White kitchen ideas – 22 sensational schemes that are clean, bright and won't ever date

Quite simply, white kitchen ideas will always be best sellers thanks to their timeless appeal. The choice of white cabinetry provides a crisp, smart look for a new modern kitchen or a classic backdrop for a country kitchen – classic white is a practical choice for all settings.

Choosing a white kitchen could be the best decision you'll ever make. It can add brightness to your cooking and dining space or it can act as a blank canvas onto which you can add splashes of colour in the form of decorative plates, soft furnishings and artwork.

White kitchen ideas

Although white is sometimes considered to be a safe option where wall colour (or lack of it) is concerned, white cabinetry is a stylish and fashion-forward kitchen idea.

White is a winning colour choice for kitchens, from cabinets and floor tiles, to white walls and accessories it offers a contemporary, clean and crisp design that never dates. Meaning essentially that white is a safe investment to consider for the long term, as it's a colour that will always be on-trend and sellable.

1. Choose open shelving

Choose white to open up a narrow galley kitchen, to make the space feel airy and bright. Rather than choosing bulky wall cabinets on all walls you might choose to feature open shelves to keep a more open-plan feel to the layout. Paint the floating shelves in the same shade of white to that of the walls, so they 'disappear' into the wall.

Be sure to keep the stored items minimalist in design, simple white crockery and glassware, to avoid defeating the object of making the pace feel less cluttered.

2. Create a contemporary vision with all-white

From floors to walls, to cabinets and appliances, a bold all-white kitchen colour scheme creates a stunning contemporary look. Simple chrome handles and sockets are enough to add a hint of colour without breaking out of the 'colourless' scheme.

All-white everything is ideal for making the space feel bright, airy and gleamingly clean, making it a popular choice for the modern home.

3. Add interest with a patterned floor

Break up an all white colour scheme by using an alternative colour with white on the kitchen flooring. This zig zag patterned tile example shows how the use of white on the floor is broken up with strips of wood-effect colour to add depth to the colour scheme.

The pattern is subtle enough that it doesn't distract from the serene colour scheme, but prominent enough that it adds a layer of interest to the design. The block of white from the kitchen island is grounded thanks to the interesting floor, thanks to the continuation of white it feels cohesive – not jarring.

4. Choose a standout backsplash

To break up banks of white cabinetry, consider opting for a statement kitchen tile idea in the form of a backsplash.

Choose a trending kitchen colour for this small accent - we love pale pink against an all-white look. It's a more affordable way to feature a colour without committing to an entire scheme - plus it creates necessary protection for walls against splashes and spills from cooking.

5. Divide the colour scheme

Go for a white kitchen in essence, but add a bolder colour on the bottom half of the room. In this  compact kitchen space the walls, worktops and kitchen island are bright white to open up the space, while the base cabinets are painted in a striking gunmetal grey. This is a great alternative to an all grey kitchen idea, that could overwhelm the small space.

The darker tone on the lower kitchen cabinets and the walnut wood flooring help to anchor the decorating colour, almost pushing the white walls away – to create a sense of space.

6. Keep the look bright and airy

White is the ideal colour if you're looking for small kitchen ideas, especially where windows providing natural light may be sparse. An all-white colour scheme illuminates, helping to make the space feel bigger by bouncing light around.

Skylights are a fabulous option to flood the room with light and enhance the white. But if your kitchen layout or budget don't allow for skylights, use strong overhead lighting to help make the white walls and cabinets shine bright.

7. Mix old with new for an eclectic finish

To prevent your white kitchen from looking too pristine and polished, add elements of vintage design. Industrial-style kitchen lighting and distressed ceramics can help to inject a hint of timeless vintage style to a modern finish.

The elements are still white, to keep the look cohesive, but thanks to the heritage feel of such pieces the space retains an air of eclecticism.

8. Take a tonal approach

Smart grey kitchen ideas, such as the coloured walls and flooring shown above, look beautiful when paired with all-white units and worktops. If deciding to incorporate colour options it's best to stick to a tonal colour palette. So if you're using greys, use varying hues of the same shade up to black to keep the look uniformed.

If using a warmer neutral, such as stone flooring, consider off-whites, taupe or Dulux's Brave Ground as complimentary paint colours.

9. Integrate an alternative island

Integrate an island in an alternative finish, such as natural wood, to break up the starkness of everything being white. By using white as a reverse colour, as shown on the storage drawers of this kitchen island idea, it seamlessly intertwines the two-tone finish.

Using wood as the alternative finish helps to keep the look minimal, allowing for a further accent colour to add more personality.

10. Choose white for a timeless country look

For a timeless look in the kitchen, go white country. Here, the owners have chosen white for almost everything from accessories, such as ceramics, to fittings.

It goes to show that a white room can still feel warm and welcoming as long as you include delicate details like fresh foliage, whitewashed floorboards and brass handles. The added decorative touches help to inject a touch of personality.

11. Warm up white with brass fixtures and fittings

If you're sticking to an all-white colour scheme consider ingratiating brass tones to add warmth. Instead of traditional chrome taps and sockets choose fashionable brass alternatives to warm the shades of white. This richer metallic tone will avoid making the white shades feel cold and steely.

12. Stick to a classic monochrome combo

Pairing black with white isn't exactly reinventing the wheel, design wise. Yet black and white kitchen ideas always look modern, provided you pick the right little details.

Team an all-white kitchen with black painted furniture and statement accessories to create an effortlessly chic look.

