8 Blue Paint Colors to Consider for a Kitchen Island
Discuss these appealing shades with your kitchen pro to see which one might be right for you
Jennifer Ott
May 25, 2022
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen island, then you’re also lucky enough to have a great design opportunity. Adding an accent color to an island is a relatively easy way to add personality to your kitchen. In this first article in a series on kitchen island color ideas, we’ll look at some of the best blue paint colors you can consider with your design professional.
1. Soothing Sky Blue
I think blue is such a beloved color because is calls to mind a clear sky on a beautiful day. This stunning kitchen has an amazing connection to the great outdoors, and of course to the blue skies above.
Shop for painting tools on Houzz
I think blue is such a beloved color because is calls to mind a clear sky on a beautiful day. This stunning kitchen has an amazing connection to the great outdoors, and of course to the blue skies above.
Shop for painting tools on Houzz
If your own kitchen lacks direct inside-outside flow, a sky-blue accent color on the island, such as Soft Chinchilla from Benjamin Moore, can bring the suggestion of open airiness. This is a fantastic “safe” color to use for your island if you want a dash of color but don’t want anything too vivid or wild.
Tip: When it comes to paint colors, what you see on a computer monitor or other screen is not necessarily what you get in reality. Before committing to a paint color, have your painter or kitchen designer create large sample swatches that you can evaluate during different times of the day to make sure the hue is right for you.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
Tip: When it comes to paint colors, what you see on a computer monitor or other screen is not necessarily what you get in reality. Before committing to a paint color, have your painter or kitchen designer create large sample swatches that you can evaluate during different times of the day to make sure the hue is right for you.
Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz
2. Soft Gray-Blue
Here’s another light blue option, this one cooler and with a bit more gray in it. Blues transform into neutrals as more gray is added to the formula. A neutral blue-clad island is perfect for those who want only a soft splash of color, or for those who have bold elements in the kitchen that they wish to take center stage.
Here’s another light blue option, this one cooler and with a bit more gray in it. Blues transform into neutrals as more gray is added to the formula. A neutral blue-clad island is perfect for those who want only a soft splash of color, or for those who have bold elements in the kitchen that they wish to take center stage.
Pacific Bliss from Kelly-Moore is a similar paint color that contains a nice mix of blue and gray. It’s a rather cool hue, so it might not be the best option if yours is a predominantly cold and overcast climate.
Tip: Just because a color looks fantastic in a kitchen featured on Houzz does not mean it’s necessarily going to work in your own kitchen. A color consultant, decorator or designer can work with you to make sure a specific island color you might be eyeing would work well in your own kitchen.
Get kitchen island ideas
Tip: Just because a color looks fantastic in a kitchen featured on Houzz does not mean it’s necessarily going to work in your own kitchen. A color consultant, decorator or designer can work with you to make sure a specific island color you might be eyeing would work well in your own kitchen.
Get kitchen island ideas
3. Vibrant Tropical Blue
Arguably we are also drawn to blues because we associate them with vividly blue bodies of water. This is definitely an intense blue, but because it’s used in a relatively restrained way, for the kitchen island only, it doesn’t overwhelm the room.
Arguably we are also drawn to blues because we associate them with vividly blue bodies of water. This is definitely an intense blue, but because it’s used in a relatively restrained way, for the kitchen island only, it doesn’t overwhelm the room.
To get that tropical island vibe in your own home, test out a color like Atlantic Blue from PPG Pittsburgh Paints. It packs a punch but, again, because it calls to mind the vibrantly blue seas found in a warm and lush locale, it can actually bring a calm and cool feeling to a kitchen.
Tip: Pair a bright color such as this with white or light, cool neutrals and make sure the kitchen has good lighting so the island sparkles.
Tip: Pair a bright color such as this with white or light, cool neutrals and make sure the kitchen has good lighting so the island sparkles.
4. Bold Cobalt
If you love the idea of a dramatic blue for your kitchen island but prefer more of a peek of color, take inspiration from this gorgeous kitchen. The waterfall-edge countertop leaves just the front and backside of the island available for hosting an accent color.
If you love the idea of a dramatic blue for your kitchen island but prefer more of a peek of color, take inspiration from this gorgeous kitchen. The waterfall-edge countertop leaves just the front and backside of the island available for hosting an accent color.
This provides the perfect opportunity to go bold with a saturated blue hue such as Pitch Blue from Farrow & Ball.
Tip: An eye-catching blue like this on your island is going to draw the eye right into it. Make sure your counter or bar stools are worthy of being part of the focal point of your kitchen.
Tip: An eye-catching blue like this on your island is going to draw the eye right into it. Make sure your counter or bar stools are worthy of being part of the focal point of your kitchen.
