Color and Design

As remodeling contractors, we work with color because it is essential to any remodeling project. We also know that everyone has preconceived ideas about color. This is to be expected and not at all a bad thing. We encourage our clients to understand why they feel about color the way they do and how color may be used in creating the desired effect in their remodel project.

So we have set out here a fairly comprehensive outline of the subject.  

• Color in History
• Physics of Color
• Physiology of Color
• Language of Color
• Color Families
• Color Schemes
• Color in Design and Culture
• Practical Applications of Color

People have been affected and intrigued by color and its use throughout history. Thousands of years ago, they used primitive earth pigments and charcoal as colors in the paintings that decorated the walls of their caves. But it was not until the 17th Century and Isaac Newton (1642 – 1726) that color received scientific definition.

Newton experimented with a ray of white light divided into its component rainbow colors by one prism and then reconstituted into white light by a second prism. This experiment was revolutionary because the prevailing theory was that color was a mixture of light and dark. Therefore, it was believed that a prism somehow added color to light.

 Robert Hooke, a contemporary of Newton, subscribed to this theory. He placed color on a scale from brilliant red, which he held to be white light with the least amount of darkness added, to dull blue, which he held to be the last stage before black, at which point light was entirely extinguished by darkness. However, Newton’s use of the second prism to reconstitute the visible color spectrum back into white light effectively proved this theory false.

Newton’s practical legacy to artists and designers was his arrangement of colors around a circle. It shows how primary colors mix to create secondary colors and how secondary colors mix to create tertiary colors. Newton’s circular diagram of colors became the “color wheel’ we are all familiar with. Entomologist Moses Harris produced a version of the same color wheel in 1766.

In the 19th century Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832), the German writer and scientist, studied the perceptual effects of color. Goethe introduced “Gestalt” to contemporary German thought as the concept of self-actualizing wholeness in organic forms. So for Goethe, optics and perception were opposite ends of single dynamic unity. He produced his own color wheel.

While Newton regarded color as an objective physical phenomenon visible to the eye, Goethe viewed it as subjectively observed. Goethe sought to derive laws of color harmony and ways of characterizing how colors affect us. He divided colors into the “plus side” and the “minus side.” “Plus” colors, such as red and orange, tend to generate feelings of warmth, while “minus” colors, such as blue and green, create feelings of coldness. We might say that while Newton was about the cause of color, Goethe was about its effect.

Later Developments

Under the influence of 19th century Romanticism, artists saw color as a tool to create emotional impact in depictions of reality. Then, under the influence of 20th-century Modernism, they began using color to represent feelings and movement rather than reality.

Swiss theorist Johannes Itten (1888 – 1967) was one of the first to successfully define ways of using color combinations and hue’s contrasting properties. He explored “successive contrast.” This concept is the phenomenon where the human brain creates complementary afterimages of the colors it observes. An example of this is the green afterimage experienced after gazing at red.

Itten demonstrated that people instinctively react to color harmony and discord. In addition, he found that color on its own (without representing any particular object) can create dynamic perceptual experiences.

Newton’s prism mimics the rainbow in refracting white light into its spectrum of visible components, also called the spectral colors. Light enters the prism and is refracted by the glass. As a result, violet is bent more than yellow and red, separating the colors. 

The shortest visible wavelength is what we see as violet at about 380 nanometers (nm). The longest visible wavelength is what we see as red at about 760 nm. The wavelengths that fall between them contain the other colors. The wavelengths on either side (infrared and ultraviolet) are invisible to the human eye.

When we see color in an object, such as a red apple, it is because the apple has absorbed all wavelengths except the 760 nm wavelength, which it reflects. White objects are objects that reflect almost all visible wavelengths. Black objects absorb nearly all visible wavelengths. This difference is why black objects get hot in the sunlight, but white objects do not.

The physiology of color perception shows how subjective it is. Color is truly in the eye of the beholder since no two pairs of eyes see color in quite the same way. There are two main theories for our perception of color. They appear to work together.

