A north-facing kitchen has less direct sunshine throughout the day and gets cooler in the evenings. Opt for a warmer tone palette to warm it up and make it feel cosy.
Quick answer: what colours suit a north-facing kitchen?
A north-facing kitchen gets no direct sunlight, so the light reaching it is cool and slightly blue. The aim is to put that warmth back through colour. Use medium-toned shades with warm undertones, creamy or yellow-based whites rather than brilliant white, and earthy colours such as terracotta, ochre and warm brown. Keep your darkest tones on the base units rather than at eye level, where they can overwhelm the room. For worktops, warm-veined surfaces in cream, beige and warm grey lift the space, whereas cool grey and stark white tend to emphasise the chill.
Victorian or Georgian Terraces in London with bedrooms at the front and kitchens at the back, typically means that the sun is received in the morning at the front, whilst later throughout the day, the sun sets at the back of the house. This means that the kitchen will see the sun setting making it perfect to create a wonderful mood when entertaining guests. North-facing rooms receive the least amount of natural lights and due to no direct sunlight, it is generally a cold light that is felt.
When creating a colour scheme in a north-facing kitchen the ideal colours are medium-toned colours with warm undertones, like yellow-based hues and creamy neutrals. These colours will counteract the cold light that enters and introduces the warmth that is missing. There is so much choice when it comes to looking at a medium-toned palette and it is down to personal taste, period of the house and the mood you want to set. Another great option is white kitchen cabinets contrasted with a warm wall colour.
At Cawdor Stone, we have many stunning quartz and granite worktops to complement your kitchen design.
White kitchens
Choosing the correct white is important for this type of room. The effect can make your kitchen look actually smaller if you were to choose the furniture, worktops and wall colour in white. The perfect white is one with a yellow or creamy base.
The kitchen cabinetry can come in an array of colours and finishes to make a north-facing kitchen perfect. Choose a warm based natural colour to make the room feel warmer.
Choose dark colours
With the right undertone within the dark colour, this colour actually makes your north-facing room appear bigger. Earthy tones with a warm undertone are perfect, for example, an orange, red or brown wall. Bolder colours do work however, it’s important not to go too dark, as the lighting qualities in the room may not support the colour. Dark walls should always be contrasted with cabinetry and furniture that’s in a light hue, whereas light wall colours will work well with both dark and light furniture.
If you do love dark colours for your kitchen, don’t let this put you off. Dark colours chosen on the base units are perfect as these do not sit at eye level. If the dark colour sits at eye level it can overwhelm the units below. In a spacious kitchen, this can work as you will have enough space.
You may choose to create a pleasing contrast with some neutral or lighter tones. Other colours to consider for kitchen wall units are warm earthy undertones such as a cashmere, grey or gold bronze. Warm wood can also be highly effective for a north-facing kitchen.
Improve the natural light
You can improve the natural light in your kitchen with a skylight or glass roof lantern, it can be expensive but totally worth it! The kitchen is used in everyday life for tasks and entertaining and light is a very important factor to consider. It will be the perfect room for those summer nights and creating a warm vibe throughout the summer.
North-facing kitchen FAQs
What colours should you avoid in a north-facing kitchen?
Avoid cool colours with blue or grey undertones, and avoid brilliant white. They amplify the cold, flat light a north-facing room already receives and can leave the space feeling grey even on a bright day. If you want white, choose one with a cream or yellow base.
Do dark colours work in a north-facing kitchen?
Yes, provided the undertone is warm. A deep terracotta, warm brown or olive can make the room feel enveloping rather than gloomy, and a rich dark shade can actually make the space read as larger. Keep the darkest tones on base units and contrast them with lighter wall colours.
Which worktop colours suit a north-facing kitchen?
Warm-toned surfaces work best. Creams, beiges, warm greys and stones with brown, gold or soft pink veining all add warmth back into the room. Cool grey and stark white worktops tend to reinforce the chill, and highly polished finishes can look flat without direct sunlight to catch them.
Should a north-facing kitchen have a matt or polished worktop?
Polished surfaces reflect what light there is, which helps in a darker room, but they can look cold if the colour is cool. A warm-toned polished surface usually gives the best of both. Matt and honed finishes feel softer but absorb light, so they suit kitchens with good artificial lighting.
Where can I see worktops in natural light before deciding?
Our Welwyn showroom in Hertfordshire displays full slabs, which matters more than usual here, as a small sample tells you very little about how a stone behaves in low light. We work with homeowners, designers and architects across Hertfordshire, including St Albans, Harpenden, Hertford and Hatfield, as well as North London and the wider South East.
Cawdor Stone Gallery are a division of the Cawdor Group, one of the UK’s leading natural stone providers. With 40 years of experience, our highly qualified team have undertaken international projects of all sizes, providing high-quality materials and a comprehensive range of stone-related services to a range of projects. Contact us today for more info on our quartz and granite worktops.
