18 Beautiful Pastel Kitchen Ideas

Explore Unique Color Combinations

By
Ashley Knierim
Photo of Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim covers home decor for The Spruce. She has over 10 years of experience in writing and editing and has held positions at Time and AOL.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 09/17/20
pale green kitchen

Merry Mishap

We know you want your home to be stylish and beautiful, but some decor trends are here and gone in a flash. Pastels are no passing fad, however—they've been used in kitchens for years, and it's clear this "trend" isn't going away anytime soon. A lovely twist on the standard white kitchen, pale and subtle colors are a gorgeous way to brighten up a space while maintaining a neutral palette. 

These candy-colored designs are the perfect way to bring a little bit of warmth into your kitchen. From pale blues to soft pinks, these pastels have come a long way from your grandma's kitchen. 

  • 01 of 15

    Add a Hint of Pink

    kitchen with wood cabinets and pink walls
    The Gathered Home

    Never thought you'd consider a pink kitchen? This simple refresh from The Gathered Home uses a soft, subtle, pink hue to give the rest of the kitchen a modern feel. Even without a full renovation, adding a pop of trendy color (think: millennial pink) can create the illusion of a fully updated kitchen. Add a few pastel ​appliances, and you won't miss your contractor.

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  • 02 of 15

    Embrace Mint

    mint green kitchen
    Holland Avenue

    This cheery mint green kitchen from Holland Avenue adds the perfect splash of color. By only painting the bottom cabinets, the kitchen doesn't feel overly feminine or childlike, but rather maintains a contemporary, adult feel. We love the hints of pastel in the kitchen rug, which really ties the whole look together.

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  • 03 of 15

    Add Marble

    kitchen with pastel cabinets and gold hardware
    Stories

    We love using marble accents in every room in the house, but especially in a kitchen. This kitchen from Stories incorporates two of our favorite trends of the moment: marble and gold accents. The pale green lower cabinets help the look fully cohere and keep it from feeling too trendy. 

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  • 04 of 15

    Pastels and Texture

    kitchen with mint green cabinets
    Boho Studio

    Not only does this adorable kitchen from Boho Studio have adorable mint green cabinets, we can't get over how much we love that pastel diamond patterned flooring. Painting your floor is a great way to camouflage worn-out materials or give your space an update without calling in a professional. If you want to go bold with patterns, stick to pale, subtle colors so you don't overwhelm. 

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  • 05 of 15

    A Cheery Yellow

    kitchen with yellow tiles and backsplash
    thecolourtribe / Instagram

    What is happier than a bright yellow kitchen? This adorable little space from thecolourtribe simply makes us feel happy inside (and want to throw some yellow paint on our cabinets, stat). If your kitchen is low on natural light, adding a ​pop of yellow will make it feel instantly brighter.

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  • 06 of 15

    Lilac Cabinets

    light purple kitchen
    The Glitter Guide

    There's just something soothing about pale purple. This modern kitchen from The Glitter Guide is mellow but eye-catching. The extra-tall cabinetry feels elegant and sophisticated, but the lilac paint keeps the space from becoming stuffy or uninviting. 

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  • 07 of 15

    A Candy-Inspired Kitchen

    pastel kitchen with open shelving
    The Everygirl

    These adorable light blue base cabinets from The Everygirl make us think of cotton candy in the best way. It's such a happy, inviting space, and the open shelving makes it feel even airier and fresher.

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  • 08 of 15

    Go Retro

    pale blue kitchen
    Homelife

    This pale teal kitchen from Homelife has a retro feel, but is subtle enough not to feel kitschy. Pale colors are perfect for brightening up a space, especially when natural light is at a premium. When you have a small kitchen, you have even more freedom to experiment with bold choices.

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  • 09 of 15

    Pair Visually Interesting Colors

    green and pink kitchen
    Gisbert Poeppler

    One of the best things about pastels is that they work well with so many bold, bright colors. This pink and green room from Gisbert Poeppler may seem to present an unlikely pairing, but the two colors work surprisingly well together. The pale pink feels even more subtle and refined when matched with the deep hunter green. 

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  • 10 of 15

    Crazy for Yellow

    yellow kitchen

    sophierobinsoninteriors / Instagram

    This stunning yellow kitchen from sophierobinsoninteriors is a bit bolder than your standard pastel, but the perfect way to add a bit of color to your kitchen. Yellow evokes a feeling of warmth and hospitality, and though this look may not be for the faint of heart, we think it's gorgeous. 

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  • 11 of 15

    The New Black and White

    kitchen with pink bricks
    Cote Maison

    Sure, black and white is a classic combination, but this kitchen from Cote Maison offers a fun twist on the old standard. The black lower cabinets are chic and classic, but the pale pink-painted brick keeps the kitchen from feeling too dark. 

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  • 12 of 15

    Look Up

    kitchen with mint green accents
    Best Friends Pizza Club

    If your cabinets don't go all the way to the ceiling, you probably have a bit of awkward, unused wall space just begging for a splash of paint. This cozy kitchen from Best Friends Pizza Club adds an unexpected pastel teal upper trim to the stark white cabinets, giving the kitchen a bit of visual interest while still maintaining a monochromatic look. 

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  • 13 of 15

    Go Bold With Color

    kitchen with purple and teal accents
    Decorator's Notebook

    This blue and purple kitchen from Decorator's Notebook is not for the faint of heart, but it's one of the most fun kitchens we've seen yet. The bold colors work well together and add a fun, festive vibe to the large space. If you're obsessed with color, this is the look for you. 

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  • 14 of 15

    Mix Pastels

    pale kitchen with light blue chairs
    Digs Design Company

    Pastels are pale hues that are beautiful because of their subtlety. This kitchen from Digs Design Company is an example of how easy it is to mix and match colors when they're quiet and low-key. The pale gray is beautiful on its own, but add in the pastel mint chairs, and this kitchen feels like spring all year long. 

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  • 15 of 15

    A Peachy Kitchen

    peach kitchen

    bonjour_diary / Instagram

    This adorable, quaint kitchen as seen on bonjour diary is everything we love about pastels and patterns. The pale peach cabinetry works beautifully with the vintage floor tiles and gives a retro flair to the whole space.