After nearly three decades transforming kitchens across the North West, we’ve seen colour trends come and go. The oak effect of the 1990s, the high-gloss white of the 2000s, the grey obsession of the 2010s—each era has its defining palette. But here in 2025, something interesting is happening: our clients are becoming braver with colour whilst still wanting their kitchens to feel timeless.
Every week, we’re installing kitchens in colours that would have seemed bold or unusual just a few years ago. Let’s walk you through what we’re actually fitting in real homes right now, which colours are proving most popular, and how we help clients choose shades that will look brilliant for years to come.
The Colours We’re Installing Most in 2025
Based on our order books and recent installations, here are the colours dominating our current projects:
Deep Greens: The Runaway Favourite
Without question, various shades of green are our most requested colours right now. We’re talking:
Forest and Hunter Greens – Rich, deep, sophisticated. We’ve installed dozens of kitchens in these dramatic shades over the past year, often on base units with lighter wall units or natural wood uppers.
Sage and Olive – Softer, more muted, incredibly versatile. These work in both traditional and contemporary kitchens, and they suit virtually any property style from Victorian terraces to modern new builds.
Emerald and Teal – For braver clients wanting something truly distinctive. These jewel tones create stunning statement kitchens, particularly when paired with brass or gold hardware.
Why are greens so popular? They bring nature indoors, they photograph beautifully (important in our Instagram age), and they feel current without being trendy. A well-chosen green won’t look dated in five years.
Navy Blues: Still Going Strong
Navy had its moment a few years back, but unlike some trends, it’s proven its staying power. We’re still installing navy kitchens regularly, particularly:
Classic Navy – Deep, authoritative, works beautifully with white worktops and brass or chrome hardware. We fit this mostly in modern and contemporary kitchens where clients want drama without going too dark.
Softer Blues – Lighter shades like powder blue or duck egg are experiencing a resurgence, especially in country cottage-style kitchens. These feel fresher and less intense than navy whilst still being characterful.
The beauty of navy is its versatility—it works with virtually any worktop material and suits both traditional and modern door styles.
Warm Neutrals: The Safe But Stylish Choice
For every client who wants bold colour, we have another who prefers the reliability of neutrals. But 2025’s neutrals are more sophisticated than the magnolia of years past.
Warm Greys and Greiges – We’re steering clients away from the cool, stark greys of previous years towards warmer tones with beige or taupe undertones. These feel more welcoming and work better with wood tones.
Soft Whites and Off-Whites – Never out of style. We particularly recommend Farrow & Ball’s softer whites—shades with subtle undertones that prevent that clinical, cold feeling. Pointing, Strong White, and Wimborne White are perennial favourites.
Mushroom and Taupe – These earthy, grounded colours are growing in popularity. They’re neutral enough to be safe but interesting enough to feel considered.
The Two-Tone Trend We’re Installing Everywhere
Perhaps the biggest trend we’re seeing isn’t a single colour but the combination approach. Two-tone kitchens now account for nearly 40% of our installations.
Most Popular Combinations We’re Fitting:
- Dark green base units with light grey or off-white wall units
- Navy lowers with natural oak uppers
- Sage green throughout with a contrasting island in darker green or navy
- Neutral main kitchen with a bold-coloured island as a focal point
Two-tone designs add visual interest, allow clients to incorporate colour without overwhelming the space, and help define zones in open-plan layouts. They’re also brilliant for clients who can’t decide between safe and bold—you can have both.
How We Help Clients Choose Colours
Choosing a kitchen colour is a significant decision—you’ll be living with it for years. Here’s how we guide our clients through the process:
The Sample Home Visit
We never expect clients to choose colours based solely on showroom visits. We provide door samples in your shortlisted colours to take home. Look at them:
- In morning light
- In evening light
- Under your artificial lighting
- Next to your flooring
- Against your walls
- Alongside your existing furniture if it’s an open-plan space
Colours behave completely differently in different environments. That sage green that looked perfect in our showroom might read more grey in your north-facing kitchen. Better to discover that with a sample than after installation.
