31 Kitchen Color Ideas to Elevate Your Cabinetry Without a Full Remodel
Gone are the days of solely relying on all-white kitchens or natural wood cabinetry for kitchen color ideas. After all, the heart of the home longs for a paint color that gives your kitchen cabinets personality and the attention they deserve.
Even if you’re worried about choosing the right color palette—whether it’s a bold color such as teal or a pastel pink or a sky blue—there is definitely a hue for you. When selecting a kitchen cabinet color, it’s important to keep in mind your kitchen’s location within your house and think about how certain color combinations will appear side by side, notes Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors in San Francisco. “If you choose to go with a stronger or bolder color for the kitchen cabinets, ensure that adjacent rooms are complementary to the kitchen color story,” she advises. If your adjoining dining room features moody dark green walls, the light colors of soft pastel cabinetry may not always jive together, for example.
Then, consider the atmosphere you wish to evoke and choose a cabinet paint color accordingly. “Some people want to have a sexy kitchen because they don’t necessarily cook that much in the space, and others want a really fun, exciting kitchen because they cook a lot and want it to feel uplifted while baking or creating something new,” explains Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs in Los Angeles. The color scheme you select comes down to your personal outlook for the space.
Those with more demure tastes for kitchen color ideas can rest easy knowing that white cabinets will always be classy and cabinetry in greige isn’t going far. For homeowners who are torn between traditional and trendy, green kitchens are in vogue, as are deep blue color palettes. Remember this: Deep colors, such as black and bright blue, add impact to cabinetry, while softer tones and neutrals provide a cleaner look and serve as a backdrop to sculptural pendant lights, tile backsplashes, or displays of china and serving pieces. If you’re not ready to go for floor-to-ceiling color, there are plenty of spots to add a bit of brightness. Designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, whose client list includes Iman, painted the base of a Manhattan home’s kitchen island red, while leaving the cabinets and walls neutral. Mark Gillette, based in Chester, United Kingdom, added a blue chest of drawers and a coral island to a cream kitchen in England.
Updating the kitchen is one of the most popular renovation projects and one that can make a huge difference in the feel (and resale value) of a home. “Painting kitchen cabinets can come at quite an expense, so make sure to choose a color that you can live with long-term,” notes interior designer Dennis Brackeen of Dennis Brackeen Design Group in Houston. Regardless of what color you choose, there are plenty of design options to spruce things up over time. “You can always freshen up the look by adding wallpaper to the walls, change the kitchen backsplash tile or paint the ceiling,” Brackeen adds.
Whether you’re doing a soup to nuts remodel or just looking for a refresh, the perfect paint color can make the project a stylish success. Browse these 31 colorful kitchens to find inspiration—and the perfect shade—for your own renovation.
What is the most popular color for a kitchen?
Painting the kitchen cabinets is the fastest way to completely transform the space and can create a cohesive look. Close your eyes and picture a kitchen and you may imagine white cabinets, subway tile, wood floors, and white walls. Designers note that simple kitchens like these will always shine, yet for some homeowners bright colors are having a major moment. “[Though] the all-white kitchen will always be timeless, look for pops of color in kitchens [going forward],” Brackeen explains. “Bright colors, jewel tones, and even dark moody colors will set the tone this year.” So if you’re feeling teal, love dark blue, or crave a green kitchen, this is your moment.
For a poolhouse kitchen, Atlanta designer Suzanne Kasler used a bright Benjamin Moore blue on the walls, cabinets, and range hood, while Alison Spear painted her own Dutchess County, New York, kitchen in a deep black with a contrasting gray island. Both kitchens kept the ceilings white and the floors neutral so they remained cozy rooms that don’t feel claustrophobic.
Hayslett has also witnessed an increase in coffee-colored and tan kitchen colors—think taupes and greiges. There are truly so many kitchen color schemes from which to choose.
What is the best color for a small kitchen?
Just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean that you need to stick to a neutral color when painting the cabinetry. A pop of color may be just what your space needs. Take cue from the teal gem of the fictional Arconia apartment kitchen on the set of Only Murders In the Building. “You can be fearless in a small kitchen since the footprint is small,” Jung says. “I recommend going bold.” Hayslett agrees and notes that other bold kitchen color ideas for small spaces include yellows, mauves, and greens.
Photo: Shannon Dupre1/31Make navy blue the new classic
New York City designer Isabella Patrick of Isabella Patrick Design completed a gut renovation of the kitchen in this duplex apartment in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, painting the SemiHandmade cabinet doors in Benjamin Moore Stonecutter (2135-20).
Photo: Jack Thompson2/31Embrace soft green cabinets
Houston designer Hallie Henley Sims of Hallie Henley Design also completed a gut reno of a 1960s two-story ranch-style home in the city’s Tanglewood neighborhood. The cabinetry is coated in Farrow & Ball Calke Green (No.34), a shade that was carried over onto the Visual Comfort pendants hanging above the island.
