We spend so much time in our kitchens that it’s only natural to want our most frequented gathering space to reflect our tastes and personalities. While painting the walls is one easy way to refresh your kitchen, painting kitchen cabinets is another simple, cost-effective option for transforming the look and feel of your kitchen quickly. But what is the best color to paint kitchen cabinets? While you can choose to paint cabinets any color you’d like, the following kitchen cabinet color ideas are some of the most popular choices amongst homeowners.
Popular Kitchen Cabinet Colors
Just because a paint color is overwhelmingly popular doesn’t always mean it’s right for your space or in line with your personal aesthetic. If you’re looking for something beyond basic beige for your kitchen cabinets, you might consider one of these options. They’ll set your space apart in a surprisingly appealing way.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Yellow
While picking the right shade of yellow can be tricky, this hue is often a welcome one in the kitchen. A barely-there pale yellow can act as a welcome alternative to stark white, while a sunny yellow can add a friendly pop of color to balance out your more neutral elements. Just make sure to keep the rest of your design fairly minimal so this color can really shine.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Greige
If you’re looking for a versatile cabinet color that adds a sense of warmth, you can’t go wrong with a mix of gray and beige, or greige. Greige is a neutral paint color that looks great in most kitchens, so it’s a top choice amongst homeowners who are looking to repaint their kitchen cabinets.
Paint your cabinets greige if:
- You want to add a hint of warm color to the room.
- You want a charming, relaxed, or soothing look.
- You have furniture or decor pieces that add a pop of color to your kitchen (e.g. bright yellow stools, vibrant artwork, etc.)
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Taupe
An alternative to the ever-desirable “greige,” taupe paint will offer a bit of visual richness without competing with other kitchen design features. This sandy color may have brown, green, or gray undertones, which can make it more versatile choice for the existing style of your home. Plus, it can easily be paired with other bold colors or additional neutrals, depending on your preferences.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Deep Blue
If you want to incorporate a color in your kitchen but aren’t feeling particularly brave, blue is always a good bet. In fact, a recent Zillow analysis found that homes with blue kitchens sold for $1,809 more than expected, on average. A marine or midnight blue can offer some saturated color while still being neutral enough to pair with bolder design elements — and it won’t be nearly as extreme as a true black.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Pink
For those homeowners who aren’t afraid to be a bit daring, pink cabinets may be a great way to put a unique stamp on a kitchen. Keep in mind that you don’t need a bubblegum or flamingo pink here. A blush or ballerina pink can be subtle and sophisticated, particularly when accented with whites, grays, and golds.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets White
White remains one of the top kitchen cabinet paint colors for many reasons. Not only do white kitchen cabinets make your space look clean and inviting, they can brighten up any kitchen — even if the room has little to no natural light. White kitchen cabinets are timeless and can be painted in a variety of shades to suit your taste and complement other fixtures.
Paint your cabinets white if:
- Your kitchen is small or dark.
- You want the room’s other design elements to be the focal point.
- You can’t decide on a cabinet color — white cabinets are always a good option!
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Black
If you want your kitchen to be trendy yet timeless, painting your kitchen cabinets black can be an ideal solution. While you may not think that black cabinets scream “traditional,” adding other paint hues and warm tones on the walls, countertops or other wood accents can create a sleek, polished look that stands the test of time. Black cabinets play up the contrast with white walls and backsplash, plus look amazing in kitchens of every type and size.
Tip: Don’t Forget the Kitchen Island!
If you have a kitchen island, painting it in a dramatic, black hue can give your kitchen a more sophisticated style when paired with white cabinets.
Paint your cabinets black if: Â
- The rest of your kitchen decor is lighter in color.
- Your kitchen receives an abundance of natural light.
- You have white subway tile backsplash — black cabinets complement this style extremely well!
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Cream
All-white kitchens are still popular, but they can feel a bit sterile at times. Opting for a softer cream paint, rather than a true white, will provide some much-needed warmth. And since this a neutral that can easily coordinate with countless other tones, you can have a bit more freedom when deciding on the rest of your furnishings.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Gray
If you’re looking for a classic yet modern shade for your kitchen cabinets, gray paint can be a great choice. Gray is a versatile color that flawlessly complements traditional, contemporary, modern, or Old World kitchen styles. It comes in both warm and cool tones, so it’s easy to pair gray with a variety of backsplash designs, appliances, and countertops.