Trichromatic Receptor Theory – Thomas Young (1773 – 1829): Young and later scientists hold that only three types of color receptors or cones exist in the eye’s retina. ‘S’ cones are most sensitive to the 445 nm wavelength or the color blue. ‘M’ cones are most sensitive to the 535 nm wavelength or the color green. Finally, ‘L’ cones are most sensitive to the 570 nm wavelength or the color red.

Opponent-Process Theory – Ewald Hering (1834-1918): Hering and later scientists hold that specific pairs of colors are never seen together in the same place and at the same time. For example, there are no reddish greens or yellowish blues. On the other hand, there are yellowish greens, bluish reds, and yellowish reds. Hering also observed that there are distinct “complementary” patterns in the color of afterimages.

If you stare at the middle of the left-hand picture above for about 30 seconds and then shift your gaze to the black dot in the right-hand image, the complementary colors appear, and one sees the American flag.

Like the trichromatic receptor theory, the opponent-process theory posits three types of receptors. Each type is responsible for a pair of opponent color processes: a blue-yellow, a green-red, and a white-black, with one color on one end and the other on the other end. Thus blue light will excite the blue-yellow pair toward the blue end. Yellow light will excite the same receptors toward the yellow end. When both blue and yellow lights are present simultaneously, one sees gray only because blue and yellow cancel out the perception.

 Learned Color Perception

Our perception of color is also influenced by factors beyond the physical stimulus of what we perceive as color and the physical characteristics of light. Examples of these factors are familiarity and experience. Karl Duncker (1938) found that green paper cut in a leaf shape is perceived to be greener than the same green paper cut in a donkey shape. This perception occurs because leaves are typically green, but donkeys are not. Therefore, we can conclude that sometimes previous associations of color and form strongly affect perceived color.

Our perception of color influences our daily lives and how they are managed and organized. This is why traffic signals are uniformly colored. Traffic signals rely on a person’s ability to memorize colors and associate them with certain functions. People become familiar with the colors associated with brand name items in the retail business.

Learned perceptions and memories of color may also account for differing associations and values put on color by different societies and cultures (more on this later).

While wavelength explains the physical dimensions of color as visible light, there are also psychological or perceived dimensions. These are defined as hue, saturation, and brightness.

These concepts are pretty well explained if we suspend an inverted cone from Newton’s color wheel, which displays the red and violet ends of the visible spectrum in a circle.

Hue

Hue is the actual color of an object. Most people use the two words interchangeably. The physical dimension of hue is wavelength. Hue changes as the wavelength changes. Hue is measured in angular degrees, starting with red at 0 and moving to yellow at 60 and green at 120.

Saturation

Saturation measures the physical dimension of spectral purity and tells us the amount of hue that we see in an object. It is measured in percent from the center of the cone (0%) to the surface (100%). At 0% saturation, there is no visible hue. At 100%, the hue is pure. In physical terms, saturation is related to the complexity of the light wave. If the wave is a simple sine wave, the hue appears saturated. The pure color generated by a single wavelength is called monochromatic color.

Since saturation is the purity of the hue, the colors on the circumference of the cone are fully saturated and in their purest form. As they move towards the center, they become desaturated. Desaturation means that the colors become pale or weak. This is not at all the same thing as becoming lighter.

Brightness

Brightness is often referred to as “value.” It is another psychological dimension of color. The more intense the light, the brighter an object appears. Brightness is measured in percent from black (0%) to white (100%). At 0% brightness, both hue and saturation disappear. Thus brightness tells us how light or dark a color is based on its proximity to white. For example, yellow is lighter than blue, which is lighter than black. Therefore, the value of yellow is higher than blue and black.

Chromacity

Chromaticity refers to the hue and saturation of an object, independent of brightness. It represents the color that something actually is. For example, the red of a red apple looks different in a dark kitchen than in a kitchen with the lights on. But the apple is still the same color red.

