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Defying the old guard color mainstream
You can almost count on your cabinets to establish the personality of your kitchen. It is common, and almost expected, to settle on a single shade for them. But what if you wanted to pick more than one color? There’s no rule against it and if you happen to work with a designer, they may love you for it. Even on your own there are ways to blend two-plus colors in the kitchen without looking like a complete amateur.
1. An Island of a different color.
Your kitchen island can be an ideal accent piece, the perfect way to add a second color to your design, regardless of kitchen style. It can be an exciting addition to typically clean contemporary themes or used to complement the wall paint and décor of the traditional motif. If you are working with cabinets that are shades of white your options are particularly boundless. On the other hand, if you want to use deep wood tones you can still have great results from an island of color even without white cabinets.
2. Complementary colors x3.
If two colors aren’t working for you, search for the perfect third. It will be worth it, three shades can give the room a fashionable and professional look. When it’s done right, the colors are evenly distributed throughout the room and provide an authentic designer quality. Start with white, if possible, it goes well with both neutrals and primary colors. Contrary to common opinions, not all three-toned cabinet designs need a primary color in the mix. You can go all neutral, especially within industrial and rustic designs.
3. Highlight one cabinet in particular.
Instead of relying on the island to be your focal point of color variation, apply your color elsewhere. Baby blue or rustic red would work just fine on wooden hoods, glass wall cabinets, or sink and range base cabinets. Sure, it’s unconventional, but tastefully done your colored accent pieces can be a complementary showpiece of the kitchen.
4. Contrast the uppers and lowers.
You can still maintain a coordinated design when you a designate a certain shade to your upper cabinets and a darker tone for the lower ones. The darker color will serve to ground the design, and lighter colors on top, such as whites or grays will provide a cool contrast that’s more agreeable than you would expect. It won’t appear top heavy and is a great way to inject multiple colors.
5. Stain or glaze one cabinet color.
Once you’ve successfully blended your colors you may decide to subdue one of them a bit. Sure, an antique finish or charcoal glaze will typically add a bit of boldness to your accent, but it can also soften your main cabinet color. A lighter color for instance may not be so 
loud if antiqued, and would in turn allow the darker elements to command the room.
6. Texture, yes!
A fun and effective way of bringing life to the kitchen is by mixing different colors with various textures. Mix painted finishes with grainy wood veneers and separate them by the upper and lower cabinets. Seek out new combinations that mix things up. Work with textures like wood and metal and see how they blend with different colors. A transitional style kitchen provides a fertile base for which to work this particular bit of variety.
7. Just go for it.
You know what many people want to do, but do not for fear of losing their composure? Go nuts! Make whatever wacky design choices you want in the kitchen. Be daring, combine multiple colors, put them where they wouldn’t typically be used, like on drawers or cabinet doors. Pretend it’s 1968 and use a groovy kaleidoscope of color. Go as far as to incorporate colored glass and create a gradual rainbow effect…Let your wild creative instinct take over. You never know, you may reveal yourself to be the latest trendsetting sensation!
