What an absolute treat it was to watch the sunny yellow kitchen makeover in this week’s episode of Changing Rooms on Channel 4. Designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen for mother and son, Sonya and Nathaniel, the kitchen proves that yellow is back for good. If you’re feeling inspired and looking for kitchen colour ideas, why not update your own cook space with paint? Our colour wizard, Marianne Shillingford, shares her ideas for recreating the look.

Some all-white kitchens are on the verge of looking too clinical and there’s nothing cheery about that. But you don't need to spend a fortune and have brand new cabinets installed to refresh your space. Simple to do, you can inject colour into yours with a paint update just like Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen did in this family kitchen (below) in West Yorkshire. Painted with stunningly smooth Eggshell in zesty Butter Cup with warm Sky Blue, gentle Beachcomb Grey and vibrant Boathouse Blue, the makeover brings a new lease of life to the room. 

Marianne’s take on the yellow kitchen? Contrasting Mustard Blanket on the island with Fire Wood for the base units. The colours for the kitchen cupboards are tied together beautifully with Wild Mushroom as a kitchen feature wall. We love its 70s feel, which is bang on-trend for 2022! Watch our video above to see how the scheme comes together.

Shades of sunshine

It’s no surprise that yellow is associated with sunshine, so it works fabulously in a north-facing kitchen that is starved of natural light. It’s an instant mood-booster as well, making it ideal for a busy, family kitchen that will host lots of activity. And it works in all sizes of rooms, too. In a small kitchen that’s sole purpose is cooking, you can afford to be more daring and try it on all four walls, whereas in a large space you can experiment with colour blocking and zoning.

Play around with colour options if rich golden hues are not your thing – Dulux has lots of paint colours for kitchen walls. Have fun and happy cooking in your new, colourful kitchen!

Marianne’s insider tip: To keep it modern, choose colours with warmer tones for a grown-up vibe. 

Don’t miss the next episode of Changing Rooms on Wednesday at 8pm on Channel 4 – and stream this week's show here.