5. Pretty purple-blue. Periwinkle blue was my favorite crayon color as a kid, and I retain a soft spot for it to this day. Here it’s the perfect color to make the island really stand out, not an easy task in a kitchen with so many handsome, eye-catching elements.
Simply Periwinkle from Valspar is a similar paint color to check out.
Tip: Paint colors that are a blend of two different hues — purple and blue in this case — are going to look very different depending on the time of day and quality of light. You definitely want to have large sample swatches painted up so you and your design professional can make sure the hue never veers too purple or blue for you.
Tip: Paint colors that are a blend of two different hues — purple and blue in this case — are going to look very different depending on the time of day and quality of light. You definitely want to have large sample swatches painted up so you and your design professional can make sure the hue never veers too purple or blue for you.
6. Dark Steel Blue
For those looking for a more neutral option, check out this dark grayish-blue color. This color really grounds the island, making it a solid, substantial statement piece in the kitchen. It’s also a nice foil to the warm wood elements in the room.
For those looking for a more neutral option, check out this dark grayish-blue color. This color really grounds the island, making it a solid, substantial statement piece in the kitchen. It’s also a nice foil to the warm wood elements in the room.
Charcoal Blue from Behr is a similar almost-navy paint color.
Tip: If you have kids or entertain at the island often, a medium-to-dark neutral color like this one is perfect for camouflaging the inevitable scuff marks that will appear at the seating side of the island, especially if your countertop overhang is not very deep.
Tip: If you have kids or entertain at the island often, a medium-to-dark neutral color like this one is perfect for camouflaging the inevitable scuff marks that will appear at the seating side of the island, especially if your countertop overhang is not very deep.
7. Navy Blue
Navy hues are having a moment in kitchen design, but I’ve been a huge fan of this color for a while because of the drama and elegance it imparts. Black is also popping up on islands, but in some spaces it can feel too dark, heavy and harsh.
Navy hues are having a moment in kitchen design, but I’ve been a huge fan of this color for a while because of the drama and elegance it imparts. Black is also popping up on islands, but in some spaces it can feel too dark, heavy and harsh.
Navy plays nicely with white, grays and wood tones but has a bit more life to it than pure black.
The designer of the kitchen above had the island clad in Van Deusen Blue from Benjamin Moore.
Tip: If you have rich wood elements in your kitchen that you want to stand out, blue is the perfect accent color to include in the mix. This is because blue is the complementary color of orange and brown wood tones. They each make the other appear more vibrant.
The designer of the kitchen above had the island clad in Van Deusen Blue from Benjamin Moore.
Tip: If you have rich wood elements in your kitchen that you want to stand out, blue is the perfect accent color to include in the mix. This is because blue is the complementary color of orange and brown wood tones. They each make the other appear more vibrant.
8. Beachy Blue
Where navy is strong, solid and sophisticated, a blue such as this is soft, soothing and exudes a fun, casual vibe. If you want a kitchen that gives you the feeling of being beach-adjacent, a soft watery-blue hue on the island paired with light natural wood tones and lots of sunlight will bring that coastal cosiness.
Where navy is strong, solid and sophisticated, a blue such as this is soft, soothing and exudes a fun, casual vibe. If you want a kitchen that gives you the feeling of being beach-adjacent, a soft watery-blue hue on the island paired with light natural wood tones and lots of sunlight will bring that coastal cosiness.
Aqua-Sphere from Sherwin-Williams is one of my go-to medium-blue paint colors. It’s a “just-right” color that isn’t too light or too dark. It also has some gray in it, making it a near-neutral, but it in no way feels sad or drab.
Tip: Paint colors tend to look lighter and brighter when painted up in large expanses versus what you see on a small test swatch. If you are having a hard time picking a particular blue hue from a range of similar options, go for the one that is lower in chroma (colorfulness) and darker in value (lightness versus darkness).
Your turn: Have you added blue to your island? Share a photograph and the paint color you used in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Cooking Up Color: 5 Ways to Bring Blue Into the Kitchen
Designer Secrets: 9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
Get kitchen island ideas
Find a kitchen designer near you
Browse kitchen products
Tip: Paint colors tend to look lighter and brighter when painted up in large expanses versus what you see on a small test swatch. If you are having a hard time picking a particular blue hue from a range of similar options, go for the one that is lower in chroma (colorfulness) and darker in value (lightness versus darkness).
Your turn: Have you added blue to your island? Share a photograph and the paint color you used in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Cooking Up Color: 5 Ways to Bring Blue Into the Kitchen
Designer Secrets: 9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
Get kitchen island ideas
Find a kitchen designer near you
Browse kitchen products
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Attached are two photos of the coffee station in medium blue-gray (SW9151 Daphne)
in my recently remodeled guest suite.
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