Key Points
- White, green, gray, blue, and wood-toned kitchen cabinets remain the most flexible and stylish options for today’s homes.
- Choosing the right cabinet color depends on your layout, light levels, and the look you want to create.
- Sampling paint colors and using the correct finish, like semi-gloss or satin, ensures your cabinets look good and stay durable over time.
Color Me Impressed
Thinking about switching up your kitchen cabinets, but not sure which color will actually look good and last? Tired of the same old white-and-gray combos and want something with a bit more personality?
This post breaks down the most popular kitchen cabinet colors, what styles they match with, and how to pick one that suits your space and lifestyle.
By the end, you’ll know which shades will bring warmth, style, or bold energy to your kitchen remodel.
What Are the Best Kitchen Cabinet Colors Right Now?
Choose white, green, blue, gray, or wood cabinet colors to create a timeless kitchen that’s easy to update. These colors either expand space, add depth, or create bold focal points.
White and Bright Shades
If you want a clean, open look, bright white cabinets are the classic choice.
They reflect natural light and make even small kitchens feel as open and airy as the glass-front shops along Mill Creek Town Center on a sunny afternoon.
Shades like Alabaster or Extra White add just enough warmth to avoid feeling sterile, especially when paired with warm metal fixtures or natural wood countertops.
White cabinets also make it easy to update other design features later—whether that means swapping backsplash tile, adding new hardware, or repainting the walls.
They suit both modern and traditional kitchens, offering flexibility and timeless appeal.
If you’re designing an all white kitchen, consider adding contrast through lighting or flooring to keep the room from feeling flat.
Various Shades of Green
Green is having a major moment in kitchen cabinetry because it strikes a perfect balance between calm and character.
Earthy hues like Lafayette Green or Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke ground the space and pair beautifully with brass hardware or cream countertops.
A deeper olive or muted teal can make your kitchen feel cozy without feeling dark.
Lighter tones, like soft sage or blue-green, add a refreshing and organic touch, especially if your kitchen gets plenty of light.
Green cabinetry works with both rustic and modern layouts, letting you create a nature-inspired look that feels rich but not overwhelming.
Navy and Dark Blue Tones
Navy and deep blue cabinets bring depth, sophistication, and a sense of calm to any kitchen.
These colors act like neutrals but still add personality, especially when balanced with brass accents or crisp white countertops.
Benjamin Moore’s Witching Hour and Hale Navy are two shades that offer both drama and versatility.
Navy is especially good in kitchens with bright walls or light flooring, creating a strong contrast while maintaining harmony.
Pairing these cabinets with stainless steel appliances or gold fixtures keeps the space sleek and polished.
Medium to Dark Gray
Gray cabinetry is the chameleon of kitchen design.
From pale greige to charcoal, it adapts to nearly any style, whether industrial or farmhouse.
Medium grays like Forged Steel offer a balanced tone that feels cozy but not too dark.
Darker options like Peppercorn bring moody elegance to a space.
When paired with marble or white countertops, gray cabinets provide contrast and visual depth without making the kitchen feel heavy.
If you’re working with a small kitchen, lighter gray helps reflect light and expand the room’s feel.
In larger kitchens, darker gray cabinetry can act as a beautiful grounding element, especially with semi-gloss or satin finishes.
Dark Wood Cabinets
Wood cabinets are back in a big way, offering warmth and character that painted finishes can’t match.
Rich walnut, espresso, or even classic oak cabinetry brings texture and depth to modern kitchens while keeping a timeless look.
Medium to dark wood stains also hide daily wear and smudges better than lighter paints. These cabinets look stunning when paired with cream walls, stainless steel appliances, and warm lighting.
If you’re trying to balance rustic charm with modern touches, choose a simple flat-panel design or Shaker-style cabinet to let the natural grain stand out.
Bold Accent Colors
If you’re ready to step away from neutrals, bold cabinet colors can completely transform your kitchen.
Bright hues like Farrow & Ball’s Arsenic or Sherwin-Williams Amaryllis bring energy and personality into the space, echoing the colorful pop-up booths at the Bothell Farmers Market each summer.
These tones work best in moderation—try painting only the island or a section of upper cabinets for contrast.
Bold color choices shine in modern layouts with lots of natural light and sleek surfaces.
For a vibrant look, pair a teal or coral shade with neutral walls and light countertops.
Just keep the finish balanced: a satin finish softens bold paint, while a high gloss finish can make bright colors feel sleek and eye-catching.
What other home design trends are popular?
Our Clients Love These Kitchen Cabinet Colors
Bluish grays have been popular, and white is also still a classic color. When using woodgrain, we see a wide range from light to dark tones.
My personal favorite combo we have done lately is island cabinets that were Color- SW2819 Downing Slate, and outer cabinets were Colonial White.
