstein, principal designer and founder of Nina’s Home Design.
“This classic color combination lends a sense of simplicity, balance, and visual interest to any culinary space,” she adds,
You can always go bolder with other elements of your design, and introduce trending textures, like concrete, for an urban feel.
3. Matte and gloss
Are you team matte or high gloss when it comes to your worksurfaces? Well, if you're sitting scratching your head over that difficult question, know that there no longer has to be two divisive and creative camps... As you can incorporate both finishes.
Choosing different textures for your cabinets and surfaces will create a chic, layered effect. Gloss finishes are especially great for brightening up small kitchens.
As a bonus, reflective surfaces are also easy to clean, making them a practical choice for busy kitchen island units or breakfast areas.
4. Metallics
If you want a smart and sleek kitchen that isn't black and white, a gray can be elevated with a few metallic elements.
Copper too industrial for you? Opt for warm brass or cool chrome instead.
5. Matching palette
Adding dramatic depth by using multiple hues in the same palette will help you create a subtle but sophisticated impact.
We like how the above picture has used these in one space, but you could always spread these across a kitchen to define zones.
6. Dark hues
Although darker tones may seem intense, they are a great way to make a kitchen feel inviting.
“While lighter colors can make a small kitchen feel more expansive, darker tones add depth and coziness to larger spaces,” Nina explains.
These timeless colors also mean that you can be more creative with introducing on-trend textures, like marble kitchen ideas, or when adding linear details.
7. Kitchen island
If you have been blessed with a kitchen large enough for this feature, we highly recommend reaching for kitchen island ideas.
“For instance, a vibrant teal or emerald green island can infuse energy into an otherwise neutral kitchen palette,” Nina explains.
She adds, “This approach adds personality and character, elevating the overall design aesthetic.”
An island is such a focus in a kitchen, and you can make it stand out even more by painting it in a contrasting color to your cabinets.
8. Contrasting cabinets
If you want to dabble with colorful kitchens but still want your space to have a neutral feeling overall, consider doing one row of colorful kitchen cabinets and then keeping the rest of the room cream or white.
We love this stoney, muted, duck egg blue. It's such a classic kitchen color that's both elegant and inviting. The terracotta pots are a subtle addition, but they really pop against the blue plus add a touch of warmth to the space.
9. Bright tones and neutrals
When it comes to creating a two-toned kitchen, paint is going to be your friend. Painting kitchen cupboards and walls and even floors are the easiest way to create a new color scheme in your space.
We love how the cabinets in this kitchen have been painted a really vivid green (Verdigris Green by Farrow & Ball) and the walls have been kept a simple orange-toned neutral.
There's enough color in that wall color to create a contrast and give the two-toned effect in this predominantly green kitchen, while it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the space.
10. Purple and pink
Color expert, and author Annie Sloan painted this two-toned kitchen in an unusual color palette of soft pink and deep eggplant. The finished effect is soft, pretty, and modern.
Here, she mixed Annie Sloan's Emperor’s Silk (a bright pure red) with Annie Sloan's Aubusson Blue (a dark teal) to create a bespoke and beautiful purple to use in this contemporary two-toned kitchen.
11. Wallpaper
Like paint, wallpaper can be a really easy way to subtly introduce a second color into your kitchen.
Here, we like how the flowers kitchen wallpaper design almost totally matches the brick red of the cabinets, but still brings in dark greens and yellows hue for contrast.
12. Clashing colors
Who would have thought we would be drawn in by green and yellow?! It shouldn't work but it totally does. This bold kitchen proves you can pair either of these shades with other bolder colors without the room looking too much.
13. Flooring
Ooh — this kitchen is so color coordinated and we love it! The floor has exactly the same two colors as the cabinets and the walls which just adds to the overall two-toned look. Dark blue and pink is also a classic, high contrast combo that can work in both traditional and modern kitchens alike.
Recreate this high-contrast look by using Farrow & Ball's Pink Ground and Inchyra Blue, both available at Farrow & Ball.
14. Pastels
Does it get more dreamy than this pale pink and sage green kitchen? Oh, wait, yes — you throw in some copper too. You can recreate this combo by painting your kitchen cabinets and walls in pastel shades.
If your kitchen is already quite a neutral space, think about bringing in these two tones in a smaller, much easier way.
Paint a pink feature wall and look out for sage green accessories and kitchen storage to create a similar pastel kitchen vibe for just less effort.
15. Splashback
Got a tired-looking kitchen backsplash? You can actually paint over it if you know how to paint tiles.
This blue and yellow kitchen combo strikes the perfect balance between bold and subtle, so that the overall effect isn't too loud at all.
16. Pink and purple
Pink kitchens are everywhere right now, and while they might seem like a trend that resides in the squares of Instagram and Pinterest, they become a whole lot more livable when you pair them with a deeper, more muted shade.
Look how in this kitchen, the very bold pink is taken down a notch or two by the darker purple kitchen cabinets behind. This results in a much more grown up look.
17. Concrete and wood
If you want something different from a traditional kitchen or modern high-gloss worksurfaces, – choose sleek materials like concrete and wood.
This cozy brown kitchen design uses taupe brown chalk paint, with a gray concrete island, wooden bar stools and Herringbone-style flooring, to create an industrial style kitchen.
The off-white ceiling paint also adds contrast and respite from the dark palette.
By harnessing these two-tone kitchen ideas, you can create a captivating culinary space that reflects your unique style and enhances the functionality of your home.
“The versatility of two-tone design offers endless possibilities for making your kitchen more sophisticated and alluring,” Nina finishes by saying.
If you live in an apartment or rental and are thinking about bringing these in, finding small kitchen color ideas will help you pick shades that won’t overwhelm your space.
