Cream kitchen ideas for every style and budget

Cream kitchens are by no means a new phenomenon, but gone are the days when opting for a neutral kitchen meant settling for less character.

In fact, with some handy hints and tricks, a cream kitchen can actually provide the perfect base for you to express your personality with accessories, furniture and wall décor – not to mention the fact that it can easily be styled and re-styled as trends change.

So, whether you like traditional, shaker style, ultra-modern or luxury-look décor, a cream kitchen might just be the option for you. Read on to discover our favourite cream kitchen ideas, and, if you like what you see, check out our black and white kitchen ideas here!

More kitchen ideas: 

• How to give your kitchen a brand new look on a budget
• Kitchen decor colours for 2021: four looks inspired by Farrow & Ball
• Kitchen tile ideas

How to use cream in a… modern country kitchen

If you love the look of a farmhouse kitchen, take inspiration from the cottagecore trend and mix wood, brass and rustic ceramics to give a cream kitchen an inviting, homely feel.

Although the cottagecore trend is all about embracing furnishings and trinkets that remind us of the pastoral past, adding metro tiles (or painting your existing tiles with a light cream shade) can keep your space looking fresh whilst still creating a warm, country feel.

Finish the look by accessorising open shelving with stacks of unique pottery, robust bakeware and pots of homegrown herbs.

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How to use cream in a… bespoke kitchen

If you like the idea of using cream in your kitchen scheme, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should choose traditional cream units with colour-coordinated appliances, features and flooring.

Instead, achieve a bespoke look by using cream as an accent colour, teaming a cream island with dark cabinets, or vice versa.

If you’re not looking to get a new kitchen fitted, you can easily achieve this multi-tonal look by adding in a piece of cream freestanding kitchen furniture, and use neutral-toned accessories, such as rattan lighting and studded bar stools, to enhance the effect.

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How to use cream in a… rustic kitchen

If you’re looking to create a rustic look in your kitchen, linen effect wallpaper in a warm hessian shade is a great way to add character – it’s perfect for giving modern properties and new builds a bit more of a lived-in feel, whilst still keeping a space looking neutral and clean.

For a really rustic feel, add antique effect tiles and an old-fashioned brass tap. Take it one step further and use floating shelves to display Pinterest-inspired glass jars full of kitchen essentials.

How to use cream in a… modern kitchen

Often, many of us are convinced that we want an ultra-modern, sleek kitchen, but find that the effect of high-gloss, handle-less cabinets and white walls sometimes seem a touch too cold and uninviting.

The good news is that it’s totally possible to achieve a modern, minimalist kitchen that still feels warm and homely – the key is to go monochrome, but mix textures.

Pair soft cream walls with tactile cream tiles to prevent your space from looking flat, adding accessories of the same tone. Use light wooden surfaces to introduce a relaxed Scandi feel, and finish the look with polished chrome accents. Add marble accessories and some sprigs of eucalyptus for a high-end vibe.

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How to use cream in an… industrial kitchen

A cream colour palette lends itself perfectly to ‘soft industrial style’, a new trend which sees pale metallic tones combined with light surfaces to create a bright and airy space, with an industrial edge.

To achieve this look, style light cream walls and matte cream cabinets with sturdy, rustic furnishings – think metal and leather bar stools, dark wooden flooring and split face tiles.

To finish the look, make a feature of industrial-style pendant lighting with exposed bulbs and wire.