Cool Kitchens That Rock the Mix-and-Match Trend
Switching up colours, materials and finishes can bring any kitchen into the 21st century in style
For a long time, sticking to a single colour or material in your kitchen was the standard, but in recent years the design rules have been relaxed and we are becoming more adventurous, mixing and matching hues, materials and finishes with abandon. This trend works in any style of kitchen, too, from a Shaker design in two shades (I love putty and sage side by side) to slick, modern lacquer juxtaposed with reclaimed wood. There are no rigid rules, so feel free to play around with colours and materials, but don’t go overboard on a hotchpotch of shades and shapes or the look could become fussy. Check out these successful, well-balanced schemes, then get in the mix.
Get more inspiration from our gallery of kitchen photos
Get more inspiration from our gallery of kitchen photos
Do a paint job
Handcrafted timber kitchens are the perfect blank canvas for the mix and match trend. You can easily commission your manufacturer or designer to paint certain sections of your kitchen in a contrasting colour to stand out against the plain timber.
I adore chalky vintage tones of grey, stone, buttermilk, duck-egg blue and eau de nil, which in my opinion will never date. And the real beauty is, if you tire of the colour as the years go by, simply choose a different shade and get painting (or, for a professional finish, call in the experts).
Handcrafted timber kitchens are the perfect blank canvas for the mix and match trend. You can easily commission your manufacturer or designer to paint certain sections of your kitchen in a contrasting colour to stand out against the plain timber.
I adore chalky vintage tones of grey, stone, buttermilk, duck-egg blue and eau de nil, which in my opinion will never date. And the real beauty is, if you tire of the colour as the years go by, simply choose a different shade and get painting (or, for a professional finish, call in the experts).
Harness reclaimed materials
This is a lovely, subtle way to harness the mix-and-match trend. Banks of matt grey cupboards hug the walls of this attic room while the island unit, made up of textural, salvaged wooden planks, adds an earthy contrast. Accents of tan and bottle green inject warm colour and enhance the modern rustic vibe.
This is a lovely, subtle way to harness the mix-and-match trend. Banks of matt grey cupboards hug the walls of this attic room while the island unit, made up of textural, salvaged wooden planks, adds an earthy contrast. Accents of tan and bottle green inject warm colour and enhance the modern rustic vibe.
Go half and half
It’s not unusual to see a bank of one colour on wall cabinets and a different shade on base units, but why not try dividing materials vertically, as in this stylish design? The contrast of slick, plain white units on one half of the kitchen works incredibly well against the exotic striped wood doors on the other – with the white dining chairs offering a clever visual link between the two.
It’s not unusual to see a bank of one colour on wall cabinets and a different shade on base units, but why not try dividing materials vertically, as in this stylish design? The contrast of slick, plain white units on one half of the kitchen works incredibly well against the exotic striped wood doors on the other – with the white dining chairs offering a clever visual link between the two.
Use to highlight symmetry
There’s a pleasing symmetry to this kitchen, which is accentuated by the canny use of contrasting colours and materials. Simple blocks of white, handle-free units create a starting point for the design, from which well-balanced planes of richly veined marble, exotic timber and stainless steel add an individual touch. To allow every element to create an impact, such variation needs space on its side, so this works best in larger kitchens.
There’s a pleasing symmetry to this kitchen, which is accentuated by the canny use of contrasting colours and materials. Simple blocks of white, handle-free units create a starting point for the design, from which well-balanced planes of richly veined marble, exotic timber and stainless steel add an individual touch. To allow every element to create an impact, such variation needs space on its side, so this works best in larger kitchens.
Break up an all-white scheme
Let’s be honest, wrap-around white gloss units can be in danger of appearing a little clinical. However, introducing an accent colour or material on the bottom half of the design (this rich walnut is gorgeous), adds depth and definition, creating a more well-rounded space.
Explore more white kitchen designs
Let’s be honest, wrap-around white gloss units can be in danger of appearing a little clinical. However, introducing an accent colour or material on the bottom half of the design (this rich walnut is gorgeous), adds depth and definition, creating a more well-rounded space.