Tints

A tint is formed when white is added to a hue, increasing lightness. Very light tints are sometimes called pastels, but any pure hue with white added is a tint.

Shades

A shade is created when black is added to a hue, reducing lightness. The word is often incorrectly used to describe tint or tone. Shade only applies to hues made darker by the addition of black.

Tones

Tones are created when gray is added to a hue. Tones are generally duller or softer-looking than pure hues.

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors

Color theory holds that the primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. These are the three pigment colors that cannot be mixed by any combination of other colors. Thus all other colors are derived from these three hues.

The three secondary colors (green, orange, and purple) are created by mixing two primary colors.

Another six tertiary colors are a combination of a secondary color and a primary color next to it. They include yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green and yellow-green.

Color families are a useful division of the color wheel into warm, cool, and neutral colors. This follows Goethe’s concept. While it is certainly possible to create designs that pull colors from all three families, most designs are going to reflect an overall feeling of warmth, coolness, or neutrality, which would be enhanced or reduced by light or dark.

Warm and Cool Colors

Warm colors are variations of yellows, reds, and oranges. They convey energy, passion, happiness, vitality, enthusiasm, and excitement. They are the colors of sunsets and sunrises, fire and autumn leaves. They evoke positive feelings in most people.

Cool colors are blues, greens, and lilacs. They convey calm, tranquility, and serenity. They are the colors of nature and water. Blue is the only primary color in the cool spectrum, which means that the other cool colors are made by combining blue with a warm color. Green combines blue and yellow. Purple combines blue and red. Cool colors evoke feelings of relaxation, calm, steadiness, and reserve.

Neutral colors like white, black, gray, and brown are neutral colors. They are commonly combined with brighter accent colors. But they can also be used on their own in designs. Black and white designs are elegant and sophisticated but hard to create. The meanings and impressions of neutral colors are much more affected by the colors surrounding them than warm and cool colors. For this reason, neutral colors often serve as a backdrop or distinguishing detail in a design of warm or cool colors.

Light or dark translate into spacious or cozy. Light colors reflect light and make a room feel larger. Dark colors absorb light and make a room feel smaller.

A color wheel is a tool used to make colors look good in many applications. Human experience has identified color combinations that are particularly pleasing. This experience has been analyzed and systemized into color chords reflecting the harmonious relationship of two or more colors in the color wheel. Visit color experts Pantone.com to see the color combinations below in person.  

Monochromatic Color Scheme

A monochromatic color scheme uses a single color in varying intensities of lightness and saturation. Here we have used black. Black, the absence of light, is certainly not a color in the scientific sense. However, in the practical world it is since one can get black paint. One may substitute any color on the color wheel to achieve a monochromatic scheme. The monochromatic color scheme is clean and elegant. It is easy on the eyes and soothing, especially with blue or green hues. While it lacks color contrast, it has visual appeal and balance.

Complementary Color Scheme

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, are said to be complementary colors. This scheme is intrinsically high contrast and vibrant and must be managed carefully to avoid a jarring effect. It is best to avoid having complementary colors in immediate juxtaposition and separate them using white space or a transitional color. Another approach is to use warm colors against cool colors, for example orange against blue. Another approach is to have one of the colors as dominant or background and its complementary color for accents.

Analogous Color Scheme

Analogous color schemes are created using three adjacent colors on the color wheel. Usually, one color is dominant with another in support and the third (perhaps combined with black, white, or gray) as an accent. Contrast is important. Analogous schemes convey comfort and serenity.

Triadic Color Scheme

A triadic color scheme uses three evenly spaced colors around the color wheel. It is bold but balanced, providing both drama and harmony. As with the analogous scheme, it is best to let one color dominate and use the others for accent.

Split-Complementary Color scheme

The split-complementary color scheme is a variation of the complementary color scheme. It uses the two colors on either side of the complementary color. This provides the same bold contrast as the complementary scheme but with more nuance and less tension.

