How to Jazz Up Boring Grey Kitchen Ideas

Published on 05 Jul 2022

Few kitchen trends have lasted as long as the elegant grey kitchen. Throughout the years, this popular kitchen colour has gained a reputation as a timeless and versatile kitchen colour. What’s more, while grey kitchen units are safe to pair with neutral kitchen paint, they can also sizzle with bold pairings.

You might wonder if it's still possible to explore grey kitchen ideas that are unique and interesting. At Masterclass Kitchens, though, we believe this popular kitchen colour is far from done. Indeed, despite the longevity of grey kitchen cabinets, they still have a tonne of untapped potential.

Even after all these years, experiment with 50 shades of grey and you’ll eventually find something that excites you. So, in need of grey kitchen ideas? Read on and discover a series of grey kitchen style hacks that will help you achieve an amazing grey kitchen that’s unique and will never go out of style.

Ashbourne Lava and Farringdon Grey. Designed and installed by Jones Britain in Tunbridge

1 – Create a Grey-on-Grey Kitchen

Why choose one grey kitchen colour when you can have two? Not only does matching two different grey shades add variety but the contrast creates a sense of intricacy that warms the room.

Ashbourne Grey kitchen by Jones Britain and H Line Sutton Grey kitchen by Sigma 3 Kitchens

At Masterclass Kitchens, we recommend always choosing your darker grey kitchen colour for your base cabinets and the lighter option for wall-mounted cabinets. Doing so gives the room a homely vibe and maintains the illusion of an elevated ceiling, which maximises the sense of space in the room.

2 – Try Kitchen Accessories

Imagine you don’t like the two-tone grey-on-grey kitchen colour idea. That’s fine. Just bear in mind that single-tone grey kitchen cabinets provide a blank canvas. That means using the same grey kitchen cupboard doors across your range can look bland without accessories. Fortunately, it’s an easy fix.

Marlborough Light Grey kitchen designed by Sigma 3 Kitchens in Cardiff

Accessories like stools, ornaments and splashbacks, for example, enable you to inject fun pops of colour. What’s more, the interchangeable nature of these small features means you can change your kitchen as tastes evolve, so it’ll never go out of style.

3 – Add Wooden Kitchen Features

Whether you’re looking to bring warmth to a cool grey scheme or elevate a toasty room, wood-effect features enhance grey kitchens with a natural look in a way ceramic and metal features can’t replicate.

Just ask the researchers who published this study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, reporting that wood has a “downward effect on SNS levels.” In layman’s terms, that means that wood in rooms is proven to relax human minds, reducing the likelihood of a fight or flight response.

Hardwick grey kitchen by Sandra Robinson and Marlborough grey kitchen by Idesign Interiors

As a result, it makes sense to include wood in your grey kitchen. Worktop ideas take centre stage, of course. Being large, they offset wide expanses of cool grey and bring together a room. Though, open shelving, worktops, cabinet doors and bar stools can also present opportunities to add warming wood.

4 – Embrace a Dark Kitchen

Never overlook ultra-dark shades of grey, especially if you want to achieve a bold, dramatic look. Strong without being polarizing, this kitchen colour scheme works equally well on traditional and modern kitchen doors as long as you offset the darkness with light painted kitchen walls.

Ashbourne Graphite. Designed by Britannia Design in Chelmsford

Our Graphite grey kitchen finish is particularly versatile. Set against lighter neutrals, it complements chrome handles but also works seamlessly with wood finishes.

5 – Sport a Bold Kitchen Design

One common worry about grey kitchen cabinets is that they can produce a bland room. Pair your ideas for a grey kitchen with bolder coloured doors in some places, however, and the combination of kitchen cupboard paint colours will pop. Such set-ups provide the perfect opportunity for a pretty focal point.

H Line Sutton Scots Grey kitchen by Teifi Kitchens and a H Line Sutton by Elmview Interiors

In practice, you can pull off this feat by turning a kitchen island into a contrasting focal point, framed by grey wall and base units. Pick your favourite colour and let it stand out against a neutral backdrop of grey kitchen cabinets. And don’t worry if your style doesn’t match the ranges in this article. This trick looks good with most kitchens, from dark Shakers to ones that sport light grey gloss kitchen ideas.

6 – Layer in Kitchen Door Texture

Want a grey kitchen that stands out even without accessories? Using our Milano range is a unique way to achieve a grey kitchen. Milano comprises six grey, life-like stone-effect finishes you can use for doors, splashbacks, plinths and worktops to create a unique, luxurious modern look.

H Line Milano with Ligna kitchen by Sigma 3 Kitchens and a H Line Milano island by Moulton Kitchens

Homeowners rarely see this kitchen door style, much like Deco, yet both premium ranges offer an element of grey texture that adds a sense of nature and aged warmth. This is no easy feat when set against the canvas of an ultra-modern handleless kitchen shape. Yet, it works.

Still Need Grey Kitchen Ideas?

If you need more help developing your own grey kitchen ideas, find your nearest Masterclass showroom to see their grey kitchen displays and book a meeting, or become a Masterclass Insider for free. As a Masterclass Insider, you’ll get exclusive design tips, plus welcome guides and resources.

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