What Color Walls Make a Kitchen Look Bigger?

A Dream Custom Carpentry Blog

If your kitchen feels small, you’re not alone. Many kitchens—especially in older homes—can feel tight or closed in. But here’s some good news: the color on your walls can make a big difference. Choosing the right paint when you remodel your kitchen can help the room feel bigger, brighter, and more open without changing the layout.

Light Colors Create an Open Feel

The easiest way to make a kitchen look larger is by using light wall colors. Whites, creams, soft grays, and light pastels all reflect light. This makes the space feel open and airy. These colors help blur the lines between walls and ceilings, so the room doesn’t feel boxed in.


White is a classic choice because it’s clean, simple, and works with almost any cabinet or countertop style. If you want a little more color, try a pale blue, soft green, or warm beige. These colors add personality without making the space feel tight.

Avoid Dark and Heavy Colors

Dark wall colors can be bold and dramatic, but they also tend to make rooms feel smaller. Shades like deep navy, charcoal, or forest green soak up light and bring the walls in visually. If you love these colors, try using them as accents instead. A dark kitchen island or cabinet base can add contrast without taking over the whole space.



For the walls, stick with lighter tones if you’re trying to make the kitchen feel bigger.

Match the Walls and Cabinets

A great trick to help a kitchen feel larger is to paint the walls the same color—or close to it—as the cabinets. This creates a smooth, seamless look that doesn’t break up the room. When there’s less contrast between surfaces, the space looks more open and less crowded.


This trick works especially well in small kitchens or galley layouts where space is tight. Keeping everything in a similar tone helps the eye travel across the room without stopping.

Don't Forget About the Ceiling

Most ceilings are painted white, and there’s a good reason for that. A white or very light ceiling helps reflect light and makes the room feel taller. If your kitchen has a low ceiling, avoid painting it darker than the walls when you remodel. A dark ceiling can make the space feel shorter and more closed-in.

If you want a little color on the ceiling, keep it very light or stick to soft tones.

Use Glossy Finishes to Reflect Light

Paint finish matters too. Glossy or semi-gloss finishes reflect more light than flat or matte finishes. Using these on the walls can help bounce light around and give your kitchen a brighter feel.



Just keep in mind that glossy paint also shows more marks, so it’s best used on smooth walls without lots of dents or scratches.

Add Light to Help the Paint Do it's Job

Even the best paint color can only do so much if the kitchen is dark. Good lighting helps the walls do their job. Use under-cabinet lights, ceiling fixtures, or pendant lights to brighten the space. More light means more reflection, and that means the kitchen feels bigger.



Also, if you have windows, avoid heavy window coverings. Let natural light in as much as possible to keep the room bright and open.

A Fresh Coat Can Make a Big Difference

You don’t have to tear out cabinets or move walls to improve how your kitchen feels. Sometimes, a fresh coat of light-colored paint is all it takes. When paired with good lighting and smart design, wall color can completely change how the space looks and feels.


At Dream Custom Carpentry, we help homeowners across the Front Range build kitchens that look better, work better, and feel bigger—even without knocking down walls. Whether you’re painting, upgrading cabinets, or doing a full remodel, we’re here to help you make smart, affordable changes that make a real difference.

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