Tetradic Color Scheme

The tetradic (double complementary or rectangular) scheme uses four colors arranged into two complementary color pairs. This scheme is difficult to bring into harmony, and, as with the other multi-color schemes, one color should be allowed to dominate. Warm and cool colors should balance.

Square Color Scheme

The square color scheme is similar to the rectangle, with all four colors spaced evenly around the color circle. The same care should be taken to let one color dominate and find a balance between warm and cool colors

We have mentioned Learned Color Perception. We live in an increasingly diverse society. As remodeling professionals, we must pay attention to those of our clients whose perception of color in the home may be influenced not only by personality but also by another culture. So in laying out the principal uses of the various color families in design, we have also made reference to just some of the known cultural significance and symbolism of individual colors. Color has such an ingrained impact on our perceptions that it can literally “color” how we view something.

Warm Colors

Red in Design. Red is a powerful color. It has been shown to have a physical effect, such as raising blood pressure and respiration rates. Red can have an overwhelming impact on a design. In its purest form, it should be used sparingly and as an accent. For example, a little red can add warmth to a room using a palette from the cool color family. It can also add drama when used in a small space like a powder room. Red and black is a classic and theatrical combination, not for the faint of heart. On the other hand, in shades of merlot or rust and used with other colors, red is versatile and can impart great warmth to a color scheme, whether the style is contemporary or traditional.

Red in Culture. In the western world, red is the color of love (Valentine’s day and Cupid), passion and sacrifice, anger, danger (stop signs), importance (red carpets), violence and warfare. In China, red is the color of good luck, prosperity (Chinese New Year), vitality, happiness and long life.

In India, red is the color of wealth, opulence, purity, fertility, love, and beauty. It is used in wedding ceremonies and signifies a married woman. It is the color of fear and fire. In South Africa, red is the color of mourning. For Australian Aborigines, it is the color of the land, earth, and ceremony.

Orange in Design. Orange is like red; the brighter it is, the more sparingly it should be used. It is a vibrant and energetic color associated with sunshine, health, vitality, and the citrus fruit of the same name. Its more subdued forms are associated with the earth and autumn. Like red, orange demands attention but is friendlier and more approachable. In its variations of peach, apricot, and terra cotta, orange can add happiness and warm invitation to a color scheme without being over dramatic.

Orange in Culture. In the western world orange is the color of energy, creativity, happiness, and affordable or inexpensive items. It is (with black) the color of Halloween. It is a religious color for Irish Protestants and the color of the Dutch royal family. In the eastern world orange is the color of happiness and spirituality. In Eastern philosophy, the Orange Chakra is in the abdomen and is the creative center.

Yellow in Design. Yellow is the brightest and most energizing of the warm colors. It adds optimism and prompts feelings of happiness. It is an uplifting color believed to stimulate memory and the nervous system, promote communication, and spark creativity. Yellow is a difficult color to use because, perhaps more than with any other color, the same shade can look very different under different light. On the other hand, it is very versatile in creating a mood. A light yellow is calmer than a dark yellow. A muted yellow becomes a soothing neutral color. A pale yellow can enlarge a small room and simultaneously make it feel good. Dark yellows work well with natural wood and can help create a sense of permanence. Soft yellows are often used as a gender-neutral color in a baby’s nursery.

Yellow in Culture. In the western world, yellow is the color of sunlight, cheerfulness, hope (yellow ribbons), spirituality, and enlightenment. Unfortunately, it is also the color of cowardice, deceit, and illness (jaundice). In Japan, yellow means courage and nobility. Buddhist monks wear saffron yellow robes. In Egypt, yellow is the color of mourning, but elsewhere in the Middle East, it represents prosperity. In China, yellow is the color of royalty and respect. During the 1800s, the best graphite in the world came from China, and this is why, since the 1890s, American pencil makers have made that regal association by painting their pencils bright yellow.

