7 Tips to Help You Nail the Monochromatic Kitchen Look

Monochromatic kitchen color schemes are both timeless and trendy, yet the look is more difficult to achieve than you might imagine. It can be a challenge to keep an all-white kitchen from being boring, or to find the right shade of gray paint to match your cabinets-- and then choose a countertop that fits the look.

Despite its sneaky complexities, if you love the monochromatic kitchen look, this is a trend worth pursuing. Here are our favorite tips for monochromatic kitchen design:

Tip #1: You don’t need a precise color match to create a look that wows.

In fact, the biggest mistake you can make is to try to make everything the exact same shade. Matching cabinets, paint, countertops, and floor would be quite stressful, and it wouldn’t give you the look you want to achieve. Imagine a room that’s one big solid color-- it would be overwhelming, stark, and boring. Incorporating slight variations in color is what makes a monochromatic style kitchen appealing.

Tip #2: Go for the same color in slightly different tones.

Start with your color of choice, and then cultivate a slight variation in tone throughout the major elements of your kitchen. In the photo below, the cabinetry, paint color, and countertops are all the same color, but slightly different tones, and are all subtle enough that they go together.

Tip #3: Mix in some natural wood.

Natural wood can be a neutral way to break up the single-color look. Notice how, in the kitchen pictured below, the inside of the open cabinet on the island has a wood finish, and that same finish appears again in the framing around the oven and cabinets. The wood breaks up the run of cabinets and adds some interest to this otherwise monochromatic, white-on-white kitchen. The wood island countertop also provides some contrast.

Tip #4: Create contrast with wall color and flooring choices.

What keeps the bright white of the cabinets and countertops from overwhelming this space? The colorful backsplash and light floors. This same approach works if you have dark floors and walls-- choose light kitchen cabinets and countertops. In the kitchen above, the crisp, monochromatic look of the white cabinetry, countertops, and island is broken up by the light natural wood floors and bright blue tile.

Tip #5: Use accessories to create small areas of contrast.

This tip works especially well in kitchens where the cabinet and wall colors match. Add contrast and a touch of personal style by working lighting, seating or counter display into your kitchen design. The kitchen above proves monochromatic can be the complete opposite of boring-- note the colored chairs, custom artwork, natural wood ceiling, and beautiful crown molding.

Tip #6: Mix it up with metal.

If you’re going to keep your kitchen one color-- from the floor and cabinets to the paint and backsplash-- consider breaking up the look with metal fixtures. It doesn't always have to pop, but can work smoothly with the design of the cabinets as shown above.

Tip #7: Go for contrast with your backsplash and Island countertop.

A contrasting backsplash and island countertop can make your monochromatic kitchen stand out. It both shows off the beautiful natural features of the stone you choose and makes the color of your walls and cabinetry more impactful. We love how the bold choices in this kitchen work together.

If you want to go for a monochromatic kitchen, use these seven tips and inspirational images as your guide. If decision-making has you overwhelmed, schedule a design consultation with one of our experts-- we can help guide you to a monochromatic kitchen design you’ll love.