If you find picking wall color challenging, here are some tips to help you….

1. There are no rules! Pick a color that makes you happy.

2. Think about how you feel when you are cooking…relaxed or nervous? What mood do you need to be in when you are cooking? Hot, bright colors like reds, oranges, purples, and bright yellows, energize you. Cool tones of blues and greens and any pale shades calm you down.

3. Whatever you choose, make sure it makes you want to be there, not run away! It might be hard for you to be in an overly colorful kitchen for any length of time. The idea is to paint your walls so that you feel comfortable, not overwhelmed by color. Using white as a dominant color with splashes of colorful accents might be just right for you.

4. If you consider the psychology of color, orange is generally associated with eating, overeating and feeling full, a Save s well as bringing thoughts of food to mind. This is great if trying to stimulate your children’s interest in eating, but perhaps not the best choice for those on a diet! Using it as part of the décor of the dining area or kitchen is also possible, rather than painting a whole wall or room that color (which could over-stimulate). Red is orange intensified, causing strong reactions — think hunger or heat. Once, again, perhaps overwhelming to use in large amounts, so think accents instead. Blue makes people feel less hungry. Earth tones create a sense of closeness and warmth. It makes you feel safe.

5. The climate you live in should also play a part in what color you paint your kitchen. If it’s hot most of the time, try using a lot of white, grey or light blues for the cooling effect. Gloomy weather calls for warmer tones…warm creams, shades of yellow, tangerine, make things cheerier.

6. Make a healthy choice, and always use a non-toxic, zero VOC paint in your kitchen!