Cool Colors

Blue in Design. Blue conveys peace, tranquility, harmony, trust, and confidence. In design, it is the shade of blue that has an impact. Light blues are relaxed and calming. Bright blues are energizing. Dark blues suggest strength and reliability. Blue is closely associated with nature and is a universally popular and “safe” color to use. Nonetheless, it is an emotive color and should be used carefully. Just as red, as in “seeing red,” is emotive, so is blue, as in “feeling blue.” Even though blue comes from the cool side of the color wheel, it is not a cold color. On the contrary, pale blues can be harmonious and neutral. Dark shades of blue can even bring warmth to a room, especially when mixed with a little red or yellow.

Blue in Culture. In the western world, blue is associated with trust and authority, peace and calm, depression and sadness. It is a masculine color, the color of baby boys. Although in a religious connotation, it is the color of the Virgin Mary’s robes. In China, blue is associated with immortality and is a feminine color. In Korea, it is the color of mourning. In the Middle East, blue is the color of protection and wards off evil.

Green in Design. Green is the color of life and nature. It represents growth, renewal, balance, harmony, and stability. It comes in many shades evoking various moods, making it remarkably versatile in pairing with other colors. Appropriate shades of green go well with brown, tan, beige, yellow, orange, and purple. Green is a restful color with some of the same calming attributes as blue. Like blue, it can have both a warming and a cooling effect. Green can even impart some drama as, for example, using a solid emerald green in a powder room

Green in Culture. In the western world, green is the color of spring, new birth, kindness, loyalty, and good luck. It is most famously associated with Ireland and shamrock. It is the color of “go” at traffic signals. It is also the color of money, greed, and jealousy. In China, green represents regeneration and hope. It is also the color of infidelity. In the Middle East, green is the color of Islam, strength, fertility, and luck. In North Africa, it is the color of corruption and the drug culture. In parts of South America it is the color of sickness and death.

Purple in Design. Purple is regal and eccentric, moody and mystical, unconventional and creative. It is a difficult color to use in design. Depending on the tone or shade, it can be dramatic or quiet. However, painting an entire wall purple can overwhelm the contents of any room. So purple is certainly best used sparingly and as an accent. Purple can range from light lavender to solid plumb with an effect ranging from soft to stunning. For example, when combined with soft blues or greens or grays, the result is tranquil. When combined with mustard yellow, the result is lively.

Purple in Culture. In the western world, purple has long been associated with royalty and rank, cruelty and arrogance, wealth and fame. It is the color of military honor (Purple Heart). It is inventive and outrageous, creative and artistic. In Thailand, purple is the color of mourning for widows. In Japan, it is the color of privilege and wealth. In India, it is the color of sorrow. In Catholicism and in Brazil, it is the color of death and mourning.

Neutral Colors

White in Design. To the human eye, too much bright white can be blinding. It is a brilliant color that has been known to cause headaches. So it should be used carefully. Like black, white can work well with almost any color. In design, it is usually used as a neutral background to give greater emphasis to other colors. For example, in juxtaposition, white will make reds, blues, and greens brighter and more prominent. White is used in minimalist designs to impart clean lines and simplicity. In other designs, white can be both cool and warm, evoking winter or summer depending on the colors around it.

White in Culture. In the western world, white is associated with purity, cleanliness, and virtue. It is the color of the bride’s gown on her wedding day. White is associated with goodness and angels and is also associated with doctors, nurses, and dentists. White is the color of peace (white doves). In the wild west, the good guys wear white, and the bad guys wear black. In the eastern world, white has mainly different connotations. In China it is the color of death and mourning. In India it is the color of unhappiness and is worn by widows. In Japan the white carnation symbolizes death.