Avoid These Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
1. High-Gloss Pure Black
While matte black or soft charcoal can look stunning, a high-gloss jet black finish tends to show fingerprints, smudges, and dust constantly. It also absorbs light, making the kitchen feel smaller or more closed-in—especially in spaces that lack natural light.
2. Primary Red
Bright, fire-engine red cabinets are bold, but often too intense for most homeowners. They clash with many wall and countertop tones, tend to dominate the space, and can feel overwhelming over time.
3. Neon or Ultra-Saturated Colors
Colors like lime green, hot pink, or electric blue may feel fun at first, but can quickly lose their appeal. These tones don’t offer long-term flexibility, can date the kitchen fast, and rarely align with resale expectations.
4. Overly Yellowed Creams or Beiges
Some aged off-white or yellowed-beige cabinet colors can make the kitchen look dingy or outdated. Instead, opt for fresher, cleaner tones like warm greige or soft taupe if you want warmth without the worn-out look.
5. Orange-Toned Oak or Cherry Stains
Strong orange or red undertones in wood finishes were popular in the early 2000s but often feel dated now. They’re harder to pair with modern backsplashes and countertops, and can make the kitchen feel darker or more closed off.
Choosing Kitchen Cabinet Colors Based on Style and Function
For Bright, Clean, Family-Friendly Kitchens
If you’re designing around kids, pets, or frequent visitors, your kitchen needs to handle a lot without feeling chaotic.
White cabinets remain a favorite because they reflect light, hide in plain sight, and match almost anything.
A bright white, like Chantilly Lace or Simply White, keeps the look crisp.
A softer cream can tone it down without going beige.
Just remember that all white spaces might show wear faster, especially around drawers and high-touch surfaces.
For Modern or Minimalist Homes
Sleek and simple design works best with cool tones and strong contrasts.
Matte black or dark gray cabinets paired with white countertops and a slab backsplash offer bold color without visual clutter. Try paints like Peppercorn or Witching Hour for a rich feel that’s still neutral.
In smaller kitchens, a navy cabinet can also add contrast and a focal point without making the room feel boxed in.
Look for semi-gloss or satin finishes to keep dark colors from going too flat.
For Warm, Inviting Spaces
Warm neutrals like cream, tan, and beige are ideal if you want a cozy kitchen that still feels refined.
These cabinet colors lean traditional without looking dated, especially when paired with updated lighting and hardware.
Soft tones also help highlight natural materials like butcher block countertops or exposed beams, much like the cozy wood-accented cafés around Mukilteo Lighthouse Park that glow warm against the Sound.
Consider warm wood stains or soft taupes if your kitchen gets a lot of sunlight—they’ll glow without glaring.
Tips for Selecting the Right Kitchen Cabinet Color
Sample First
Paint colors always shift in different lighting.
Before committing to a color, use peel-and-stick samples or sample pots to test how the shade looks on your kitchen cabinets at different times of day.
A color that looks soft green in the morning may read more gray by dinner.
View samples next to your backsplash, countertops, and wall paint to make sure everything blends—or contrasts—in a way you like.
Pay Attention to Finish
Paint finish is just as important as color.
Semi-gloss finishes are durable and easy to clean, which makes them ideal for high-traffic spaces like the kitchen.
For a more relaxed look, a satin finish offers softness without going flat.
If you’re choosing a bold color like navy or matte black, a high gloss finish or lacquer can reflect more light and keep the space feeling balanced.
Avoid flat paint on kitchen cabinets, which scuffs easily and shows every fingerprint.
Design your kitchen to fit your lifestyle.
Set the Tone for Your Kitchen with Home Run Solutions
Home Run Solutions helps you go beyond standard choices to find cabinet colors that suit your space, your taste, and your daily life. Our design-focused process makes it easy to explore bold shades, timeless finishes, and smart combinations that bring your kitchen to life.
If you’re ready to update your kitchen with cabinet colors that actually work for your home, fill out our contact form today or give us a call. We’ll help you choose a color palette that looks great now and lasts for years to come.
FAQs
What finish should I choose for kitchen cabinet paint?
Choose a semi-gloss or satin finish for kitchen cabinets to maximize durability and ease of cleaning. For dark colors like matte black or navy, use a high-gloss or lacquer finish to reflect light and prevent the space from feeling heavy.
Can I mix two different cabinet colors in one kitchen?
Mix two cabinet colors in one kitchen by using a light shade on upper cabinets and a darker or contrasting tone on lower cabinets or the island. This adds visual interest while keeping the overall design cohesive.
Will painting my kitchen cabinets hurt resale value?
Painting kitchen cabinets won’t hurt resale value if you use neutral tones or a two-tone scheme. Bold colors may stand out, but classic combinations appeal to more buyers and keep the kitchen looking current.