In a world of white kitchens, a broad stroke of color surprises. Try it on just the lower cabinets or the island, as in this Seattle kitchen by JAS Design Build (jasdesignbuild.com), to give the room a shot of energy. In open-floor plans, it helps to select a color that continues your home’s palette for a blended look. If making the kitchen stand out is your goal, choose a saturated hue, but keep the other elements subdued or raw to showcase your choice. Good news: Painting your cabinets is a project you can do yourself to save money (but plan for more than a weekend’s worth of work). Get full directions at sunset.com/cabinets.
More: 10 favorite colorful kitchens