HGTV's Hilary Farr Warns To Avoid Falling Into A Popular Kitchen Color Trend
When it comes to interior design, Hilary Farr is an expert many times over. The HGTV star and host of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr" is not afraid of bold designs and bright colors. But that doesn't mean she goes overboard. In fact, one outdated design trend that Hilary Farr is over is too much color in the kitchen. "I like bringing color in, but too much of it is going to disrupt the main design of the concept," she explained to Apartment Therapy. Basically, you want the colors you choose for your cabinets, backsplash, and walls to create a sense of cohesion, rather than shoehorning colors everywhere just for the sake of it.
There's nothing wrong with a bright and colorful kitchen. When done right, bright hues can create a sunny, inviting vibe that draws you in. But too many non-complementary colors or even too much of the same bright hue is going to make your kitchen look too busy.
Why too much color is a no-no
On an episode of her HGTV show "Tough Love With Hilary Farr," Hilary Farr explained to a color-loving couple that their penchant for bright orange was not working with their kitchen: "I have to say I am a fan of lots of color," Farr stated. "I am a fan of orange. I'm not a fan of too much color or too much orange. This falls into the latter" (via Realtor.com).
Too many colors or too much of the same bright shade is going to create a competition for your attention. Instead of drawing your eye in with splashes of color, your room may begin to look cluttered and chaotic. Additionally, while the idea of maximizing color in the kitchen sounds fun in theory, the reality of it may hit differently. That purple tile backsplash with teal cabinets may sound like a fun idea, but if you end up getting sick of it in a month, a year, or even five years down the road, that's going to take a lot of time and money to fix.
How to incorporate color into your kitchen
So, we know that too much color in a kitchen is a no-no, but what if you still want a bright and bold vibe? Pops of color are where you can focus your attention. A good rule of thumb is to stick with neutral permanent fixtures while adding splashes of color with more temporary measures. You can easily repaint a wall or replace cabinet handles, but changing out cabinets or countertops is a lot more involved (and a lot more expensive).
Say you have dreams of a turquoise kitchen but yours is currently rocking a neutral color palette with varying shades of whites and light grays along with stainless steel appliances. You can incorporate that bright turquoise color into your kitchen decor with counter stools, hand towels, soap dispensers, flower vases, runners, and maybe even a toaster and tea kettle. If you want to go a step further, you can create a turquoise accent wall or apply a peel-and-stick backsplash that incorporates a turquoise pattern. That way, if you change your mind, you can easily backpedal without losing too much time or money.