Kitchen cabinet colors can make or break the look and feel of your kitchen. With the right cabinet color, you can create a warm, inviting space for family and friends to gather. Selecting a trendy yet timeless shade allows you to stay current without the need for frequent color updates.
When choosing kitchen cabinet colors in 2023, earthy neutrals, dark dramatic hues, and nature-inspired greens are surging in popularity. These on-trend shades complement classic white kitchens and play well with natural wood cabinetry. Blending kitchen cabinet colors and styles creates depth, contrast, and visual interest.
Below we discuss the top kitchen cabinet color trends, the psychology behind color choices, and tips for selecting the best hues for your kitchen design and decor.
Why Cabinet Color Matters in Kitchen Design
Kitchen cabinetry covers a large surface area, making its color an impactful design element. Cabinet paint or stain connects the countertop, backsplash, floors, and walls, pulling the entire space together.
The right kitchen cabinet color can make the space feel inviting, energetic, or tranquil. It can create an illusion of larger or smaller space and make lighting appear warmer or cooler. Darker kitchen cabinets can ground a light, airy kitchen while bright white can expand a small, dark space.
Beyond aesthetics, cabinet color impacts resale value. Neutral, on-trend kitchen colors have mass appeal. Bold color choices can be polarizing and harder to sell.
But because paint can easily be updated, don’t be afraid to take some risks with colors you love. Just know a color change may be needed when it comes time to sell.
Current & Upcoming Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends
Kitchen cabinet colors go in and out of style, often reflecting seasonal color forecasts. Here are popular kitchen cabinet color ideas dominating design trends.
Warm Neutrals
Warm neutrals like beiges, tans, and light yellows are hot kitchen cabinet colors right now. They provide a blank canvas to build upon without competing. Pair with natural wood accents and black hardware for a modern farmhouse vibe.
### Shades of White
Crisp bright whites and soft antique whites are classic kitchen cabinet colors. Mixing white painted cabinets with natural wood trim and open shelving adds warmth and texture.
Green Hues
Sage, emerald, and other green tones connect kitchens to nature. Earthy greens complement marble, granite, and wood surfaces. Dark green lower cabinets with light green uppers is on-trend.
Dark & Moody
Deep hues like navy, charcoal, black, and rich walnut cabinets provide dramatic contrast. Especially popular for contemporary and modern kitchens.
Blue Shades
From light powder blues to bold navy, blue kitchen cabinets are traditional yet trendy. Blue grays work for transitional spaces.
Matte Black
Matte black cabinets make a sophisticated style statement. Use glossy black for contrast. Pair black cabinets with brass accents for an industrial edge.
Wood Finishes
Natural wood finishes like oak, cherry, and maple provide an organic, timeless look. Walnut is surging in popularity. Mix wood species and colors for eclectic charm.
Psychology of Kitchen Cabinet Color Choices
Colors evoke emotional responses and set the tone or mood of a space. When selecting kitchen cabinet colors, consider the following psychological impacts:
Warm Tones
Browns, tans, reds, oranges, yellows, and neutrals with warm undertones are energizing. They spark feelings of warmth, comfort, security, and optimism.
Cool Tones
Blues, greens, grays, and whites with cool undertones are calming and relaxing. They evoke feelings of tranquility, renewal, and freshness.
Bright Colors
Vibrant shades of any color stimulate energy, creativity, happiness, and confidence. Too much brightness can feel chaotic.
Dark Colors
Deep, moody hues like black, charcoal, navy, and emerald green feel sophisticated and luxe. They can seem intimate but also dramatic.
Tips for Selecting Kitchen Cabinet Colors
Choosing cabinet paint colors for your kitchen requires thoughtful consideration. Keep these tips in mind:
Consider the Room’s Lighting
The room’s natural and artificial lighting impacts how colors appear. View color samples under all lighting conditions. Cool northern light washes colors out while southern light intensifies them.
Coordinate With Countertops & Backsplashes
Look at cabinet colors alongside your countertop and backsplash materials. Contrasting or coordinating cabinets and counters create different aesthetics.
Factor in Flooring & Wall Colors
Try out cabinet colors next to wall paint chips and flooring samples to visualize the complete palette.
