The 5 Farrow & Ball Shades Designers Always Use to Brighten Small Kitchens

A small kitchen leading into a dining room with dark blue cabinets, marble countertops, brass taps and fixtures. .

Small kitchens, which can often be lacking in natural light, typically welcome a palette of light neutrals in efforts to make them feel more roomy, but going for something more colorful in these hardworking rooms can be much more effective.

When choosing the best colors for small kitchens, designers often turn to the much-loved paint brand Farrow & Ball, using its nuanced, earthy shades to add character and depth.

Here, we've rounded up five Farrow & Ball paints that are favorites among designers, ranging from dusky greens to soft pinks. While each of them is a bolder choice than neutrals, they feel livable and calm, while adding plenty of design flair to small kitchens.

1. Cooking Apple Green No. 32

Cooking Apple Green adds softness and warmth to the cabinets in this small kitchen, along with the colorful backsplash tiles. (Image credit: Carmel Brantley. Design: Katherine Shenaman Interiors)

Cooking Apple Green is one of those colors that feels soft enough to use in place of traditional neutrals. If you're looking for a paint shade that adds a hint of color to bring interest to a small kitchen, without going too bright or bold, this one could be for you.

'The starting point for this kitchen was the backsplash: an antique-feeling but lively tropical ceramic tile,' says the Florida-based designer Katherine Shenaman. 'The client wanted her small kitchen to feel like a "jewel box", so we chose a complementary green that felt understated yet luxurious at the same time. Aged brass hardware throughout and the reclaimed oak flooring also added to the overall feel of this lively but timeless kitchen.'

'Some people may think an all-white kitchen feels larger, but in general, we find that the opposite is true,' she adds. 'People seem tired of the predictable and more eager to explore more creative ways to design small spaces, especially kitchens.'

2. French Gray No. 18

Alongside the French Gray cabinets, Benjamin Moore's Simply White was used on the walls, ceiling, and trim, which adds a modern feel. (Image credit: Ali Harper. Design: Miles & Kirk)

French Gray is a popular Farrow & Ball paint color – an in-between shade that sits somewhere between gray and green. Because of its gray tones, it feels calm and easy to live with, especially when compared to gray paints, which can fall flat.

Here, it was used on the cabinets, adding depth and a refined feel to the room. 'The colors of the kitchen cabinets help meld the period of the house with the more contemporary aesthetic of the homeowner,' explains the designer Ryan Kopet of Tennessee-based Miles & Kirk. 'I find the color to be expansive and warm, while not diluting the charm of the space. As our primary goal was to highlight the homeowner's art collection, we love this palette as a great backdrop to modern art.'

3. Stiffkey Blue No. 281

If you're looking to make more of a statement with your colors in a small kitchen, Stiffkey Blue balances drama and timeless appeal. (Image credit: Jenny Siegwart. Design: Anne Rae Design)

Dark blue paints add drama to small kitchens, and shades like Stiffkey Blue lend a sense of sophistication, especially when paired with warm brass fixtures.

The designer of this small kitchen, Kristin Kostamo-McNeil, principal designer at Anne Rae Design, recalls discussions with the client to find the right shade of blue: 'We agreed that a deeper tone was essential to achieving the drama he envisioned for the space,' she says.

'We paired the paint with a slightly deeper blue tile backsplash to complement rather than compete with the blue-washed cabinets,' she adds. 'Stiffkey Blue is a wonderful choice for a small kitchen when you're after something dramatic and intimate, with a feel that's both luxurious and unexpected.'

4. Green Smoke No. 47

Along with the natural materials and patterned wallpaper in this cozy kitchen, Green Smoke adds nostalgic charm. (Image credit: Rikki Snyder. Design: Jennifer Hunter Design)

Green Smoke is a dark green paint that has a dusky, muted quality that makes it feel soothing and mellow. 'This shade of green works beautifully in a small kitchen because it offers a richness of color while still acting like a neutral,' says NYC designer Jennifer Hunter.

'Greens that are slightly muted with gray undertones tend to recede visually, allowing the cabinetry and walls to feel layered rather than busy,' she explains. 'Instead of relying on white or beige to make the room feel open, the green creates a calm backdrop that adds character without overwhelming the space. In a compact kitchen, it brings warmth and personality while remaining timeless and versatile.'

5. Pink Ground No. 202

Small kitchens can lack natural light, so using warming pinks such as Pink Ground is a great way to cozy up the space. (Image credit: Jon Day. Design: Sophie Garland)

Pink paints make a comforting, stylish choice in small kitchens. Soft shades feel like just a step away from neutrals, while adding warmth, character, and a cozy feel. Here, Pink Ground was used on the walls, a dusky shade that doesn't lean too sweet, along with Farrow & Ball's Pointing on the cabinets.

'Pink Ground is one of my favourite colors to use because it has such a lovely warmth to it,' explains the interior designer Sophie Garland who use in her own cozy country cottage. 'It’s especially good in smaller spaces, as the pale tone brings in color while still keeping the room feeling light and fresh.'

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Landing on the right paint color is one of the most important steps in decorating compact spaces, but there are lots of other creative ways to make a small kitchen look more luxurious, from lighting to countertop ideas.

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