Considering Your Property
We always consider the style and age of your property. While there are no hard rules (we’ve installed ultra-modern kitchens in Victorian homes very successfully), some combinations work more naturally:
Period Properties – Often suit deeper, richer colours (navy, forest green, burgundy) or traditional neutrals Modern Builds – Can carry bolder colours and sharper contrasts more easily Cottages and Rural Properties – Look beautiful with softer, nature-inspired shades (sage, olive, soft blues) Open-Plan Spaces – Need colours that harmonise with visible living areas
Thinking About Light
Your kitchen’s natural light dramatically affects colour appearance:
North-Facing Kitchens – We often recommend warmer colours to counteract the cooler natural light. Greens with yellow undertones, warm greys, or even warmer whites.
South-Facing Kitchens – Can handle cooler colours beautifully. True greys, blues, and cooler greens all work well.
Limited Natural Light – Lighter colours generally work better, but we can make darker colours work with excellent artificial lighting design.
Worktop and Splashback Coordination
Your door colour is just part of the equation. We help you coordinate:
Worktops – Light worktops with dark units create drama. Dark worktops with light units feel sophisticated. We show you combinations with actual samples.
Splashbacks – Glass splashbacks can be colour-matched to your units or walls. Tiles offer pattern and texture. We guide you through options that complement your chosen door colour.
Handles – Brass/gold hardware suits greens beautifully. Chrome and stainless work with greys and blues. Black hardware creates striking contrast with lighter colours.
Colours We’re Steering Clients Away From
Based on nearly 30 years of experience, there are certain colours we gently discourage:
Ultra-Trendy Brights
Neon yellows, bright oranges, vivid purples—these look fantastic initially but date quickly. If a client desperately wants these, we suggest using them as accent colours (perhaps just on an island) rather than throughout.
Cool, Stark Greys
The grey trend of the 2010s left many people with kitchens that feel cold and uninviting. If clients want grey, we steer them towards warmer greiges or softer greys with undertones.
Pure Brilliant White
While off-whites are timeless, pure brilliant white often feels too clinical and hospital-like in kitchens. It also shows every mark and scuff. We recommend softer whites instead.
Colours That Fight Your Fixed Elements
If you’re keeping your flooring and it’s warm oak, fighting against it with cool grey units rarely works. We help clients choose colours that work with, rather than against, their unchangeable elements.
The Impact of Finish: Matt, Satin, or Gloss?
Colour is only half the story—finish affects how that colour reads:
Matt Finishes Currently our most popular. Matt absorbs light, making colours appear deeper and more sophisticated. It’s also more forgiving of fingerprints (though not completely immune). We fit matt finishes in about 60% of our current projects.
Satin Finishes A middle ground offering subtle sheen without being overly reflective. Practical and contemporary, these work well in busier family kitchens.
Gloss Finishes Dramatic and reflective, gloss makes colours appear more vibrant and helps smaller kitchens feel larger. However, they show every fingerprint and scratch, so we’re honest about the maintenance. Gloss installations are down to about 15% of our projects now.
We bring samples in different finishes so clients can see how dramatically the same colour appears in matt versus gloss.
Custom Colour Matching
One of our most popular services is custom colour matching. If you’ve:
- Seen a specific paint colour you love
- Found inspiration in a magazine or online
- Got existing furniture you want to coordinate with
- Have a particular Farrow & Ball or Little Greene shade in mind
We can match virtually any colour. We hand-paint samples until we’ve got it exactly right, then paint your doors to that precise specification in our workshop. This service has become incredibly popular with clients wanting something truly personal.
Real Installations We’re Proud Of
Here are some recent colour combinations we’ve installed that showcase current trends:
Chorley Victorian Terrace – Forest green Shaker doors on base units, Farrow & Ball Pointing on wall units, brass cup handles, white quartz worktops. Absolutely stunning.
