This Is the All-Time Best Color for Kitchen Cabinets, According to Designers
Kitchens are a pivotal room in any home — they’re often referred to as the heart of the home, and for good reason. They’re where you cook all of the meals for your family, where you talk to your kids and hear all about their day at school, and where you gather with friends when you’re entertaining. With so much time being spent in kitchens, choosing the best color for your kitchen is very important.
Whether you’re refreshing or remodeling your kitchen, or you’ve moved into a new home and want to customize the space to your liking, one big choice you’ll get to make is what color to paint your cabinets. “Kitchen cabinets are such a huge part of any kitchen design — they set the tone for the whole space. It’s always exciting to see how the right cabinet colors can bring a kitchen to life,” says Jan Odesanya, principal interior designer at Mondän & Co. Interiors.
Painting kitchen cabinets can be a little tricky because you have to think about how that paint color will coordinate with your walls as well as your existing countertops and flooring. You want the colors to work with each other, not against each other. So how exactly do you pick a kitchen cabinet color?
I reached out to five designers to pick their brains and get their tried-and-true advice along with their favorite color choices.
How to Choose a Kitchen Cabinet Color
The first step to choosing a kitchen cabinet color is to consider your existing wall colors. “I always start by assessing the undertones of the wall color. If the walls are a cool gray, I’d lean toward cool-toned cabinets like whites or blues. For warmer walls, creamy whites or earthy greens work beautifully. It’s also about balance — if the walls are bold, opt for a neutral cabinet color to prevent visual overwhelm,” says Kanika Bakshi Khurana, principal interior designer and founder of Kanika Design.
In addition to your walls, you should also think about the permanent fixtures in your kitchen: the countertops, backsplash, and flooring. “Your cabinet color should either complement or contrast thoughtfully with your countertops and backsplash. If you have busy stone or veining, opt for a more subdued cabinet color. If your counters are minimal, this is a great opportunity to introduce color through cabinetry. The flooring should ground the space — if it’s warm-toned, lean toward warm cabinet hues, and if it’s cooler, balance with a complementary shade,” says Jessika Gatewood, owner and principal designer of Gatewood Designs.
Odesanya adds, “Don’t forget about the hardware! Warm cabinets pair beautifully with brushed brass, gold, or champagne finishes, while cool cabinets look best with matte black, polished chrome, or brushed nickel for a sleek, modern vibe.”
Last but not least, designers recommend always swatching and sampling all of the paint colors you’re considering. “Paint can look completely different depending on the light in your kitchen — always test a sample on-site before committing,” Odesanya advises. Seeing how the colors look in both natural light and artificial light is the key to avoiding any surprises, Khurana explains.
If you want a bold color but don’t want to commit to painting all of your cabinets, try out an accent color. “Islands are a great opportunity to introduce a new cabinet color into your kitchen, without the time and expense of painting or replacing existing cabinets,” says Diana Hathaway, interior designer and color expert at Gorgeous Color. “Consider your kitchen island as a blank canvas that can be customized to suit your style.”
Accent colors can also work for shelves and trim. “Open shelves in a contrasting hue can add depth, while a painted trim or range hood can subtly tie the whole color scheme together,” Gatewood says.
Read on for the best kitchen cabinet color, some runner-ups, and several inspirational color palettes to help you get started.
The Best Kitchen Cabinet Color
It’s worth repeating here that kitchen cabinet colors should match the tone of your existing wall color, so if any of the colors below won’t work for your kitchen, that’s okay!
That being said, after chatting with the designers, the most popular color for kitchen cabinets is navy.
Navy is a great color choice if you want the cabinets to be the statement piece in your kitchen (whereas if you want the walls to be the focal point, it’s best to leave your cabinets neutral), according to Odesanya. Not only is navy great to use as an all-over cabinet color, but it’s also a great choice for an accent color — think a bold kitchen island — or even in a two-tone kitchen. Several of the designers I spoke to mentioned navy as a preferred color for lower cabinets (especially when paired with light colored upper cabinets).
One shade of navy that was mentioned by several designers as a favorite color for kitchen cabinets is Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy. Michelle Shapiro, interior designer at Dwellier Design, says, “Hale Navy looks absolutely stunning on base cabinets — it’s a deep, beautiful tone that pairs beautifully with brass hardware.”
Another notable navy shade is Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue. Calling it a “deep, moody blue that makes a bold statement,” Khurana says that Hague Blue “pairs beautifully with brass hardware and lighter countertops, creating a timeless and luxurious look.”
Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray (which, despite the name, is a rich blue color with charcoal undertones), is a versatile color. “It’s a wonderful choice if you’re going to mix colors in an upper and lower cabinet scheme, and it’s a classic look that works in modern, transitional, and modern farmhouse decorating styles,” Hathaway explains.
5 Other Great Kitchen Cabinet Colors
While navy was the most popular color selection, the designers I spoke to also listed a mix of greens, whites, beiges, grays, and blacks among their favorite colors for kitchen cabinets.