Explore more white kitchen designs
Mix up your monoliths
Even if you don’t have any wall units to speak of, your kitchen can still nail the mix-and-match look with aplomb. In fact, big, blocky kitchens are sometimes crying out for a juxtaposition of materials and hues to shake things up a little.
Look how incredibly chic this monolithic design appears, with the sink block clad in a luxurious veined marble and the cooking station swathed in a tobacco brown lacquer.
Of course, the grand proportions of this room offer bare bones of the highest calibre to start with, but the considered use of colours and materials enhances the elegant architecture many times over.
Even if you don’t have any wall units to speak of, your kitchen can still nail the mix-and-match look with aplomb. In fact, big, blocky kitchens are sometimes crying out for a juxtaposition of materials and hues to shake things up a little.
Look how incredibly chic this monolithic design appears, with the sink block clad in a luxurious veined marble and the cooking station swathed in a tobacco brown lacquer.
Of course, the grand proportions of this room offer bare bones of the highest calibre to start with, but the considered use of colours and materials enhances the elegant architecture many times over.
Style in a subtle manner
If bold colour and a daring use of materials aren’t on your design radar, why not introduce a subtle, sophisticated contrast instead? The understated mix of greige matt lacquer units and oak cabinets is gentle, refined and warm, but still manages to inject a fresh dynamic into the space. Keep flooring and walls muted and earthy, too, for a kitchen that’s inviting, livable and a pleasure to work in.
If bold colour and a daring use of materials aren’t on your design radar, why not introduce a subtle, sophisticated contrast instead? The understated mix of greige matt lacquer units and oak cabinets is gentle, refined and warm, but still manages to inject a fresh dynamic into the space. Keep flooring and walls muted and earthy, too, for a kitchen that’s inviting, livable and a pleasure to work in.
Contrast colour and finish
Mix and match kitchens aren’t just about pairing different colours, they’re also about the juxtaposition of textures – gloss against matt or honed against rough-hewn, for instance. Here, the glossy, silver-grey glass adds shine next to the rough-cut oak cupboards, creating an interesting look that would slot into any style of home.
Mix and match kitchens aren’t just about pairing different colours, they’re also about the juxtaposition of textures – gloss against matt or honed against rough-hewn, for instance. Here, the glossy, silver-grey glass adds shine next to the rough-cut oak cupboards, creating an interesting look that would slot into any style of home.
Show off with a showstopper
Don’t be afraid to use a bold, bright contrast to make your kitchen really stand out from the crowd. Stick to a palette of easy-on-the-eye neutrals for the main units and then go all out on a fabulous statement piece in a more flamboyant hue. This dazzling turquoise shelving certainly stands out against the rest of the kitchen and transforms crockery and vases into works of art.
If you’re designing an open-plan living area, you can easily introduce the same colour into other zones – on fabrics or cushions, for instance – for a harmonious space.
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Have you shaken up your kitchen with a mix-and-match approach? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
Don’t be afraid to use a bold, bright contrast to make your kitchen really stand out from the crowd. Stick to a palette of easy-on-the-eye neutrals for the main units and then go all out on a fabulous statement piece in a more flamboyant hue. This dazzling turquoise shelving certainly stands out against the rest of the kitchen and transforms crockery and vases into works of art.
If you’re designing an open-plan living area, you can easily introduce the same colour into other zones – on fabrics or cushions, for instance – for a harmonious space.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
TELL US
Have you shaken up your kitchen with a mix-and-match approach? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
Monochrome kitchens will always be popular, but this idea reworks the light and dark theme with softer, more on-trend colours. The grey-painted Shaker units create a classic look that melds effortlessly into the architecture, allowing the deep, inky blue island to become the star of the scheme.
The foxed mirror splashback and industrial-style pendants add another, slightly industrial layer for grit and glamour in one.
Discover ideas for your kitchen island bench