How to add coloured cabinets to your kitchen

Anyone looking to make an unmissable statement ought to consider a uniform colour scheme.

Shades of reds, blues and greens work best for this style, and should be applied across all cabinets in the kitchen, including both floor and wall units.

For a stylish finish, choose a gloss effect on a handleless range. This ensures all focus is given to the colour, and won't risk making the kitchen feel too 'busy' or cluttered with additional shades and effects.

Other areas of the kitchen should be treated as a plain backdrop to ensure no part of the room clashes. Most colours will work well against an oak floor, with similar shades for the counter tops. Wall colours should be kept light, in shades of cream or white depending on the tone of the cabinets.

Finally, for an extra pop, choose coloured wall tiling to serve as the backsplash to cooking areas. Red cabinets will work well with blue and green; blue works exceptionally well with shades of purple, and green cabinets will find a friend in grey and violet shades.

A two-tone colour split is achieved by choosing two different but flattering colours to apply to two different areas of the kitchen. This is most commonly found across floor and wall cabinets, but can also be achieved through floor-to-ceiling storage and free-standing counters.

A two-tone split is one of the easiest ways to add colour to your kitchen as, with the right shade combination, it can be applied to kitchens of any size and on both contemporary and traditional designs.

Small kitchens will benefit from choosing light colours, such as blue with white, or green with cream. Meanwhile, larger kitchens can create a dramatic effect by combining deep purples – such as aubergine – with shades like gullwing and slate.

The rest of the kitchen can be designed according to your preference, as choosing two shades won't overwhelm the room with colour. Flooring can vary from glossy tiles in shades of black or grey, to wooden tones of oak or ash. Wall colours should be relatively plain to work as a backdrop, though consider statement tiling either as a splashback or statement wall effect to add texture to the room.

If you're looking to use colour to create a focal point to your room, consider installing a standalone unit such as a kitchen island if you have the space. These freestanding cabinets are a beautiful addition to any kitchen, and when installed in the right colour, can totally transform the entire room.

Much like the two-tone effect, adding a localised statement colour to your kitchen is one of the easiest ways to incorporate vibrancy into your kitchen. Islands are available in a vast variety of designs, from the rustic effect of Shaker to the bold modern styling of Handleless.

The shade you choose for your island entirely depends upon the overall effect you prefer. Shades of green can help to create a country effect; greys are very contemporary; reds can create a Mediterranean-inspired finish, and blues are bright and fresh.

Handleless and gloss finish islands will create a block of uninterrupted colour in the kitchen, while matt effect with handles will help to blend the unit in with the rest of the kitchen design.

As only one area of the kitchen is coloured, choose light cabinets for the rest of the room in shades of cream or white, and aim to keep the finish of the cabinets consistent with the island – so consistently gloss or consistently matt.

Flooring can be chosen in a variety of shades to flatter the island colour, whether that's glossy, dark tiles or a subdued wooden finish.

Adding colour to your kitchen through the cabinets is a fantastic and simple way to create a memorable design. Fun and fresh, colourful kitchens are ideal for those who like to have fun with their interior design, so all that's left to do is choose a style and colour scheme that works for you!