Terra Cotta

A long-standing color associated with Tuscan design is the rich clay-color of terra cotta tiles. Paint your kitchen walls in this traditional color to transform it into a warm and exciting workspace.

Sunset Gold or Ochre

The range of hues for the yellow family begin with deep bold golds to muted ochre. Many designers opt for a more intense yellow hue like that of a sunflower as an accent color to give the room pop. You have many choices of this warm color and are sure to find one that works in your kitchen design.

Poppy Red and Burgundy Wine

Various hues of red can add depth and warmth to your kitchen design. You may be artistic and want to paint a trellis of grape vines as a border with bunches of green, red and purple grapes. Some kitchen designs use an accent wall painted in red. Just be sure your choice blends well with the other colors you select.

Sage or Olive Green

The hue commonly known as sage is a restive and calming color. Another green hue popular in Tuscan design is a darker one, known as olive green. Greens are often used as accent colors in a Tuscan décor with terra cotta used as the main backdrop. You can certainly choose a green for your wall color and sprinkle in some terra cotta colors for accent. All of these choices will give you a very appealing kitchen design.

Mediterranean Blues

Don’t forget the light blue sky or the Mediterranean Sea colors that range from aqua to deep-water blues. Tuscan blues can add a splash of color either as the main wall color or as an accent wall. If you’re going for a warmer color palette, then opt for a gold or terra cotta hue for the walls and sprinkle blue accent colors throughout the kitchen.

Soft Adobe or Beige

This is a subtle color for either an excellent wall color or as a tie between two stronger color choices, such as red and blue or yellow and green. For resell value, walls painted in a Tuscan tan color appeal to most potential buyers.

Colors of Nature

A Tuscan color palette has staying power since it reflects the varying colors of nature.

• The color of a brilliant sunny day or cheery sunflower can be found in yellows and golds.
• A vibrant landscape of poppy and lavender fields or low-hanging grape clusters are repeated in Tuscan reds and purples.
• Deep cobalt blue and cool turquoise or teal bring the sea and sky into your home.
• The earthy browns of rich soils and the restive greens of olive tree groves and endless rows of grapevines relate a feeling of nostalgia.

The following chart gives excellent examples of various Tuscan colors that you can use in your kitchen design.

Painting Techniques for Your Tuscan Kitchen

You might associate stucco walls with Tuscan design. Plaster walls are a common feature, but you don’t need to go to the expense of stuccoing or plastering your walls. You can use a simple painting application technique to give the faux look of stucco.

Wash Effect with Rag Technique

One of the most popular techniques for a Tuscan kitchen is a wash created by removing paint with a rag. If you use a wash, you can use just one color and thin the paint so it dries unevenly. Otherwise, you’ll typically apply a base coat and then apply a darker color for the wash effect.

Sponge Painting Technique

The most commonly used technique for an aged Tuscan wall is sponge painting. There are a couple of ways you can approach this paint project. You can use one hue of the color you selected for the entire project. You’ll create contrast by the sponging technique. This will remove paint while also forcing paint to be concentrated in areas. This will give the wall a natural shadowing.

Another technique you can use if you’re feeling brave is to select two hues, one light and one dark. Paint the wall with the light hue. Then take a sponge or rag to apply the darker hue. Don’t worry about making a mess. It’s only paint and you can correct any mistakes while the wall is still wet. Taking on a project and doing the painting yourself should be fun and allow you to give your kitchen a personal touch.