There's more to the modern kitchen than a whiter shade of pale Gone are the days when the only colour options for the kitchen were white or natural wood. Whilst both are still popular choices, the range of colourways now available to those looking to revitalise their kitchens is staggering. So how do you make sure you end up with a kitchen to die for, rather than one you'll never enter without wearing sunglasses? The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association offers a few tips.

4Fairy has created a style twist to getting soapy. The brand has teamed-up with Celia Birtwell, Linda Barker and Louise Redknapp to design vinyls for dishwasher doors. The three limited edition vinyls will be available online throughout June on the Fairy Dish website (www.fairy-dish.com) at £5 each and all proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation 8If you really can't be sure what colours you like, choose painted wood for your kitchen cupboards. That way it's easy to change your mind if you decide the colour's just not for you.

8If you are going for the ultra-modern contemporary look, choose a high gloss finish with a bold colour. Red is currently very trendy.

8KBSA research has found that white and cream are still the most popular colours for kitchen units. However you can add contrasting colour highlights with furnishings and accessories.

8Kettles and toasters are no longer just stainless steel or white plastic. Choose them in an array of colours to match your bread bin, biscuit barrel and tea towels, and tone with the overall theme of your kitchen décor.

8If your kitchen is a dark room with little natural light, take care with your choice of colour. A light tone will be better unless you like the idea of living in a cave!

8If you are going for a bold colour, make sure you know what it's going to be like in situ. Take a sample door home with you, put it where you're planning to fit it and look at it in bright daylight, in gloomy weather and at night: colours can subtly change depending on the light reflecting off them.

Appliances are still known as white goods, even though they are now more often silver or dark grey. Some manufacturers are even producing washing machines covered in stripes, polka dots, flowers and other zany patterns. They can look stunning against a plain white backdrop. Just make sure you can live with them long term before you take the plunge!