Colour psychology in the kitchen. How colour affects your emotions and your appetite

To truly understand how to design the perfect kitchen, you need to understand the mechanism that links emotions and colour in psychology. These are not just passing tips or trends. Scientific research has shown that colour produces measurable physiological reactions in our bodies.

It has confirmed that when our eyes see a colour, our brains process the information and trigger a cascade of neurochemical reactions. The psychological significance of colour derives from a combination of evolutionary, cultural and personal factors that have a direct impact on our nervous system. For instance, studies carried out by researchers have shown that red is stimulating and increases our blood pressure and heart rate, while blue has a calming effect.

This phenomenon is particularly significant in the kitchen, where the relationship between colour and mood is especially important. Research into food production marketing has shown that as much as 90% of first impressions of culinary products are based solely on colour. There are in fact colours that stimulate the appetite — such as red, orange and yellow — which are strategically used in food production to stimulate consumers’ appetites.

Understanding these mechanisms enables you to make a conscious choice when deciding what mood you want to create in your kitchen — an environment that gives you energy, stimulating your sociable nature and your appetite, or a peaceful place where you can wind down and relax after a busy day.

The psychology of warm colours in the kitchen

The psychology of warm colours shows that red, orange and yellow and their various shades act as natural stimulants. These three colours are reminiscent of fire, sunshine and vital energy, and create a dynamic and welcoming environment that is perfect for socialising and spending time together.

Red, in particular, is not only a colour that stimulates the appetite, but also increases our perception of warmth, making a kitchen more welcoming during the winter months. Orange combines the energy of red with the joy of yellow, creating an optimistic, convivial atmosphere, perfect for family kitchens where people spend a lot of time together. Yellow, on the other hand, brings to mind sunshine and is a happy colour, making even the smallest spaces bright and airy.

When combining colours in a modern kitchen, these can be used on a whole wall to create a focal point, or added as splashes of colour in the form of domestic appliances or decorative details for those who prefer a more cautious approach.

Knowing about the individual properties of colours is just the first step. The real secret for a unique look lies in combining colours in the kitchen.

The fundamental principle of combining colours in the kitchen is based in the colour wheel and harmonious combinations of the various colours. The complementary colours — which we find on the opposite side of the wheel — create lively, dynamic contrasts. A kitchen with contrasting colours may, for example, feature navy blue with yellow details, or sage green with touches of brick red. These bold combinations require equilibrium. The secret is to use one dominant colour and another as an accent, as we have already mentioned when talking about tips and ideas for furnishing an original kitchen.

The perception of colour in space goes beyond mere aesthetics. The choice of colour can even alter perception of the size of your kitchen. Cool, light colours tend to make rooms appear larger and brighter, while warm, dark colours make them appear more cosy and intimate. A room with low ceilings will benefit from light colours on the ceiling to create an impression of height, while warm coloured walls can make rooms that are too large seem smaller.

If we need to choose the colour for a small kitchen, we’ll will follow the other advice about how to furnish a kitchen, but also think about the strategic use of colour. A monochrome palette with variations of the same colour family creates visual continuity and an optical illusion of space.

If, on the other hand, you are lucky enough to have a large kitchen, you can be bold with more complex colour combinations. Perhaps a combination of three colours of equal distance from each other on the colour wheel, or a similar approach that uses closer colours to create fluid, sophisticated colour transitions.

Lighting also plays a key role in colour combinations in the kitchen. A colour can look totally different under natural or artificial light. Before taking any final decisions, always test your colours in various light conditions and at different times of the day in order to be sure that the colour harmony you have created works in every situation.

Before committing to your definitive colour choices, always make test samples. Paint parts of the wall with the colours you are thinking about using and look at them at different times of the day. Natural morning light could make a colour look totally different than the warm light of the sunset.

As shown in suggestions for coordinating materials and colour in the kitchen, you need to consider the 60-30-10 ratio rule — 60% of the space should be dominated by a neutral colour, 30% by a more characteristic secondary colour and 10% by a vibrant accent. This ratio guarantees visual harmony without overloading the senses.

The approach taken by the I Naturali collection teaches us that every colour choice should be a dialogue between the people living there and the space around them, in which every part of the space reflects the identity of the people living there. Do not forget that colour changes with the materials. A red on a gloss-finish ceramic will have a different impact to the same red on a matte wood. Follow our suggestions on how to choose the style, colour and materials for your kitchen.