One of the most popular upcoming trends is to use green in the kitchen. Green has always been a symbol of new life and rejuvenation. While it is a difficult color to use in most rooms, green is especially difficult to use in the kitchen. The good news is that dark green kitchens are still a possibility with several tips and techniques.
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Tips for Using Green Colors in Your Kitchen
Green can be an incredibly difficult color to use in a kitchen remodel. In decades past, people incorporated green in a variety of…misguided methods. From avocado ovens to green patterned floor tiles. Fortunately, there are more modern methods of incorporating the color now.
Similar Hues for Multiple Greens
If you are using multiple different greens in the same kitchen design, you need to consider similar hues for all of them. This means that they all need to have the same amount of gray in them. Otherwise they will clash.
Stick to a Simple Color Scheme
Green kitchens do better with a simple color scheme. Green has a lot of personality already and most people will find it more comfortable to keep things simple other than the pop of color that is the green. Keeping a simpler color scheme makes it easy to pull off a green kitchen.
Consider Adding Green in “Impermanent” Items
If you are afraid of a dark green kitchen, you should consider adding green to impermanent items. So instead of making your cabinets or backsplash dark green, put green in your towels, cutting boards, and other accessories. This way, you can easily change it if you change your mind.
Test Large Areas of Green Paint Options
When you are choosing a dark green paint color for your kitchen, make sure that you test large patches with several different lighting scenarios. That last thing you want is for a different area of lighting to make a difference in your new chosen color.
Stick to the Tried and True Combination: Green, White, and Wood
If you are looking at adding a dark green kitchen to your home, go with the tried and true combination that works regardless of which green you choose, no matter what color. Green, white, and wood will work for any scenario with ease.
Choose a Matte Finish
Since green is already an attention-getting color, you want to choose a matte finish. Any amount of sheen will make the green stand out too much and overwhelm the rest of your beautiful kitchen design. Having a shiny green finish could also highlight any flaws in your kitchen, which you definitely don’t want.
Use “Safer” Finishes on Other Accents
There are a few finishes that are easier to match with green kitchens. Gold, dark bronze, and satin nickel are excellent choices for accent colors. Of course, if you like other accent colors for your kitchen, go with it!
Highlight Historical Design Styles
Green colors go excellently with historical interior design styles. If you are nervous about “going green” you should consider some of these historical styles so that you don’t feel like you are having to force things as much.
Think About a Lighter, Calmer Green
Dark green kitchens may be a bit scary for you. If you are too nervous to use dark green in the kitchen, you should consider a calmer and lighter green such as sage. You don’t have to go all in, all at once. Start with a light shade and, if you feel comfortable, you can go darker.
Choose a calm green if you aren’t ready to go full green yet
Add Green in a Small Space
Again, green is a bold color to use in a kitchen. If you are too nervous to use it a lot but want to use it in a permanent matter, you can consider using them in a smaller space. Fortunately, there are parts of the kitchen that are smaller than others.
Green Kitchen Island
The kitchen island is an excellent option for using green in the kitchen. Especially with the kitchen island being an accessory or accent area in most kitchens, green cabinets or even a countertop there is a great option.
Green Backsplash
You could easily incorporate green tiles in the backsplash of a kitchen in order to add green. Since the backsplash is such a small area in most kitchens, you can use green there without overwhelming the entire space.
Suggestions For Using a Dark Green Color in Your Kitchen
There are a few combinations that work well with green kitchens. Of course, you shouldn’t be afraid to try out other combinations than the ones listed here. But if you are nervous about trying out a green kitchen for yourself, try these combinations out for almost guaranteed success.
Dark Green and White Kitchens
Dark green kitchens pair beautifully with white. Especially if you make the white a glossy white such as a glossy subway tile or acrylic cabinets, it can contrast well with the dark green. You can also use white in a dark green kitchen if it’s a matte white. Just the contrast of the colors will be enough if you want a calmer look.
