Colored or Neutral Appliances? Which Is Right for Your Kitchen?

Wed Jun 18 2025

Kitchen Design & Remodeling
Appliances

When choosing kitchen appliances, color plays a bigger role than you might think. Colored appliances are eye-catching, bold, and full of personality, while neutral finishes like stainless steel, black, or white offer long-term versatility and timeless appeal. So, how do you decide which is right for your kitchen?

This guide will walk you through the pros and cons of each option, key factors to consider, and how to make the best choice for your lifestyle and design preferences.

Colored Appliances

Colored appliances are trending in modern kitchens. From retro reds to ocean blues and matte greens, manufacturers offer an ever-expanding palette of appliance finishes to let your personality shine.

Pros

Colored appliances are great if you love making your kitchen feel personal and on-trend. Brands like Café, Viking, and KitchenAid offer a wide range of customizable appliance colors.

Colored appliances offer the following benefits.

Visual Impact: They can add a vibrant pop of color or serve as a focal point in a minimalist kitchen, helping the space feel more dynamic and expressive.
Design Coordination: Colored appliances allow you to coordinate with custom cabinetry, tile work, or accent features, resulting in a cohesive and intentional design aesthetic.
Personal Style: Choosing a colored appliance is a great way to make a bold design statement that reflects your personality and style preferences.
Unique Look: Colored appliances can help your kitchen feel more customized and distinctive compared to traditional stainless steel or white finishes.

Cons

But, as fun as colored appliances are, they’re not always the right fit for every home. Here are some practical considerations:

Trend Lifespan: What feels fresh now might feel dated in a few years. If your kitchen has more timeless elements, colored appliances might feel out of place down the road.
Replacement Concerns: If you own a colored washer and dryer and need to replace one, you may have trouble finding the exact same color again. Mismatched appliances can affect the overall design.
Resale Value: Homebuyers often prefer neutral finishes, especially stainless steel, which pairs well with most cabinet and countertop styles.
Maintenance: Darker colors tend to show fingerprints, scratches, and dents more easily than lighter or neutral options.

Neutral Appliances

Neutral appliances continue to be a go-to for many designers and homeowners. Stainless steel, black stainless, matte white, and classic black or white are popular choices that age well and blend effortlessly into almost any kitchen style.

Pros

Neutral appliances offer many benefits, including the following.

Timeless Appeal: These finishes have remained stylish for decades.
Easy to Replace or Match: If you need to update just one appliance, you’re more likely to find a match.
Better for Resale: Neutral tones appeal to a broader audience.
Low Maintenance: Some neutral finishes are fingerprint-resistant and easier to keep looking clean.

What to Consider Before Choosing

When deciding between colored or neutral appliances, here are some things to consider.

Personal Preference Longevity

Will this color still appeal to you five or ten years from now, or is it a trendy choice that could feel dated down the road? If you prefer timeless over trendy, neutrals may be a safer bet. Colorful appliances can make a bold statement now, but it’s worth considering how your tastes might evolve.

Design Compatibility

Think about how well the appliance color pairs with your existing cabinetry, flooring, backsplash, and countertops. A color that works in harmony with these elements will give your kitchen a cohesive, high-end look. Neutral finishes are more adaptable as your kitchen design changes over time.

Lighting and Color Coordination

Lighting can significantly impact how your appliance color appears in your kitchen. Natural sunlight might bring out certain undertones or cast dramatic shadows on bold finishes, while artificial lighting can affect the vibrancy or dullness of a hue.

Always try to view appliance finishes in your actual kitchen lighting or bring lighting samples to the showroom. Neutral tones tend to be more forgiving in different lighting conditions, while bold colored appliances can appear inconsistent under varied light sources.

Resale Value

If there’s a chance you may sell your home in the next few years, keep in mind how appliance colors might impact buyer appeal. Neutral finishes like stainless steel, black stainless, or matte white are generally safer choices for resale because they complement a wide range of kitchen designs. On the other hand, bold or unconventional appliance colors might polarize potential buyers, serving as either a standout feature or a mismatch depending on individual taste.

Maintenance Requirements

Some colors show wear and tear more than others. Dark or glossy finishes might highlight fingerprints, smudges, and scratches, requiring more frequent cleaning to look their best. Lighter, matte finishes tend to be more forgiving and lower maintenance.

While the most important factor is choosing something you love, keeping long-term value, coordination, and upkeep in mind can help you make a choice you'll be happy with for years to come.

Need Inspiration? Visit Mountain High Appliance

Not sure which appliance color will work best in your space? Visit one of our appliance stores in Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, Littleton, Louisville, or Denver today. Our showrooms feature a variety of kitchen setups, so you can see how different appliance finishes look in real environments, paired with cabinets, lighting, and hardware. Let our experts help you find the right finish for your style.

If you’re shopping for a new appliance, consider bringing a countertop sample or swatch with you. It’s a great way to see how the colors pair with your potential new range, refrigerator, or dishwasher in person.

FAQs About Appliance Colors

1. Do appliance color trends change often?

Yes. While stainless steel and white remain staples, trending colors change every few years. If you're going bold, make sure it's a color you'll still love down the line.

2. Can I mix colored and neutral appliances in the same kitchen?

Yes, mixing finishes is becoming more common. For example, a bold statement range in a color can pair nicely with neutral refrigerators or dishwashers.

3. Are neutral appliances easier to resell with a home?

Yes. Stainless steel and other neutral finishes appeal to a wider range of buyers, which may help with resale.

4. How do I know if a color will work in my kitchen?

Bring home finish samples, swatches, or compare them in the showroom. Look at them in different lighting conditions to be sure they coordinate well with other surfaces in your kitchen.