Consumer demand for timeless design and personalisation meet with the interior trend for painted kitchen furniture

Woodford paint-to-order, from Caple, boasts a super skinny shaker frame, cross-rail doors and flat cornice and pelmet.

When national retailer Howdens introduces paint to order kitchens for the first time, and Omega invests in inhouse paint facilities, it reflects a seismic design shift in the market.

Painted kitchens have not only grown over the past couple of years but are now fast coming to the fore.

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Design manager at Symphony Josie Medved comments: “The popularity of painted kitchen furniture – and the subsequent sales – has seen steady increases year-on-year”.

While, managing director of Daval Simon Bodsworth is even more enthusiastic: “There has been strong growth in painted kitchens as consumers have sought to combine beauty and utility in the living space.”

Coloured Shakers

But why has the painted kitchen gained such favour, is it tied in with refreshed Shaker styles providing a perennially popular look?

Howdens has launched a selection of bespoke paint-to-order timber kitchens, for the first time, including Chilcomb which comes in 24 colours

Josie Medved of Symphony states: “The traditional looking painted kitchen is a timeless classic and is perfect for period properties, but looks equally as good in a modern house.

“Being such a classic style, we predict they will continue to be on-trend for a long time.”

However, the painted kitchen is not slavishly tied to the classic look, as the Shaker is a chameleon design.

Simon Bodsworth of Daval explains: “Shaker design influences have remained strong in 2023, influenced by both Scandi and Japandi styles to create a new universal design.”

Moreover, it is the ability to personalise a scheme with a judicious splash of colour or carefully edited and layered palette, which has driven painted kitchen sales.

And commercial director of Brandt Design Julia Steadman says it meets the trend for customisation, adding: “Current trends tell us that individuality is key when undertaking a new renovation project and painted kitchen furniture is definitely a big part of this.”

Natural inspiration

But while consumers may seek to embrace individuality, interestingly a hive mind sees a focus on a palette of nature-inspred colours.

Cotswood is a classic in-frame painted collection, from Crown Imperial, and available in a choice of 23 painted shades, as well as a primed finish.

It’s the experience of Simon Bodsworth, who comments: “We are finding that cool, calm and collected colours are the way forward for creating a grounding kitchen living space in 2023.

Look for rich blues and greens, alongside pale neutral tones, and quintessential greys are providing the perfect palette.”

And furniture manager of Caple Doug Haswlle agrees, stating: “Among he emerging colours, green has taken centre stage as the most popular choice.

From soft and pale greens to deep and dark shades, green has found its way into kitchen décor in various forms.

Alongside green, darker blues and indigo have also gained traction as popular painted colours. These rich tones bring depth and sophistication.”

Design advantages

But does the painted kitchen offer any genuine design advantages, rather than just a wide choice of colours?

Langdale is manufactured in a grained foil finish and available, from Symphony, in Fern Green (pictured), Providence Blue and Indigo.

In fact, industry experts believe the painted finish can help tie in neighbouring living spaces.

“Painted kitchens provide the customer such a wide choice of both colour and door style and can emulate a bespoke furniture look to compliment the other furniture within the open plan living spaces so many homeowners create now for modern social living and entertainment”, says retail director of Omega PLC James Bishton.

And Julia Steadman concurs, stating painted kitchen furniture can pull together design styles in a home, as she explains: “In my experience, it can really come into its own when creating something special in a sympathetically restored property or in a kitchen extension to bridge the gap between old and new.

“This means that the scheme as a whole can feel very individual and elevate the look and feel of the whole property.”

In this cost-conscious times, and with consumers looking for greater value and even sustainable solutions to interior design, a painted kitchen offers the solution. The finish can be touched up and even recoated as fashions change.

“Painted doors can be overpainted if the homeowner wants to change the colour at a later date, making it more cost effective than swapping a whole new kitchen.

“Small amounts of damage can be touched up – Symphony supplies a pot of paint and a touch up pen/brush with all orders”, explains Josie Meved.

Cost-effective options

For consumers who want a painted kitchen but can’t stretch to the premium look, there are more cost-effective option too in a foil finish.

Sachsenkuchen Donna is a Shaker kitchen which comes in 32 painted shades, as well as over 3,000 special colours.

Symphony offers painted effects with its Harvard and Cranbrook range and Howdens has also introduced Shaker styles – Halesworth and Bridgmere – in paint effect finishes.

James Bishton expands on this: “We have a wide price ladder within our painted collection.  We paint ‘in house’ on three different door material substrates.

“The solid Ash doors are popular, however customers can replicate with lower priced kitchens in a smooth MDF or a painted foil.

“In our most popular colourways, we provide a non-painted foil in both grained or smooth shaker from stock in an entry price point. “

Housing stock support

But what is the longevity of the interior trend for panted kitchens?

Part of the Novus brand is Signature shown here in Painted Graphite and Setosa in Spitfire Blue

Industry experts believe the market is only likely to grow over the next couple of years, Julia Steadman concludes: “Given the age and variety of the housing stock in the UK, I envisage that the painted kitchen will continue to surprise and delight us all for many years to come, whether consumers are drawn to quiet luxury or dramatic choices when it comes to their choice of colour.”