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Grey doesn't have to be boring. From bold contemporary schemes to gentle greiges, here's how to make a grey kitchen work for you.
What comes to mind when you think of a grey kitchen? If it's a cold, dull or colourless space, think again: the new generation of grey kitchens are anything but boring.
Current kitchen trends are steering away from cold, utilitarian greys. Instead, think colourful accents, plenty of texture and soft shades of French grey and greige. So whether you want a space-enhancing scheme for a small kitchen, a modern country vibe with open shelving or something modern and minimalist, there's a grey kitchen for you.
Not sure which shade of grey to go for? Melissa Klink, interior design expert and creative director of Harvey Jones kitchens, advises: 'Stay away from cool greys in the kitchen because they automatically make the space feel very utilitarian and un-welcoming.' If you want a sense of warmth in your interiors, opt instead for a French grey or greige with a yellow undertone.
But one of the best things about a grey kitchen is its versatility. 'Grey can offer a blank canvas for artwork, texture and pattern to shine in the room,' says Melissa. 'If you are going for a grey colour scheme, play with texture, perhaps by choosing both polished and matt finishes, or play with pattern by creating a wonderful geometric statement on the splashback.'
One of the biggest advantages of a grey kitchen is that it works with a huge range of colours and textures. Consider the base colour of your chosen grey first. Greys often have green, pink or blue hues, so this is a good starting point to consider when choosing an accent colour to complement or contrast with this.
Melissa has the following suggestion: 'Sage greens are a great combination with a grey kitchen, as they keep the palette sophisticated but still with a pop of personality. Pick peachy pinks for a softer, feminine touch, or you can mix ochre with pale grey if you're feeling a bit braver.'
A common concern with grey kitchens is that they can appear too cold and clinical. This is usually only a problem with mid and light greys as deeper charcoals are naturally very rich. There are few things you can do to add warmth to your grey kitchen – we cover a lot below – but as a general rule, using a wood like oak, cherry or walnut is a really safe bet, especially if it is close to its natural state with lots of grains and knots. You could also choose the popular beige-toned 'greige,' which combines the cooler and more placid look of true grey with the warming nature of beige.
Ready for some inspiration? We've picked our favourite grey kitchen ideas, from fresh, minimalist schemes to characterful, rustic kitchens to help you decide whether this classic colour is the hue for you.
There can be a tendency to lean into the subtleties of grey, pairing it with white or metallics, but grey is a great base colour if you have lots of colourful accessories or patterns in your kitchen. Grey acts much like a neutral, providing a great backdrop to bright primary colours.
Dark grey kitchen units don't have to be dreary. Pairing rich greys with paler shades that bounce light around – like an on-trend terrazzo-look floor – creates a fresh scheme.
Pictured: Frammento tiles at Fired Earth
If you do want to go for a cooler shade, pick textures like stone and concrete to prevent a clean, contemporary grey kitchen from looking sterile.
Pictured: Kitchen by Et Lorem
For a characterful, rustic look, don't be afraid of a bold wallpaper. The beauty of a grey kitchen is that it will work with almost any colour and pattern, like this large-scale botanical print.
Pictured: Chestnut Blossom wallpaper by Boråstapeter; kitchen painted in Railings by Farrow & Ball
Green is totally unexpected here, and looks particularly striking in such a cool-toned room. One side of this feature kitchen island is totally given over to seating – mismatched bar stools are really charming – which is great in the absence of a dining table.
If you want to stick to a dramatic, monochromatic colour scheme, use patterned tiles to break up swathes of colour and add interest. Porcelain tiles like these are a low-maintenance option for walls and floors.
Pictured: Retromix warm star large patterned tiles at London Tile Co.
This kitchen mixes classic design features – the Shaker cabinetry, open hearth, and a smattering of vintage accessories – with a modern charcoal grey colour palette, clean lines and unfussy hardware.
Pictured: Heather Kitchen Stool at Cult Furniture
Minimal grey kitchen units add depth to a clean, simple scheme. Here, dark grey enhances the bold lines and shapes of the tiles and accessories.
Pictured: Kitchen cabinets painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball
This kitchen colour is closer to a beige-toned greige, which makes a natural pairing for other warm colours and especially warm woods. It's a great compromise if you like the subtleties of grey but don't want your kitchen to feel too cool.
Accessorise a dark grey kitchen with metallic accents to add a touch of glamour – copper works particularly well.
This is a great example of how to to use lots of dark grey cabinetry in a light kitchen. The flat panel doors have a subtle sheen which reflects the lovely pinkish undertones in the laminate floor, and there is plenty of off-white paint on the walls to make this feel bright and welcoming.
Pictured: House Beautiful Sensation Candy Cane Painted Laminate at Carpetright
For an elegant, feminine feel, it's hard to beat the grey and blush pink colour combo. Finish the look with marble or quartz worktops and gold accents.
Pictured: Walls in Blush by Little Greene
High-contrast schemes, like this dark grey kitchen with bright white walls, are a striking canvas to showcase characterful vintage or mid-century furniture. Soften the look with plenty of texture, accessories or plants.
Pictured: Pluck kitchen in Coldharbour Grey
One of the joys of grey is that its shades and tones can be layered on top of one another without much careful consideration – here, charcoal grey kitchen doors anchor an otherwise pale design scheme. And it's super easy to replicate in your own home.
Pictured: Coco Dining Chairs and Coco Bar Stools at Sofa.com
A pale neutral grey floor, like this large format porcelain tile, is a versatile choice as it can flow from food preparation to eating and living areas – perfect for open-plan spaces.
Grey and wood are a classic Scandi combination, and lend themselves to a clean and fuss-free kitchen design scheme.
If you dream of an airy all-white scheme but want something a little more cosy and practical, delicate grey kitchen cabinets are your friend. They are a warmer take on neutrals, and more forgiving when it comes to everyday mess and spills.
Full grey kitchens are a blank canvas for easily changeable accent colours in your accessories: teal, pastels and citrus shades are all great choices that you can switch up with changing seasons and trends.
If you want to keep your grey kitchen clean and streamlined, look for integrated storage like a pantry to hide food and appliances.
Pictured: Country Living Whitstable kitchen in Dove Grey at Homebase
This scheme is a masterclass in picking accent colours for a grey kitchen: blue and teal reflect the undertones of the dark grey units, while the yellow contrasts for a vivid pop of colour.
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