Help! My kitchen is dark, depressing and needs some paint.?

Question

I moved in with my boyfriend and his brothers girlfriend had painted the walls in the kitchen a very bright ugly yellow. The attached dining room is a pumkin color. The cabinets and the woodwork are very dark and we can't paint over them. We can paint the wall, however. I need advice on what color I should paint the walls to make the kitchen lighter and less stressfull. The floors are white tile looking laminent with some blue-grey marbling through them. And the counter tops are buthcher block. I know it's not much to work with, butI don't need a complete kitchen make over just paint ideas so i don't mind being in the kitchen cooking dinner. Right now I tense up every time I have to walk through the space!!

Answer 1

Wow, no wonder you want to change it. It sounds horrible. what about a suttle cream color .... off whiteish, beige, vanilla, ... Also, if you got a new light fixture it can make a huge difference and get one with more light to brighten up the room... good luck!

Answer 2

Yellows and their family of colors can be very intense and difficult to work with unless you have the time and attention to pick the right color. If you want an instant brightener, a cream or light sage would work. It depends on the rooms that interact with your kitchen. Get paint strips from your local Home Depot, Loews or individual paint stores and hold them up so you can see how the paint will look during the daylight as well as during the nightlight. It's important because paint colors will change accordingly. At this point, anything would be better than the bright yellow but take some time to make your right choice or you will be painting again.

Answer 3

1] white satin, like color of floor tiles, maybe with light pumpkin [ like dining room ] shade valance
2] a light shade of the blue-gray marbling, with a white lace or sheer valance
3] stash away everything you use every day, so the kitchen feels less cluttered. Keep out a favorite item, such as canisters, a ceramic pitcher, etc, or a cookbook display; anything that makes it feel more like 'your' kitchen.
4] Add other pretty accessories in either the blue-gray, white, or light pumpkin [ placemats, potholders, towels, flowerpots ]

Answer 4

I would suggest a salmon color. Go to Home Depot for Behr's paint. Get the swatch that has salmon color or close to. Now when they go to mix it, have them add just one squirt of black in it at a time, mix then check the color. When you have found the proper color that you will like, it will go well with the marble and blend in quite nicely

Answer 5

how about a bright light blue to complement the tile or a light off white or a cream also can you change the lighting in there? diffrent lighting may help and its not always super expensive if you have the know how or know someone with the know how to install them

Answer 6

Off white to the beige or even a little pink. Will take two coats to cover bright yellow though.

Answer 7

Go to Wal Mart and buy their brand of paint called Antique White....it goes with any decor.

Answer 8

a light white/grey will draw the floor into the decor while still being light and airy

Answer 9

A light cream satin color would be pretty!

WIth wallpaper trim, that has farm scenery on it!

As for the trim on the bottom, you could trim it in bright glossy pink!

Answer 10

eggshell or light beige.. If you have woodwork or mouldings paint them white.
It will be cheery and clean, but not as bright!