Green
Another popular color choice among the designers I interviewed was green — specifically sage green. Everyone agreed that sage is a calming color that makes your kitchen feel inviting and timeless. It’s great when you want to add some color without feeling too overwhelming.
“Green cabinetry continues to trend in the kitchen, and it’s no surprise. The perfect green can give your kitchen a homey and inviting vibe. Benjamin Moore’s Saybrook Sage is one of their most popular green paint colors due to its beautiful balance of gray and yellow undertones,” Hathaway says. “We also love Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke, which is a lovely sage that really brings nature indoors,” Shapiro says.
If you want a bolder statement color, dark green also complements a lot of styles and looks elegant. Khurana is a fan of Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green. “For something earthy and grounded, this rich green feels both bold and soothing. It’s a great choice for an island or lower cabinets, especially if paired with natural wood accents,” she says.
Gray
Gray is a great neutral that looks modern and works well with a variety of materials, including countertops, backsplashes, and flooring. “Benjamin Moore’s Knoxville Gray has a slight teal undertone, which gives it a little more personality than a standard gray. It works really well in spaces with wood flooring or neutral backsplashes,” Odesanya says.
White
When in doubt, you can never go wrong with white. White is a classic color that will never go out of style, like Sherwin-Williams Pure White.
“This crisp and clean white is perfect for modern or transitional kitchens, especially if you’re aiming for an airy, open feel,” Khurana says. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster is another great option. “This color is a fabulous white — it has just enough warmth to feel welcoming without yellowing the space,” Shapiro says.
Beige
Beige is another well-loved neutral that feels timeless while making your kitchen look warm and inviting. Gatewood loves Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige. “It’s a warm, greige-inspired neutral that strikes the perfect balance between beige and gray. It brings an inviting, soft warmth without feeling too yellow or dated, making it a timeless choice for kitchen cabinetry,” Gatewood says.
Another beige that pairs well with both warm and cool tones is Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter. “It’s incredibly versatile and complements a variety of wall colors, making it ideal for homeowners who want a neutral yet sophisticated backdrop,” explains Khurana.
Black
Black is a color that can add a lot of contrast in a kitchen. Plus, it goes well with modern and traditional styles. “If you’re looking for something bold, Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black is it. It’s a soft black with a hint of warmth, so it doesn’t feel too harsh. It’s fantastic for lower cabinets or an island when paired with lighter stone countertops,” Odesanya says.
The Best Kitchen Cabinet Color Palettes
Still not sure which kitchen cabinet color to pick? I looked at Apartment Therapy’s nearly 40,000 kitchen images and selected the very best seven color combinations that will give you some inspiration for your kitchen. Happy painting!
Gray and White
The gray cabinets in this U.K. kitchen are both neutral and versatile, and they don’t feel visually overwhelming. The cool tone of the cabinets contrasts with the warmth of the wooden shelving, allowing the space to feel balanced. White countertops and tile flooring finish the room, which is a perfect blend of modern and classic.
Forest Green and White
Forest green is a bold — yet soothing — color choice for kitchen cabinets. In this East Sussex kitchen, forest green cabinetry, including a matching beadboard kitchen island, is the star of the show. The white countertops and backsplash, along with the beige walls, bring in some contrast and prevent the green from feeling too overpowering.
Sage Green and Orange
These sage green lower cabinets create a calming and inviting vibe in this funky Massachusetts kitchen, especially when paired with custom slatted wooden upper cabinets. Orange and white checkerboard tile floors add contrast and bring some vintage flair to the room. The completed look is striking and energetic, while still feeling relaxing and warm.
Black and Navy Blue
Black is another bold color choice for cabinets that adds contrast in a kitchen and works well with a variety of styles. In this Pennsylvania kitchen, black cabinets are paired with another bold color: navy blue. The black cabinets ground the space, and the navy blue walls and barstools help create a sleek color palette that feels moody. Wooden floors and gold light fixtures balance out the look and bring some warmth into the room.
Navy Blue and White
This Brooklyn kitchen’s navy blue cabinets are the statement piece. Thanks to the rich, deep tones of the cabinets, brass hardware, and carrara marble countertops, the entire kitchen looks elegant and luxurious. White walls help reflect light and prevent the dark blue from overpowering the space, making it feel open and bright.
Beige and Oak
Everything about this Barcelona kitchen is warm and inviting. The beige cabinets, oak wooden countertop, and marble patterned backsplash all work together to create a timeless look that feels clean, light, and airy. All of the neutral elements work well with the brass hardware, which makes this space feel even more luxurious.
White and Green
If you’re having a tough time deciding on a cabinet color, white is always a safe choice. In this Los Angeles kitchen, when paired with a foliage patterned wallpaper, a vintage wooden “island,” and hanging lampshade pendant lights, the white cabinets serve as a quiet backdrop that allow all of the bolder elements to stand out.
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