Preston New Build – Full kitchen in sage green, matt finish, with black hardware and walnut-effect laminate worktops. Contemporary but warm.
Southport Semi-Detached – Two-tone traditional kitchen: navy blue lowers, light oak uppers, Belfast sink, granite worktops. Classic with personality.
Bolton Open-Plan – Warm greige throughout with an island in deep teal as a focal point. Brass hardware throughout. Sophisticated and distinctive.
Lancaster Cottage – Soft powder blue country cottage-style kitchen with wooden worktops and ceramic knob handles. Charming and timeless.
Each owner chose colours that suited their property, their personal style, and their lifestyle.
Long-Term Colour Choices
We always encourage clients to think long-term:
Will you still love it in five years? Trendy colours date. Classic colours endure.
Does it suit your property? Fighting against your home’s inherent style rarely ends well.
Is it too personal? If you might sell in the next few years, extremely bold or unusual colours can put buyers off. (Though this matters less with makeovers since doors can be replaced relatively affordably.)
Can you live with it daily? That dramatic black kitchen looks incredible, but will you find it oppressive in a small, dark space after six months?
We’re not trying to talk anyone out of colour—quite the opposite. But we want clients to choose colours they’ll genuinely love long-term.
The Psychology of Kitchen Colours
Different colours create different moods and feelings:
Greens – Calming, natural, balanced. Make people feel comfortable and at ease.
Blues – Calming, trustworthy, can feel cool in temperature as well as style.
Warm Neutrals – Safe, comfortable, versatile. Never offensive but can lack personality.
Darker Colours – Dramatic, sophisticated, can make spaces feel smaller but more intimate.
Lighter Colours – Spacious, airy, reflect light. Can feel cold if too stark.
Understanding this helps clients choose colours that create the atmosphere they want.
Testing Before Committing
We never rush colour decisions. Our process includes:
- Initial discussion of preferences and shortlist
- Showroom visit to see full kitchens in various colours
- Door samples home for at least a week
- Second consultation to discuss findings
- Final approval before ordering
This might seem lengthy, but choosing the right colour is crucial. We’d rather take the time upfront than have regrets after installation.
The Makeover Advantage for Colour Changes
Here’s a brilliant benefit of kitchen makeovers: if you tire of your colour in five or ten years, we can replace just the doors without touching carcasses, worktops, or appliances. Try doing that economically with a full kitchen replacement.
This means clients can be slightly braver with colour, knowing they haven’t committed to it for the life of the entire kitchen—just until they fancy a refresh.
Looking Ahead: What’s Coming?
Based on trade shows and early interest, we’re seeing potential growth in:
- Warm terracottas and rust colours
- Deeper, richer burgundies and wine reds
- Warm browns and chocolates (moving away from grey entirely)
- More adventurous uses of pink (from dusty rose to deeper tones)
Whether these become mainstream remains to be seen, but we’re preparing samples and starting conversations with adventurous clients.
Your Colour Journey Starts Here
Choosing your kitchen colour should be exciting, not stressful. With nearly 30 years of experience, we’ve guided thousands of clients through this process. We know which colours work in which situations, we understand how light affects appearance, and we’re honest about long-term durability of trends.
Whether you’re drawn to the current green trend, tempted by timeless navy, or happiest with sophisticated neutrals, we’ll help you choose colours that suit your property, your personality, and your lifestyle.
And remember: with samples at home, careful consideration, and expert guidance, you’ll choose colours you’ll absolutely love for years to come.
Ready to explore colour options for your kitchen makeover? Contact Gordon’s Makeovers for a free consultation. We’ll bring samples, discuss your preferences, and help you choose colours that will transform your space beautifully. Serving the North West for nearly 30 years, we know kitchen colours inside out. Get in touch today.