Why A Stark White Kitchen Might Look Out Of Place In Your Home

Using the color white in your home is a popular way to bring a fresh, clean feeling to your space. There's a reason why you'll see a lot of white walls in hospitals — it's traditionally a color that represents cleanliness and simplicity. This is why, as you might imagine, white is a common color for kitchens. Many people see it as a blank slate, a neutral background against which to build a color palette. But, as with all trends, it can be taken just a touch too far. Stark, all-white kitchens can look cold and out of place in your home, especially when situated next to dining rooms or living rooms with cozier color palettes.

Whether you've been working for years to curate your space or are focused on the more practical aspects of home design, everyone's home has a different aesthetic. And if the rest of your home is warmer — the paint colors, the textures, or the general vibe — a stark white kitchen can stick out like a sore thumb. Even if the walls or appliances in your kitchen are white and you intend to keep them that way, incorporating a few interesting, colorful accents in the room can make for a more cohesive whole-home design. Making your kitchen match the rest of your home can help you avoid the design mistake that is a major turn-off to homebuyers, too.

Any time you're updating a space in your home, it's important to take stock of what you're working with. Try to notice what's making your kitchen feel most different from the rest of your house — consider taking photos of adjacent rooms and comparing them to photos of your kitchen. If your all-white kitchen feels clinical or sterile, you may be missing the personal touches that other rooms in your home have. Hanging framed photos or art can be your first step; try creating a gallery wall, one of several innovative ways to bring wall art into your kitchen.

Another way to create more cohesion between your kitchen and the rest of your home is to bring in touches from adjoining rooms. If you have a breakfast nook or banquette in your kitchen — a kitchen design trend slowly replacing traditional dining rooms — consider tossing a throw blanket over the back of one of the chairs or bench. If you have room to spare on your countertops, try bringing in a short stack of colorful coffee table books from your living room. If you're willing to paint, try to bring in a color that goes with the rest of your home. And redoing your cabinets in a wood tone can also bring warmth to the space, especially if the rest of your home has hardwood floors.