Gray in Design. Gray is a neutral color in the cool part of the spectrum. It is often thought of as depressing, cloudy, or moody but, as with white and black, can be used in juxtaposition to give other colors in the design a louder voice. Gray is very versatile. Depending on its use and context, it can be conservative, modern, formal, pretty, strong, delicate, calm, and sophisticated. For example, gray and white is a classic color combination that provides a crisp and clean look. And the addition of gray can cool a warm red or yellow palette. Pure grays are shades of black. Other grays may have blue or brown hues mixed in. Taupe, a grayish brown neutral, is a popular shade of gray. All shades of gray can be good, neutral background colors. Light gray can be used instead of white, and dark gray instead of black.

Gray in Culture. Many colors evoke emotions and feelings in humans of all cultures. Gray is not one of them, but it does have connotations. In the western world, gray is considered boring, dull, or sad and is a color of formality and mourning. It is associated with age, as in “gray power” (the economic and social influence of the elderly). There is also the “gray eminence,” a powerful decision-maker or advisor who operates “behind the scenes” or in a non-public or unofficial capacity. It is also a medium between light and dark, as in “a gray area.” The New York Times is the “Gray Lady.” In the eastern world, gray is associated with travel and helpers. In Feng Shui, gray is the color of yin, metal, dead, dull, and indefinite.

Brown in Design. Brown is the color of the earth, nature, wood, and stone. It is a warm neutral color associated with dependability, steadfastness, security, stability, simplicity, and comfort. It is a grounding color and, if not used carefully, can also be dull and boring. Brown can be used both to highlight stronger colors like a green or an orange and tone down their effect. This calming effect can create a mood of relaxation. Brown, like gray, comes in many different tones and shades and is versatile. Its darkest forms can substitute for black and appear less harsh.

Brown in Culture. Brown is almost universally the color of the earth. In the western world, brown is healthy, wholesome, practical, and dependable. No doubt this is why brown is UPS’s trademark color. In Feng Shui, brown is yang, earth, industry, and grounded. In India it is the color of mourning. In Nicaragua, brown is a sign of disapproval; in Colombia, the color is thought to discourage sales.

Beige in Design. Beige is an ambiguous color. No two people see it quite the same. Part of this is that beige readily changes appearance from wall to wall depending on the light it reflects. Beige is a neutral color combining the warmth of brown and the coolness of white. It can appear dull unless combined with other colors. It can also be a relaxing color. It is considered a conservative and “safe” color, as in “When in doubt, use beige.” Beige is frequently used as a calm and relaxing background color because it has the chameleon effect of being able to work with and enhance the impact of almost any color around it.

Beige in Culture. Beige has little cultural significance beyond an association with calmness, simplicity, piety, and dullness. Beige was once the color of the New Zealand cricket team.

Cream and Ivory in Design. Cream and ivory are often confused, but they are different. The easiest way to distinguish them is to look at their namesake materials. Cream is a yellowish-white. Ivory is a bone white with only a hint of yellow. This subtle but significant difference aside, both colors are used for similar purposes. Both bring peace and calm to a color scheme. They can also be used to lighten a color scheme while avoiding the stark contrast of pure white. Ivory and cream are sophisticated colors with some of the purity of white, but when combined with peach or brown can take on an earthy quality.

Cream and Ivory in Culture. These colors are primarily associated with white and signify calmness, elegance, and purity.

We have provided quite a lot of the theory and background about color. Next, let’s look at some common design rules that will come in handy when making decisions for your kitchen remodel. 

The 60:30:10 Rule

The 60:30:10 Rule is an informal derivative of Phi and the Fibonacci Progression, in which a rectangle or spiral progresses smoothly from small to large and vice versa. It is a rule of composition used in art, photography, and design, including interior design, to achieve a pleasing whole through a smooth, proportionate progression of elements. The Rule can be applied to room design, furniture layout, colors, and accessories. We talk more about the 60:30:10 Rule in this blog and our article on Proportion In Design. This design rule helps put color selection and application in context.

Here are examples of how the Rule works in practice:

• Overall: 60% provides a theme; 30% provides contrast; 10% provides accent.
• Paint selection: 60% of a dominant color; 30% of a secondary color; 10% of an accent color.
• The room’s relationship to the color of contents: 60% of the room’s color is the walls; 30% of the room’s color is the upholstery; 10% is in accent pieces.
• White Space: No more than 60% of the room is filled with furniture/accessories, leaving plenty of “white space” to relieve the eye.