Photo: Nick Guttridge3/31Find comfort in a rich hue
Say hello to green cabinets! Christina Nielsen of New York–based Christina Nielsen Design installed kitchen millwork and hardware by Plain English Design in this Upper Lambourn, Berkshire, kitchen. She painted the walls in the brand’s Army Camp paint color. “The family loves to cook and entertain, and they wanted this space to emulate the warmth and comfort they wish to always feel in their home,” the interior designer says.
Photo: Dustin Halleck4/31Seek sky blue to perk up the kitchen
Chicago designer Elizabeth Stamos of Elizabeth Stamos Design revamped a kitchen in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, using Benjamin Moore Solitude (AF-545) on the existing cabinets. Unlacquered brass hardware from Rejuvenation finishes off the kitchen design.
Photo: Alison Elefante5/31Give greige a try
In Nashville’s Sylvan Park neighborhood, area designer Elizabeth Burch of Elizabeth Burch Interiors worked with The Willis Co. to complete a gut renovation of a craftsman home. Cabinets in Sherwin-Williams Anew Gray (SW 7030), a greige-like hue, pair nicely with custom sconces from Urban Electric, which have been painted in Sherwin-Williams Oakmoss.
Photo: Raquel Langworthy6/31Keep it fresh with a light color scheme
Light colors don’t have to be boring. Manasquan, New Jersey, designer Christina Kim painted the cabinets in a modern kitchen in Farrow & Ball Ash Gray (No. W9), incorporating ample open shelving too.
Photo: Pablo Enriquez7/31Create contrast
LA designer Peti Lau painted the cabinets in this Hollywood Hills kitchen in Benjamin Moore Vanderberg Blue (721). A Statutaretto marble countertop and a hallway runner from Jamal Rugs complete the space.
Photo: Seth Caplan8/31Balance with a black-and-white color palette
Located in a historic Manhattan building that was formerly a church, this kitchen by Laura Hur of Lorla Studio features cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Black (HC-190). The Maryland-based designer also selected pendant lighting by Kelly Wearstler, installed a TileBar backsplash, and sourced hardware via Etsy.
Photo: Erin Krestenbaum9/31Allow natural light to enhance a white kitchen
While designing her own Farmington, Connecticut, home, Kate Smith of Kate Smith Interiors opted to incorporate Bertch Cabinetry’s custom creamy finish Polar into the space. A window treatment is made from Lee Jofa Fabric with a Schumacher trim, and it adds a pop of color to the all-white kitchen.
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Photo: Julie Soefer10/31Take pastels to another level
Creative Tonic’s Courtnay Tartt Elias went bright and cheerful with Sherwin-Williams Spearmint (SW 6465) in this kitchen. “Remodeled for a young single father and his two boys, this light-filled kitchen was the perfect place to channel joy,” the Houston-based designer says of the pastel wonder. “The addition of black-and-white furniture and black cabinet hardware keeps the space from feeling too beachy, and the geometric Lulie Wallace fabric of the Roman shades tie the entire palette together,” she explains.
Photo: Julie Soefer11/31Let the backsplash tile inspire
Elias designed a kitchen for a Houston real estate developer’s office, this time coating the cabinets in Benjamin Moore Bunker Hill Green (566). Custom-made Kelly green and white mosaic tiles cover the floor and ceiling, while the color palette is also complemented by the back-painted glass countertops and verdant vinyl-covered cabinetry.
Photo: Manolo Langis12/31Invite a cozy kitchen feeling with natural wood
Natural wood shines in this modern kitchen. Luis Murillo of LMD Architecture Studio in Lawndale, California, worked with interior designer Mike Powers of Mike Powers Design and introduced rift cut white oak into this space. “Wood brings a warmth and a natural feel to this minimalist-oriented kitchen,” Murillo says. “I love how it blends with the ceilings and the floors creating and overall cohesion. You really feel a sense of serenity with this smooth and simplistic design.”
Photo: Jane Beiles13/31Craft a timeless kitchen look
While completing a kitchen renovation in Ridgewood, New Jersey, local designer Kerri Pilchik of Kerri Pilchik Design matched custom cabinetry to Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005). “The clients requested a light and bright but classic kitchen,” Pilchik explains. The island is walnut with a quartz countertop, while soapstone and dolomite marble adorn the perimeter countertops and backsplash, respectively.
Photo: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative14/31Make a connection to the living room
Based in San Rafael, California, Jodi Janzen of Janzen Design installed a wine bar in this European cottage style kitchen in Marin County. The cabinets are painted Sherwin-Williams Greenblack (SW 6994), allowing for an easy transition when thinking about the living room and entertaining.
Photo: Amy Lamb/Native House Photography15/31Find a cabinet color to serve as a backdrop
St. Petersburg, Florida, designer Lisa Gilmore of Lisa Gilmore Design was tasked with transforming a kitchen in neighboring Clearwater. “The client called on us to strip away all the fuss and create a home with a better floor plan, elevated style, and a mix of old and new for modern family living,” she explains. In came cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (HC-154), a washed brick backsplash, and Mediterranean style lighting with an antique look.