Green and Black Kitchens
If you are using a lighter colored green, you could consider black as an excellent contrast color. You should stay away from using black as an accent color in a dark green kitchen unless you have experience or a professional designer working with you. It would be very easy to overdo it and make the room too dark.
Green Paired with Wood
Green has been a symbol of growth for centuries. Because of this symbolism, green pairs excellently with wood, which is another symbol of growth. Especially lighter colored wood should be considered as an accent color to a dark green kitchen.
Forest Green
A classic choice for a dark green kitchen is a forest green. Forest green especially lends itself to a historic interior design and golden accents. The warmth of the gold makes the warmth of the forest green pop.
Emerald Green
Another popular color, for the bolder homeowners especially, is an emerald green. Emerald is a color that goes very well with satin nickel and dark bronze accents. This jewel-tone color can be incredibly beautiful if used correctly.
What Colors and Accents are Popular Additions to Green
There are several accent colors and accents that are popularly used with green, especially dark green, kitchens. Of course, there are other possibilities so you shouldn’t feel confined to just these options.
Marble
Marble is incredibly popular as an accent to dark green kitchens. Marble contrasts the dark green by being shiny as well as bright. Of course, marble has also been used for centuries. This means that it fits into the same historic interior design styles as dark green does.
Brass
There is something about a dusk green combined with a matte, brushed brass that is almost unbeatable. This beautiful combination evokes a feeling of luxury and boldness because it takes a specific personality to show this combination to the world.
Brass is a natural partner to green of any shade or hue
Bronze
Bronze is a classic pairing with dark green kitchens and it is one of the safest options for this design choice. Similar to marble, bronze has been used in many historical designs and is a classic pairing with green.
Copper
If you want a beautiful and trendy combination for your green kitchen, copper is a unique option that will make you stand out. Copper takes a brave personality to stand up to it but the reddish color stands up and contrasts well with the green without being overwhelming.
Wood
As stated previously, wood is an excellent option to pair with a dark green kitchen because it is another symbol of growth and regeneration. Wood pairs well with dark green to light green and is a classic companion in any design.
Combining Dark Green in a Range of Design Styles
Green can be added to match a range of different design styles depending on how you use it. Some interior design styles are easier to add green in using accents. Others are easy to add green whether it is in accents or in cabinets and countertops.
Southwestern design, for example, uses green more in plants than anything else. Mid-century modern on the other hand adds green in plants as well as accent pieces like chairs. If you want to learn more about which design styles add green in different ways, check out the different interior design style options.
How to Add Dark Green in Your Accents
If you aren’t quite ready to use large amounts of green in your interior design, you can consider adding it only in your accent pieces that are simple to change. There are several places in a kitchen where you can incorporate green.
Kitchenware
Kitchenware is an old method of adding pops of color. No, not your silverware. Instead, you should consider putting green dishes, napkins, or chargers out in your kitchen. You could even consider putting out light green accents for spring and cozier, darker green accents for fall and winter. Your smaller kitchen appliances like your mixer can also be green.
Plants
While it may seem obvious, plants are a great way to add green to a kitchen design. Not only do plants add a pop of green, but they are the embodiment of what green symbolizes. Growth and nature come inside to add to your design.
Artwork
You can always consider adding green from artwork in your kitchen. It doesn’t have to be a lot of green this way. You can have artwork with splashes of green throughout that will accent the rest of your kitchen design as a whole.
Great Green Color Suggestions
- Benjamin Moore — Harrisburg Green — HC-132
- Farrow and Ball — Verdigris Green — No W50
- PPG Paints — Vining Ivy — PPG1148-6 (2023 color of the year)
- PPG Paints — Be Spontaneous — PPG1221-6
- Benjamin Moore — Chrome Green — HC-189
- Farrow and Ball — Teresa’s Green — No 236
Conclusion
Among the most common fads at this time, dark green kitchens are one of the most striking. You can use green in your kitchen in several different ways, from less permanent methods such as your towels and dishware to more permanent methods like cabinets and countertops. Don’t be afraid to try it out if you’re considering a kitchen remodel.