8 small kitchen paint colours to enhance the sense of space in a compact room - as well as add style points

We’re not all blessed with sprawling kitchens with room for an island, enough seating, and ample worktop space. We like to remind ourselves that good things do come in small packages. So if your kitchen is petite, we’re here to tell you that there are plenty of small kitchen ideas and design fun to be had when it comes to the colours you choose for the walls.

Whether you’re looking to create a light, bright and airy space or want to inject personality through colour, a small kitchen can absolutely handle a spectrum of shades – it’s all about how you use your colour(s) of choice, what finish you choose and where it's applied. 

‘Whites and creams are an obvious choice to make a space feel bigger. However we shouldn't feel limited to just neutrals when tackling compact kitchens,' advises Milena Vallier at My Bespoke Room. With that in mind, if you're looking for different and playful wall colour ideas for a small kitchen, take note of these shades as recommended by the pros... 

1. Mellow yellow

While white kitchen ideas, creams and neutrals may seem like the go-to when space is tight, there’s no rule to say you can’t be a bit more creative if more vibrant colours are your thing. And although yellow may not be where your mind immediately goes, this shade has many sunny benefits. And it's a big kitchen colour trend for small kitchens in 2025.

‘Yellows can brighten up and expand a small kitchen,’ says Milena. ‘Warm yellows can transform a kitchen into the sunniest spot in the house and they reflect the light in such a way to make the room feel larger. Depending on the shape and layout of the kitchen, choose from canary yellow to more gold and ochre shades and even honey tones.’

To get the balance right with the cabinetry, add open shelving to help boost the sense of space and stick to paler shades for units or go for those in unpainted wood.

2. Drench in colour

When adding colour to a small kitchen, don't be afraid to go all out by colour drenching. You might be wary of using a statement hue all over a compact space for fear of making it look cramped but it actually has the opposite effect.

By painting the walls, cabinetry and woodwork in the same shade it looks like a deliberate statement look, enveloping the room in your chosen shade.

3. Soft greens

Green kitchen ideas have become a go-to choice for adding colour in an accessible, unintimidating way. In a small kitchen, choose muted shades of green to give a fresh and airy look, creating a calming indoor-outdoor feel.

‘For smaller kitchens, lighter shades such as Crown’s Spice Rack, a timeless pale green, can be a wise idea as they work to uplift the room and make it feel more spacious,’ says Kathryn. 

Or what about using soft greens as part of a space-enhancing paint effect, like stripes? ‘Another simple way to enlarge a smaller kitchen is by painting in vertical stripes. Sage tones like Mellow Sage pair well with earthy, clay-like colours such as Linen Blend to create open, meditative environments,’ says Kathryn.

4. Light blue

Just like greens will evoke a feeling of the outdoors, so too will lovely, soft pale blue tones. The common worry with blue kitchen ideas is that they will make a small space feel cold, but if you take care to choose those with a warmer undertone, you’ll avoid a stark result. The key thing to remember is to always test the paint in situ before committing to it and see how it looks in different lights throughout the day.

‘Pale blues are great at opening up a narrow kitchen and diffuse natural light,’ says Milena. ‘Consider the finish – adding reflective, shiny, metallic surfaces really help bounce light around in a small space.’

The effect of certain colours can trick the eye into thinking a small kitchen is larger than it actually is. ‘Soft blues, and lilacs, known as receding colours,’ explains Emily. ‘They create an illusion of depth, making the space feel larger and more peaceful too. Try an eggshell finish, as their slight sheen ensures optimal light reflection.’

5. Use grey as a grounding colour for small kitchens

Adding colour to a small kitchen can feel like a brave move, but by choosing something subtle, like grey kitchen ideas, you can make sure it adds interest without overpowering the room. Painting your base cabinetry only can help ‘ground’ the space, while keeping the walls white ensures you still have that element of light.

'Use colours that are easy to live with as kitchens tend to be the most used room in the home,' says Patrick O'Donnell, ambassador for Farrow & Ball. 'Look to schemes that have integrity and that you won’t tire from – this doesn’t mean bland, just restful.'

6. Reflect light with white to make it feel bigger

Using white kitchen ideas doesn’t have to mean it looks sterile – just make sure you have some dots of colour with the accessories, or add soft furnishings, such as blinds, tea towels and even a rug to soften the overall look.

It’s not simply a case of painting it white either – there are so many different whites to choose from, so it’s really important to test a few to see how they work with the light before settling upon your small kitchen paint colours.

7. Choose dreamy cream

If white feels too bright for your space, then a warmer undertone-neutral might be best. A light buttery shade of cream, for example, is warm, easy to live with and ultimately timeless. Team it with light or rustic wood when considering country kitchen ideas, or incorporate some pink or earthy tones for a more feminine feel.

'To give the illusion of space, paint everything in one colour but in the appropriate finishes,' says Farrow & Ball's Patrick. 'For example, Modern Eggshell for woodwork and Modern Emulsion for your walls.'

8. Take it next-level dark with grey or black

There’s nothing to say a small kitchen paint colours can’t embrace the darker side – you just need to decide how dark you want to go. Perhaps you only want some of the cabinetry painted, or are you brave enough to paint the whole room? Whether you go for a dark industrial grey, inky black or dark blue, brown or forest green, there are various ways you can introduce a dark paint colour.

‘Dark colours are becoming more mainstream in kitchens and at Crown we find that this adds drama, strength and solidity to the space,’ says Judy Smith, colour consultant at Crown. ‘Don't be afraid of using a dark colour in a small room – it can be surprisingly sophisticated without making it feel closed in.'

'If you incorporate black into your kitchen scheme in a subtle way, such as painting kitchen cupboards, it will give the scheme definition and add depth to the room without having to completely change the space.’

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FAQs

What colour should I paint my small kitchen?

If you're not sure what small kitchen paint colours to choose and are tempted to keep it plain, consider if that's going to give you the look you want. 'We feel that colour adds drama, strength and solidity to a space,’ says Judy from Crown Paints. ‘It can either be used to create a bold feature wall, or if that isn’t your style it can be incorporated in more subtle ways via accessories and furniture.'

'When painting small areas, think about painting skirting boards, window frames and radiators in the same colour as the walls,' Judy continues. 'As this can really help to create the illusion of more space in a smaller area.'

Are dark colours good for small rooms?

Is a dark a good choice for small kitchen paint colours? The answer is yes. 'Dark kitchens are striking yet timeless and are especially good at giving presence to a small room,' says Farrow & Ball's Patrick.

'Even more so, in fact, if your cabinets are the lower units as this will provide "structure" to your room. Think something elegant, like our blackest blue Railings.'

What is the best paint finish for kitchen walls?

The best paint finish for small kitchen paint colours when used on the wall is one that can stand the heat, spills and general kitchen mishaps.

'You want a paint that is durable and easy to wipe in the kitchen,' says Tobie Lewis, senior brand manager at Valspar. 'As well as being resistant to mould and common household stains.'

Which colour are you going to experiment with in your kitchen?