Photo: Justin L. Jordan16/31Dress it up in dark blue
Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors in Louisville, Kentucky, took on a project in the city’s Audubon Park neighborhood, painting shaker style cabinets in Benjamin Moore Polo Blue (2062-10) and adding ribbed glass fronts. The backsplash is made of Ann Sacks’ Savoy tile in Lotus, which has blue undertones, and the walnut island features a platinum quartzite waterfall countertop.
Photo: Read Mckendree17/31Embrace the surroundings
While designing a home for a young family based in the coastal Massachusetts, Boston designer Rachel Reider of Rachel Reider Interiors reconfigured the kitchen to enhance the presence of natural light within the space. She installed cabinets by Crowne Point Cabinetry in Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187), and a glass mosaic backsplash by Discover Tile is meant to pay homage to the nearby ocean.
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Photo: Kris Tamburello18/31Give the lower cabinets some color
Brittany Farinas of Miami’s House of One painted the lower cabinets in a light-hearted green—a nice pop of color in an airy white kitchen in Sherwin-Williams Kestrel White (SW 7516) with a Opustone vintage calacatta marble backsplash and open shelves.
Photo: Pär Bengtsson19/31Match the wall color
Houston’s Dennis Brackeen of Dennis Brackeen Design Group used Fine Paints of Europe Opium Red on the cabinetry in this kitchen in the River Oaks neighborhood. Textural touches abound in this space, including Italian gray Pietra marble countertops and faux leather Schumacher wall coverings. An extra special touch? The Celerie Kemble for Schumacher tortoiseshell paper on the ceiling—Brackeen’s client collects fossils and vintage tortoiseshells.
Photo: Nickolas Sargent20/31Experiment with orange
Working with a repeat client in Palm Beach, Matthew Boland of MMB Studio opted to go big with color. In the kitchen, the Scottsdale-based interior designer coated cabinets in Sherwin-Williams Energetic Orange (SW 6880) for a “bold and refreshing take on Florida design.”
Photo: Adam Kane Macchia21/31Trust in pinks
Baxt Ingui Architects and BIA Interiors, working with Taffera Fine Building & Finishes, designed this parlor kitchen for the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse in fall 2022. Benjamin Moore Cashmere (930) covers the cabinets, while a sculptural pendant fixture from Circa Lighting draws the eye upward.
Photo: Christopher Stark22/31Pay attention to lower cabinets
Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors designed the kitchen in her own Bay Area studio to be bright and cheerful. The cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore Lafayette Green (HC-135), and the window treatment is made from Schumacher fabric.
Photo: William Waldron23/31Give into earthy terracotta
When it comes to decorating with a bold color, trust your gut. In a Manhattan townhouse restored by interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber and Rietveld Architects, the kitchen island is coated in a dark and glossy deep terracotta paint.
Photo: Joshua McHugh24/31Don’t be afraid of an all-black kitchen
Black and gray cabinets distinguish the kitchen in architect Alison Spear’s Dutchess County, New York, home. The room also features DuroDesign cork flooring, an Abbaka hood, a Wolf cooktop and ovens, and Harry Bertoia barstools.
Photo: Eric Piasecki25/31Accentuate a marble backsplash
In the kitchen of his Houston home, designer J. Randall Powers installed cabinets in a rich gray-green hue to give the space a sense of intimacy. Pretty pastel dining chairs create a layer of softness, as does the marble backsplash.
Photo: Scott Frances26/31Let the kitchen design set the tone for the rest of the house
The walls and custom cabinetry in this New York kitchen were painted a vibrant aqua. Decorator Thomas Britt and architectural designer Peter Napolitano continued the color into the adjacent living room to maintain continuity.
Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo27/31Mix-and-match greige tones
In a Manhattan kitchen, the cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Gettysburg Gray, while Sherwin-Williams’s Ethereal Mood coats the walls. Similar hues, especially when paired with natural wood on the slatted island, give this modern kitchen just enough texture.
Photo: TIm Beddow28/31Perk up with pastel yellow
To keep the kitchen at Château de Fontenay from looking too serious, a 16th-century estate in France, designer Tino Zervudachi painted the neo-Gothic millwork a cheery yellow.
Photo: Francesco Lagnese29/31Create tension with black countertops and white cabinets
The kitchen of a Marin County, California, home was given a dose of traditional elegance—and white paint—by designer Suzanne Rheinstein and architect Ken Linsteadt.
Photo: Simon Watson30/31Find inspiration abroad
The rooftop kitchen of this home in Essaouira, Morocco, is decorated with antique tiles and painted in a traditional terracotta shade.
Photo: William Waldron31/31Drench it in bright blue
Leave it to designer Suzanne Kasler and architect Les Cole to paint the kitchen cabinets and walls a bold Benjamin Moore blue, a nod to its pool house locale.