Choosing Colors

Everyone has personal color preferences and a general idea of the colors they want to use in their remodeling project. However, in choosing and using colors, one should be aware of the effect colors have on look, mood, and feeling. The usual goal of a remodeling project is to create a space that will be comfortable for living and welcoming for entertaining. We are not looking to make a fashion plate for a trendy design magazine.

Matching Space to Mood

A good starting point is to look at the space and your intended use and then imagine yourself in it. Next, ask yourself whether the space should feel spacious or cozy. The answer to this question will lead you in the direction of light or dark colors. Light colors reflect light and make a room feel larger. Darker colors close it in for a cozy feeling. Then ask whether you want to feel high energy in the space or tranquility. This decision will lead you in the direction of warm or cool colors.

Natural and Artificial Lighting

With plenty of natural light, both dark and light colors are appropriate for a space. If natural light is restricted or absent, light colors should probably be preferred for the dominant surfaces. This choice is not a hard and fast rule because many dark surfaces look very rich under artificial light. The point is that available light must always be front of mind in the choice of material and color.

Flooring, Cabinetry, and Countertops

Many people start by thinking about what color paint to use in their remodeling project. It is better to start with the colors of your remodel’s dominant (and normally the most expensive) material components. Typically these are flooring, cabinetry, and countertops. These are also the first items to be installed. The color of the cabinetry will dominate the kitchen and the bathroom. However, flooring may be the single item common throughout the home and ties everything together.

The essential point is that whatever your color preferences, the colors you choose for the floor, cabinets, and countertops must all work together. So we encourage our clients to start with these three choices. The colors of all other items, including plumbing and electrical accessories, hardware, and paint, can be decided later.

The reason for this approach is simple. No matter how well-detailed one’s mind’s eye vision of a remodeling project is at the outset, it will change as the project takes shape. This is especially the case when the project involves demolishing or rearranging partition walls. Altering the space will change the perception of the space, it’s lighting, and everything that goes into it.

So once the basics of flooring, cabinetry, and countertops are decided, and these items are actually installed, the rest should be allowed to take its course. Do not rush into the selection of other finishes and their colors.

Important tip: Make sure your contract with your remodeling contractor allows you to delay your choice of finishes until absolutely necessary, even if it might mean a little delay in the work. You are spending a lot of money on your project. Do not waste it by allowing your contractor to push you into hasty and expensive finish choices that you may regret later.

Hardware & Accessories

Aside from their practical use, electrical and plumbing finish items and hardware and accessories are accent pieces whose colors and textures should complement your cabinetry choices and countertops.

Paint

Except for furnishings, the selection of paint colors comes last. This is after any alterations in the space have been made, and after flooring, cabinetry and countertops have been installed. It is almost guaranteed that designing a remodel around a preconceived paint color will turn out badly.

Just look at paint as a way to visually pull cabinets, flooring, and countertops together at the end of the project. By this time, you will also have a good idea of what furniture to put in the space. The clinching argument for the “paint last” approach is that paint is relatively cheap to change.

Even at this stage, it is rare for any single paint color or combination to work immediately. Instead, have your contractor paint several walls with sample swatches of your candidate paint colors. We use different walls because different light directions will make the same paint colors look different. But, again, do not let your contractor rush you into a decision on paint color.

And bear in mind that the cost of painting is overwhelmingly in labor. So use the best quality paint for durability and the truest possible color.

Thanks for reading our deep dive on color theory and application. Curious to learn more about kitchen design? Please take a look at our Design Elements blog section and our Designer Color Board photos, or come by our Palm Desert Showroom to see kitchen cabinet door samples in person. Our experienced and knowledgeable salespeople and kitchen designers can help you choose your dream kitchen color combination.