13. Create space with white

Open up a smaller kitchen space with the help of a primarily white colour scheme. The choice of white will help keep the space feeling light and airy, therefore more spacious.

Adding metallic plinths between the cabinets will help to bounce light across the room and extend the appearance of cabinetry.

14. Team concrete for contemporary cool

Polished concrete is beautiful when used in a contemporary white kitchen, particularly with statement lighting. Use it sparingly to create an organic/industrial look and it will lend a splash of natural colour to subtly stop the space from being an all-white scheme.

15. Warm up white with wooden touches

Make a feature of an engineered oak floor in an expansive room. Using different hardwearing flooring as an effective trick for creating separate zones is a clever open-plan kitchen idea.

In this kitchen, wooden accents appear throughout as the perfect complement to the flooring, and pastel-coloured pendants add a sense of fun to a grown-up scheme.

16. Not sure if white will be too stark? Try off white

You might be daunted about going white, particularly if you want a cosy kitchen. If that's the case, take inspiration from cream kitchen ideas and go for an ever-so-slightly-off white for your furniture.

In this scheme, the cook's table has made a welcome return. It perfectly suits this light room, as it's less heavy than a traditional island, and has an unfitted feel, which keeps the look informal and current.

17. Add a splashback of marvellous white marble

Marble is a beautiful option. Use it subtly to create an organic look and it will benefit from being at the centre of an all-white scheme. It's an elegant and stunning choice for a kitchen.

Look for distinct patterns and variations in tone for an entirely unique splashback or worktop. Marble isn't cheap but with its tactile charm, it's a luxury investment that will stand the test of time.

18. Make your appliances match

White appliances have had a bit of a bad rep of late, so much so that we're increasingly likely to hide them behind closed doors. But the kitchen above demonstrates just how sophisticated they can look.

Simple wooden worktops, unusual worn brass handles and a copper rail bring a rustic charm, and the hexagonal kitchen tile idea add a hint of modernity.

19. Jazz up white with sunshine yellow

Inject some personality into a white kitchen with just a couple of accent pieces in a bright colour. The yellow works really well here and warms up the look, but vibrant red kitchen ideas along with other colours such as a bright blue would do the same, as white is so versatile.

Stick to key items, so the look isn't over the top.

20. Fill a large space with white

Make the most of a big room with a huge island that's packed with helpful kitchen storage ideas, and floor-to-ceiling cupboards. As well as spotlights, this kitchen has industrial-style pendants suspended on long cables to create a cosy glow at the breakfast bar.

In a space as big as this, an all-white scheme could feel empty and stark. But the low-hung pendants break up the wide gap between the island unit and ceiling, while citrus coloured accessories and an engineered wood floor add warmth and charm.

21. Find space for a breakfast bar

A breakfast bar is the perfect way to transform a kitchen into a family and entertainment space. This room might not be the widest, but by slimming down the island the owner has managed to fit one in, in a prime position near the bi-fold doors. In summer, when the space is opened up to the garden, it doubles up as a serving counter.

22. Dress white kitchens with colourful accessories

This white kitchen doesn't rely on colour to inject personality, it's got oodles of that just from the characterful layout. The white Kitchen design features white tiled walls and floor, white units with wooden worktop and white open shelves filled with crockery and books.

The abundance of colourful accessories adds enough vibrancy without having to break from the white kitchen decorating scheme.

FAQs

What colour goes with a white kitchen?

The usual design rules apply where white is concerned. It's generally acknowledged that a totally white colour scheme can look clinical, reminding us of an operating theatre rather than a warm, welcoming room that is the 'heart of the home'.

Therefore an accent colour is always a welcome addition to inject warmth and a touch of personality. Whether through furniture choices, a statement splashback or appliances and accessories, the choice is yours.

Strong primary colours, such as yellow or red, are ideal for making an impactful contrast. Such bright colour accents are best used through freestanding appliances, lighting and accessories – all less investment and commitment. While more tonal colours, such as silver chrome, grey or black, are ideal or adding depth on a more permanent basis.

Two-tone painted kitchens with grey on the low level cabinets or a tiled splashback is a contemporary way to add an accent colour, without jarring with the brilliant white blank canvas.

Are white kitchens out of style for 2024?

White kitchens will never be out of fashion. in fact white kitchens proved to be the most Googled kitchen colour of the year! The timeless colour option is still the most popular choice for kitchen colours, despite the prominence of on-trend greys. White is a safe but sensible option that is great for re-sale value, because it can suit all tastes. White creates a blank canvas, which allows for almost any accent colour to stand out.

What countertops go best with white kitchens?

The beauty of white is that it's the ideal colour to suit any era and style of house, which is why it makes such a good blank canvas, especially in the kitchen. Thanks to its many different design aesthetics, from country to modern, any worktop finish sits comfortably alongside white cabinetry and walls.

So the question is, what look would you prefer? If you wish to take your white kitchen in a more contemporary direction, pair the elements with a white marble or quartz countertop to keep the look slick and streamlined. Alternatively a black marble-effect worktop will retain a modern feel, while welcoming a less stark monochrome accent.

For a more classic country look white kitchens are best offset with wooden kitchen worktops, such as traditional oak or a wood veneer.

Make the most of recessed LED lights for cupboards and shelving. Install them on the wall beneath the cabinetry, under the units themselves or even inside so finding ingredients is easy.

Will you go for an all-white look or mix in a secondary colour scheme?