13 Terracotta Color Palette Ideas For An Earthy Kitchen Aesthetic

When it comes to color palettes for your kitchen, it's imperative that you choose correctly. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, the wrong choice could leave you regretting the time, energy, and resources invested into any change or upgrade. Fortunately, the color and material of terracotta offers a world of inspiration for kitchen color palettes, each one unique and highly versatile. Whether you love a chic and modern visual or a more rustic vibe, you can achieve your goal by implementing terracotta into a vast number of color palettes, either through paint or terracotta accents.

Since terracotta is a color that is naturally formed (being crafted from firing clay at high temperatures), you'll find that it marries beautifully with all sorts of colors. It can also be brought into your kitchen through beautiful styles of terracotta tiles or with accent pieces like a terracotta potted herb garden. The natural color of terracotta will translate to seamless pairing with greens, browns, and your favorite neutral shades. Additionally, it works with colors that are more modern and bold, like pink or deep blue paint. If you're a fan of metallic fixtures, terracotta works well with many finishes, including copper, gold, and stainless steel. Whatever aesthetic speaks most deeply to you, terracotta can be a striking and timeless component.

Nothing says earthy quite like fresh herbs in a kitchen — then, pair them with terracotta accents for the ultimate appeal. The bright and vivid greens of your favorite herbs or small potted plants will pair perfectly with terracotta shelving, an accent wall, or even simple orange clay pots. Thanks to the natural shades, this aesthetic will echo what you might see on a hike. In order to bring a well-rounded palette to your kitchen, embrace a number of herbs with various green shades. Worried about your decor being damaged? Here's how to prevent terracotta pots from cracking.

Let natural textures of ingredients like pasta, nuts, and lentils speak for themselves, set against the backdrop of a terracotta kitchen wall — an ideal way to add earthy color to your space. Placing these ingredients in clear glass jars is the best way to benefit from their beauty. If you're looking for a shade of paint that will help you to achieve a gorgeous kitchen, why not try Benjamin Moore's Baked Terra Cotta (1202) or Potter's Clay (1221)

One way to successfully pull off implementing a terracotta color palette in your kitchen is by pairing it with stainless steel appliances. Thanks to the brightness and cool temperature of the stainless steel, you'll naturally offset the warmth and depth of the terracotta, whether you have terracotta tile floors or painted walls. Planning a renovation? Here are 5 creative ways to use terracotta tiles in your home.

Since copper and terracotta so closely resemble one another, you'll find that adding some copper cookware, like pots and pans or a tea kettle, will provide your kitchen with a classy and classic feel. While some individuals may feel the need to put their pots and pans away as soon as they're done cooking with them, feel free to leave them out for extra visual appeal. Bring copper kitchen hardware into the space, too, with drawer pulls or handles.

Pair your terracotta tiles with bricks for added texture. Despite both being crafted from clay, they have unique visual properties. You'll benefit from an interesting contrast of smooth yet rustic terracotta tiles and roughly cut bricks. If you want to avoid overdoing interesting textures, try smooth and simple countertops to make for a neutral surface.

For a more modern aesthetic, try to keep the walls softer, perhaps with a simple backsplash that isn't too saturated in color. Adding terracotta elements throughout the kitchen, such as the countertops, is an excellent and approachable option if painting your kitchen isn't feasible. This will contrast nicely against a clean, minimalist, and modern design. 

You can play around with shades of neutral colors like whites and browns for your terracotta kitchen in a number of ways. Try some exposed shelving, which can hold your coffee mugs, plates, and earthenware dishes. Not only will this provide a more romantic, open, and rustic feel to your kitchen, but you'll also benefit from a symphony of colors and textures on display.

Searching for some modern and refined vibes that blend perfectly with terracotta kitchen decor? You can't go wrong with navy blue cabinetry and gold or bronze fixtures. All of these colors work well with one another and provide a refreshed appearance from traditional wooden cabinetry. If you need help getting started with this change, here are some tips on how to style navy blue kitchen cabinets for a luxurious look.

A white kitchen with terracotta elements tied in is a lovely way to pair the old-world appeal of clay pottery with crisp and clean surfaces. In order to create a nice balance of your elements, you can play around with the sizes and shapes of your terracotta pieces — implementing a variety of other natural materials can go a long way, too. Think wooden cutting boards, ceramics, and metals for a polished yet eclectic look.

Don't be afraid to be bold by implementing plenty of browns and blacks with your terracotta. You'll achieve a deeper earthy appearance that can invite the addition of a classic wooden piece, like an eat-in dining table. If you're worried about things being too heavy, try offsetting the darker colors with some white cabinetry or a colorful backsplash.

A kitchen will always have some small towels around for drying dishes or just for decoration. You can likely have success with a wide range of colors for your kitchen textiles: muted shades will especially mesh well with the clay color of terracotta. In terms of materials, if you're striving for an earthy feel for your kitchen, opting for linen or creamy cotton dish towels is a great choice.

A pink kitchen might not instantly jump to mind as a good choice to pair with terracotta, but this combo can actually be incredibly charming. If you have reservations about a pink kitchen, you don't have to go too intense on the hue; a dusty pink can give you a relaxed and soft appearance without bringing in that Barbie aesthetic you might be fearing. Head Over Heels (AF-250) by Benjamin Moore keeps things light while remaining true to its pink color. Not ready to commit to painting your entire kitchen pink? Stick to the cabinet doors instead.

If you find yourself attracted to modern aesthetics, you might find that gray and terracotta are a good color palette combination to explore. Adding in black fixtures, hardware, and accent pieces will make this kitchen palette appear even more chic and sophisticated. You can bring terracotta to the space by painting the walls or cabinets in your favorite shade, or even add terracotta tiles to the ground if you're interested in a bigger overhaul.