Stainless Appliance Finishes & Color

Cabinets, countertops and appliances are the biggest expenses when remodeling a kitchen. That's why most homeowners pick neutral colors that will look great for many years. A backsplash is the easiest way to add more color with paint, tile or stone. Manufacturers are now offering appliance finishes that can also add color. We'll explore the colored stainless and bright colors available today.

Appeal of Stainless Appliance Finishes

First let's look at the benefits of stainless steel which have topped the list of appliance finishes since GE introduced a full line of stainless steel appliances in 1999 (more about GE's appliance history).

• Stainless steel has been used in commercial kitchens for years because it’s easy to clean and can take a beating …
• Leading to stainless steel appliances that show you’re serious about cooking when you invest in equipment professional chefs use.
• Stainless steel appliances are gender-neutral, reflecting a new attitude about who's cooking.
• Stainless appliances are durable. They rarely scratch, they resist stains and rust and they'll keep looking like new for years.
• Whether you have natural wood or painted cabinets with white, marble countertops, stainless appliances blend seamlessly. You can also find lots of coordinating items like toasters, blenders and even stainless sinks.

To be fair, many stainless appliances show fingerprints and smudges. They're not all magnetic and the biggest disadvantage is the higher cost.

Colored Stainless is the Newest Appliance Finish

Creative manufacturers in response to the popularity of stainless finishes, are offering lots of new colored stainless choices. Don't get fooled by the catchy names for these colors and finishes. Take time to visit your local appliance retailer to see and touch these appliances. For those who are curious, Architectural Restoration has a nice review of appliance colors from the 1920s up to today's black stainless.

• GE appliance finishes – now include black stainless in addition to traditional and slate finishes.
• Samsung's stainless menu – includes black stainless and recently two new colors, Tuscan (shown above) and Champagne. They're also focused on appliances for the smart home.
• LG appliance finishes – are competitive with black matte, black stainless and what they're calling “textured stainless (shown below)”.

• Whirlpool appliance choices include white, stainless, black and black stainless.

Mixed Metals with Appliance Hardware

You're used to picking out cabinet pulls and/or knobs. Some appliance manufacturers now offer similar options for their appliances. Remember a few years back when mixing cabinet finishes gained popularity. Now you can mix things up with a metal that compliments the color of your appliances. If you want to explore mixed metals more, read 8 Tips for Mixing Metals in Home Decor.

Here are examples from GE (above and below) … but keep watching to see who else offers these soon.

But wait, I promised you bold colors too. They're even more expensive than colored stainless but that's what's great about owning a home … you get to finish it the way you want!

Appliance Finishes Bright & Bold

It's impossible to capture the magic in these beautiful appliances, so we'll let the photos do the talking.

Hopefully you've gotten some inspiration here and we're here to help with more ideas, each and every month. If you're looking for new appliances, check out 5 Tips for Buying a Refrigerator.