For decades, whites and off-whites have been the go-to colors for kitchens. And for good reason—they are easy, adaptable hues that give off an air of crisp efficiency. Just as our taste in food has become more eclectic, our taste in color and decoration has become more adventurous as well. The old rules have relaxed; whites are still as reliable as ever, but now almost any color can find a place in the kitchen.

So where to begin? Here are three colors we love: one from the blue and green, cool half of the color wheel, one from the warm reds and yellows, and one from neutrals. Use them as starting points for your own color journey; because color is such a chameleon, changing with its surroundings as well as the light and time of day, you may have to tweak these suggestions a little to suit your own kitchen setting.