How to Decorate in Red & White for a Kitchen

Jazz up the kitchen with a fresh coat of red paint.

Red and white combined creates a vibrant, brilliant hue that can be modern or classic. Small doses of red applied to a wall or kitchen floor provides high impact to the room. The bright hue mixed with the neutral shade of white is timeless. Decorating with white and red can be as simple as a favorite collection of dinner plates or an entire kitchen wallpapered in a whimsical pattern. So embrace this delightful and colorful combination to add a touch of drama to your kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Glass tile
• Subway tile
• Sandpaper
• Trowel
• Mastic
• Grout
• Rubber grout floater
• Sponge
• Dry cloth
• Caulk
• Decorative accessories
• Rugs
• Seat cushions
• Artwork
• Picture frames
• Paint

Instructions

Backsplash

1. Install a tile backsplash in red and white glass tiles. Create a mosaic effect for a bold design. Opt for white subway tiles for a classic, timeless design. Accent the all-white tiles with a red tile border.

2. Remove all outlet covers and switch plates. Sand the wall with sandpaper to roughen the surface and wipe clean. Using a trowel, apply a layer of tile mastic in a sweeping motion and cover the entire wall.

3. Firmly press each tile into the mastic and continue until all tiles are set. Allow the mastic to dry for 24 hours.

4. Mix a batch of tile grout and scoop the grout with a rubber grout floater over the surface of the tiles to grout the joints. Pack the grout deep between each joint.

5. Clean the surface with water and a clean soft sponge. Wipe diagonally to ensure you don't pull grout from the joints.

6. Wait 30 minutes for the grout to set. Buff off with a dry cloth until the backsplash is clean.

7. Squeeze a thin line of caulk in the same color as the grout around the edge of the backsplash, including the corners and between the tiles. Smooth the caulk with your finger.

Accessories

1. Incorporate pops of red with decorative kitchen accessories like cookware and utensils. Create a focal point in an open kitchen cabinet or bookcase with a set of white and red plates or vases.

2. Place area rugs that contain red and white around the kitchen for pops of color. Install a symphony of red shades using decorative seat cushions over chairs or bar stools.

3. Install artwork in the kitchen that incorporates brilliant shades of red and white like botanical prints of red or white flowers, or an abstract painting with splashes of red. Use red picture frames to showcase black-and-white photographs.

Painting

1. Paint the kitchen floor red to define the space and add a dose of energy. Go for a fire engine shade for a bold choice in a classic kitchen. Paint a white border around the red floor to help define the space.

2. Complement a sleek, modern kitchen with a rich tomato red that's less flashy to help tone down the cold feel of stainless steel appliances and provide a rich, warm ambiance.

3. Paint the insides of wooden or dark kitchen cabinets white to define the space and help showcase colorful kitchen collections like plates and glass jars. Paint the legs of the kitchen table candy-apple red to add a burst of unexpected color that looks attractive in any kitchen style.

Tips & Warnings

• Vary the shades of red to prevent an overdose of one color in the kitchen.

• Keep in mind that small doses of red or white or a combination of both creates high impact to the kitchen.

References

• Country Living: Decorating with Red
• This Old House: How to Install a Tile Backsplash
• House Beautiful: White Kitchens