Restaurants

Dishwashing Colour Palette for Restaurants

Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.

Explore the ideas
Straight kitchen cabinets with a long counter and under-cabinet lighting
Service inspiration: keep task surfaces and storage easy to reach.

Compare the options

Set the brief
Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
Compare
Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
Before buying
Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.
Worked example

A powder room has no window, and a chosen dark tile makes the small vanity area feel visually compressed.

Test tile, grout, and paint together under the planned fixture rather than relying on showroom light. Keep the strongest contrast on a selected feature and preserve clear visibility around basin edges.

How to test it

Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.

Apply it to this space
Layout
Create a one-way dirty-to-clean sequence with a drop-off point separate from outgoing service.
Detail
Choose slip-resistant flooring and moisture-tolerant wall finishes; keep racks close to clean storage.
Trade-off
A generous wash area helps peak flow but uses valuable back-of-house floor area.
  • Follow a used plate through the full cycle
  • Check splash and drainage around the machine
Kitchen with pale green base cabinets and a continuous tiled backsplash
Service inspiration: choose surfaces that can be wiped along work areas.

The Elixir portfolio

Details worth a closer look

Photographs for design inspiration
Parallel kitchen with teal cabinets and a continuous counter run
Service inspiration: organize equipment along opposing work runs.

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