When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, choosing the perfect cabinet colour is more than just a style decision; it’s a reflection of your personality, lifestyle, and how you want your home to feel. Whether you gravitate toward rich, heritage tones or soft, natural neutrals, the right palette can transform your kitchen into a space that truly feels like you.
This May, we’re celebrating the power of colour and how it shapes the heart of the home. To inspire you, we’ve created a series of colour personalities. Each one is designed to help you better understand your own style preferences and how they can come to life in your kitchen. You might find yourself drawn to just one, or you may relate to a mix. Many of our clients love to blend personalities, like combining the elegance of Heritage Hues with the vibrancy of Playful & Bold, mixing navy with bursts of dark green or saffron. Others prefer the calm of Naturally Grounded paired with the inviting textures of Textural Warmth, combining organic green hues with warm oak and creamy whites.
At Harvey Jones, we’ve developed these distinct personalities to guide you through the process, pairing them with our handcrafted kitchen designs that beautifully balance form, function and enduring craftsmanship.
How Our Designers Approach Colour Selection
We spoke with Harvey Jones Kitchens Senior Designer, Anna Marksen, to understand what goes into choosing the perfect kitchen cabinet colour, and how to make sure it reflects both your style and your space.
What are the key factors you consider when helping a client choose cabinet colour?
“I am always mindful of the client’s own vision for the project, and often the design direction, for example, ultra-modern or country farmhouse, will drive the mood board in one direction or another. However, it is also important to consider how lighting impacts colour in a space. What may be a gorgeous colour in one room may feel totally different in another, so taking the whole room and desired result into account is very important.”
How do you tailor colour choices to suit different home styles?
“Modern designs generally favour clean lines, minimalism, fewer textures and larger open spaces. The colour choices for a modern design tend to reflect this. I love neutral base colours, whether light or dark, but adding in pops of bold colour for a striking contrast can work beautifully.
For a more traditional interior, the design, textures and colours tend to be more detailed. Warm, rich colours work extraordinarily well for a client with dreams of a bolder colour palette. Even with a more neutral, earthy palette, often what brings the space to life is the additional textures, such as handles in a warm metal, unpainted wood features, or soft furnishings.”
How does lighting influence cabinetry colour selection?
“Lighting can be the difference between a successful colour choice and an unsuccessful one. Whether it is natural sunlight flowing freely through large bifold doors or artificial lighting designed into the space, the colours will inevitably be impacted.
This impact also varies at different times of the day, and even in different areas of the same space. I always recommend that our clients paint large swatches of sample colour on either a piece of paper or hardboard, so that they can move the sample around the room. Spending time looking at the samples in different areas of the room and at different times of day helps ensure they are getting the result they are looking for.”
What advice would you give to someone choosing between painted and natural wood cabinetry?
“Both have their merit. Whether you are looking for a sleek, modern and minimalist look or a cosy, classic and warm space, paint and wood both have their place. If you are concerned about overwhelming the kitchen with one or the other, you could combine both to create design features that work in harmony with each other. For example, you could paint the main areas of the kitchen and have your island in a wood finish. You could include an area of wooden worktop, or simply add a couple of wooden shelves to bring that texture into the space. The most important thing to consider is which colour or type of wood to incorporate to maintain the overall look and feel you want to create.”
1. Heritage Hues: Deep, Bold, Timeless
Colour Palette: Navy, Charcoal Black, Forest Green, Burgundy
Emotional Tone: Confident, rooted, elegant
Best Kitchen Styles: Original, Arbor, Shaker
For those drawn to classic interiors with a modern twist, Heritage Hues create bold, sophisticated kitchen spaces that stand the test of time. Pair rich navy or deep green cabinetry with burnished brass hardware and natural stone worktops to evoke heritage charm with contemporary flair.
Try the Arbor kitchen in dramatic black or dark green for a high-impact space that still feels refined.
2. Naturally Grounded: Calming, Earthy, Organic
Colour Palette: Clay, Olive, Sage, Sky Blue
Emotional Tone: Grounded, harmonious, relaxed
Best Kitchen Styles: Slim Shaker, Hampton, Arbor
Inspired by nature, the Naturally Grounded palette is perfect for those who crave calm, airy spaces. These muted tones work beautifully with organic textures like oak, linen, and brushed metal. A clay-coloured Slim Shaker kitchen, for example, pairs beautifully with pale blue walls and warm wooden accents for a soft yet elevated feel.
Perfect for homes embracing biophilic design or sustainable interiors.
3. Playful & Bold: Bright, Creative, Fearlessly Fun
Colour Palette: Mustard Yellow, Teal, Burnt Orange, Playful Combinations
Emotional Tone: Joyful, expressive, personality-packed
Best Kitchen Styles: Hove, Linear, Original
If you’re someone who loves to entertain and isn’t afraid of bold statements, Playful & Bold is your perfect match. These kitchens celebrate individuality and energy with daring colour choices and quirky combinations. Think colour-blocked cabinets, vibrant splashbacks, or a standout island in electric blue or rich ochre.
The Hove kitchen with reeded detailing and a mustard-yellow hue is an eye-catching, design-forward choice.
4. Soft Modernism: Minimalist, Neutral, Design-Forward
Colour Palette: Soft Beige, Misty Grey, Warm Neutrals
Emotional Tone: Calm, intentional, sophisticated
Best Kitchen Styles: Linear, Linear Edge, Hampton
Minimal but never boring, Soft Modernism is for lovers of subtle luxury. Soft greys and warm neutrals pair with clean lines and tactile materials—think fluted panels, matte finishes, and hand-selected stone. A neutral base with a contrasting island in smoky blue or soft charcoal adds just enough edge.
Try the Linear Edge for a sleek, handleless kitchen that feels both modern and warm.
5. Textural Warmth: Welcoming, Cosy, Family-Focused
Colour Palette: Warm White, Taupe, Honeyed Oak
Emotional Tone: Inviting, nurturing, timeless
Best Kitchen Styles: Slim Shaker, Hove, Arbor
Perfect for family homes, Textural Warmth kitchens use natural wood tones, warm neutrals, and layered textures to create spaces that feel cozy and lived-in. White or taupe cabinetry paired with oak flooring, tongue and groove panelling, and soft linen textiles makes for a space that’s both functional and deeply personal.
The Oak Slim Shaker kitchen is a perfect choice for this palette—organic, elegant, and full of warmth.
Bringing It All Together: Craftsmanship Meets Customisation
At Harvey Jones, our eight handcrafted kitchen designs are tailored to help you express your style while ensuring timeless quality. Every cabinet is built by hand using time-honoured techniques and premium materials, giving you a space that’s both personal and built to last. Whether you’re dreaming of a serene sanctuary or a joyful, colour-packed kitchen full of personality, we’re here to help you bring your vision to life.
Start Your Journey Today
Not sure which cabinet colour or design suits your personality best? Book a complimentary design consultation with our expert team. Together, we’ll help you choose the perfect kitchen style, colour palette, and layout to match your lifestyle and vision.
The beauty of our hand-painted kitchens is flexibility. Therefore, if your style evolves, re-painting your space with a fresh new shade has never been easier! Discover more about our hand-painting service here.
📍Visit your nearest Harvey Jones showroom or explore our collections online.