Paint your cabinets gray if:
- Your kitchen is on the smaller side or has little light. In this case, use an understated or lighter gray to open up your space.
- You want to add depth and contrast to your kitchen. In this case, use more saturated gray in a darker shade.
- You want your natural wood grain to show through. Painting wood kitchen cabinets a soft gray can let the wood grain peek through for a more rustic, natural look.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets Bright or Bold Colors
If you want to completely energize your kitchen, bright and bold paint colors like darker blues, golden yellows, and even vibrant greens can work well on kitchen cabinets. Just be conscious of how the bright paint color will coordinate with your wall paint and kitchen fixtures. You don’t want your space to look too busy!
Paint your cabinets bright or bold colors if:
- You have light or neutral wall colors.
- You want your kitchen to make a big statement.
- You want to add more interest or depth to your kitchen fixtures.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets in Pastel Colors
If you want to create a subtle pop of color in your kitchen, consider using a pastel-colored paint on your cabinets. Pastel blues, greens, and yellows can still make a statement without making your kitchen appear too dark. Soft pastels on kitchen cabinets give off a charming, sweet aesthetic in any style of kitchen; whether your space has a country, modern, or contemporary feel.
Paint your cabinets pastel if:
- You want to brighten up your kitchen but typically shy away from bold hues.
- The walls and countertops are painted white or neutral.
- You want a breezy, relaxing ambiance in your kitchen.
Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinets
Another popular look is two-toned or dual-tone kitchen cabinets as this design method can make a stunning, visual impact in any kitchen. The two-toned look is achieved by painting upper cabinets a different color than lower cabinets. You can also get this look by painting your kitchen island a contrasting color that complements your wall cabinets. There are a variety of color combinations that work well together, so any style of kitchen can benefit from this cabinet painting technique.
Paint your cabinets two-tone if:
- You want a unique, contrasted look in your kitchen.
- You want to paint your bottom cabinets black and your top cabinets white.
- You want to add a bold color to your bottom cabinets and keep your top cabinets neutral in color.
- You have extra time for painters to be inside your home. Two-tone cabinet painting takes more time than using just one color of paint.
Kitchen Color Psychology: Why Paint Selection Matters
If you don’t consider yourself to be an especially visual person, you might not have given much thought to the colors of paint you use in your home decor. But according to experts, color psychology probably has a bigger impact than you realize. And even if you don’t believe you care that much about aesthetics, your brain might.
In short, the colors you use to decorate can have major effects on the way you feel. Different hues can make us feel depressed, joyful, energized, or even hungry. You’ll want to define the purpose of the room you’ll be painting in order to zero in on the best colors for what you’re trying to achieve. If you want to stimulate socialization, a warm and earthy paint color will work best. If you’re aiming to promote relaxation and tranquility, a cooler paint color can create a sense of calm.
So what does color psychology tell us about picking paint colors in the kitchen? It may depend on some specific factors. Some homeowners might choose to incorporate the color scheme from the kitchens they recall from their childhoods, as these positive memories can associate a sense of comfort, familiarity, and happiness with this new space. Others might choose to use red hues in their kitchen and dining areas, as this can stimulate the appetite. However, keep in mind that using red can actually cause you to eat more — so if you intend to stick to a strict diet, you might want to think twice before you start painting.
Of course, nothing says you need to stick to warm tones in the kitchen. A lot of homeowners want to focus on cleanliness and brightness, as this can make them feel refreshed when they walk into the kitchen. In that case, sticking to white-adjacent neutrals with a pop or two of color may be ideal. Since blues, greens, and turquoises can make us feel bright, fresh, and calm, it might make sense to use those in your kitchen.
No matter which paint colors you ultimately decide on in your kitchen, you’ll want to give some careful consideration — and hire painting professionals — to ensure a truly stellar outcome.
Trust Your Kitchen Cabinets to Professional Interior Painters
While painting kitchen cabinets may look like a simple task, you should trust your painting project to experienced interior trim painters. A professional painting company will know exactly how to prep your kitchen cabinets to achieve the perfect paint application, and which paints and finishes will look the best and last. If you’re ready to refresh your kitchen cabinets with new paint, request a free interior painting quote today!
