You don't need to follow a particular pattern while painting the kitchen. It is one of the few places where you don't need to stick to a particular (conventional) style and whatever style you follow looks good in kitchen, unless it is not awkward to look at. But let me tell you that painting kitchen is a very ( I mean very) long process as you have to paint every hook and corner.
One advantage of painting in the kitchen is you can try different ways of painting. For the cabinets, you can just add a splash of colors and if you do it with right mix of colors, it looks really great. Nothing looks awkward in kitchen. If you do the same splashing of colors in bed room or living room, it may not look very good. But rules of painting are flexible when it comes to kitchen.
You have to have a clear thought about color schemes you are going to use for the kitchen before starting the job. You can go for a variety of colors in kitchen. You can use more than one color for the whole room, though three colors are a good choice.
Check the magazines for similar kitchen as you have and when you shop for paint colors, take these books along with you. Before buying the color which you thought was there in the book, just check the color of the paint with the one in the book. Buy the colors from a reliable brand only. Check the compositions before buying.
You can try a mix of contrast colors for the kitchen as they look good together on kitchen walls. On the other hand, you can also try using many shades of single color for the kitchen. This makes the kitchen look more appealing. This particular style is getting popular these days.
Don't forget the fact that some colors look different under light. So, while buying any paint, keep this in mind. Think about the type of lights your kitchen have and check the paints at the retailer itself.
There are some colors which are said to be very suitable for kitchens and dining rooms. Colors like red have the ability to evoke appetite in people. It is better to go for such colors. If you think that painting the whole kitchen in red makes it look loud, you can try it on a single wall while painting the others in some neutral colors.
Color the ceiling in lighter shades to give it a spacious look. If the ceiling of your kitchen is of tray type, you can use two contrast colors by painting the ceiling in lighter shade while highlighting the angled portions in relatively darker shade.