Think About How You Cook
Consider how cabinet colors fit your cooking style. Busy cooks may want darker cabinets to conceal oil splatters and water spots.
Choose Timeless Over Trendy
While trends come and go, versatile neutrals, white, and wood cabinet colors retain appeal over time. Add trendy colors with changeable elements like accent walls, appliances, and decor.
Consider Resale Value
When selling your home, popular neutrals and white kitchens have the widest buyer appeal. But don’t sacrifice personality for resale value.
Collect Inspiration Images
Browse magazines and design sites like Pinterest and Houzz to create an inspiration board for your kitchen. This helps narrow color choices.
Order Samples
Once you’ve narrowed down colors, order samples to view the hues on your cabinets. Colors look different on large surfaces than tiny paint chips.
Here’s how to pick the perfect color for your kitchen cabinets:
Look at Your Flooring
What color are your floors? You’ll usually want your cabinet color to coordinate with or contrast your flooring so things don’t clash. Darker floors like dark hardwoods often look great with lighter cabinets. Houses with light flooring can go bold with a darker color cabinet without things looking imbalanced.
Consider the Room Lighting
The actual lighting in your kitchen makes a difference in how colors look. If you have cool daylight or blue undertones, warm cabinet colors can offset that. Yellow overhead lighting might work well with grayish cabinets. Check out samples at different times of day.
Decide on a Style
Your kitchen’s style will help determine if you should go bold or neutral. Contemporary and modern kitchens look great with darker dramatic cabinets. Farmhouse and traditional kitchens tend to use more neutrals and antique whites.
Think About Maintenance
Lighter colored cabinets show less grime and are easier to keep clean. Super white cabinets do require frequent wiping. Darker cabinets conceal messes better. Medium wood tones are pretty low maintenance.
Mix and Match Colors
Go monochromatic using the same color on all cabinets or get creative and combine colors. Blue lowers with white uppers pops. Use lighter cabinets open shelving and darker on closed cabinetry.
Choose Timeless over Trendy
Classic white, warm neutrals like beige and tan, natural wood finishes and even black are versatile go-to’s. Have fun with trendy colors on the island or use changeable color accents.
Collect Inspiration Photos
Make an inspiration board pulling kitchen photos with cabinet colors you’re attracted to. This helps zero in on the exact shades you want to pursue.
Order Samples
Once you narrow down your top color contenders, order samples. Colors look different on large surfaces versus little paint strips. Look at them on your cabinets at different times of day.
Think About Resale
If selling soon, stick with popular classics like white that appeal to buyers. For a longer-term home, choose colors you love within reason. Avoid overly polarizing neon bright colors.
Coordinate Cabinets and Counters
Look at your cabinet color options next to countertops and backsplashes to make sure everything complements. Too much contrast can look disjointed.
Accent Small Spaces
In a tiny kitchen, bright white or light cabinets keep it looking open and airy. Darker cabinets in a small space can feel closed in and overwhelming.
Top 10 Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors
If you’re struggling to select the perfect cabinet color for your kitchen, these ten trending and timeless shades offer appeal:
1. Pure White
Crisp, clean white painted cabinets feel fresh and bright. White kitchens suit any style from modern farmhouse to contemporary. White reflects light, opening up small dark spaces. It also serves as a blank canvas for colorful counters, tile, and decor.
To prevent a sterile look, introduce warmth with wood accents, black hardware, or beige and tan textiles. Off-white has the same appeal with slight creaminess.
2. Navy Blue
From light powder blue to dramatic navy, blue kitchen cabinets provide classic color. Navy blue with brass hardware offers vintage character. Lighter sky blues are tranquil for a cottage style kitchen.
Bold navy cabinets provide contrast to stainless appliances and white countertops. Pair navy uppers with creamy painted or natural wood lowers.
3. Dove Gray
Cool, elegant gray kitchen cabinets offer flexibility in design. Go for an icy gray for modern style. Choose warmer grays with taupe undertones for traditional kitchens. Gray plays well with tiles, stainless steel, and granite countertops.
Pair gray cabinets with warm metals like bronze and unlacquered brass. Combine with white trim and open shelves for a lighter look.
4. Beige and Tan
Almond, beige, camel, and tan kitchen cabinets provide warm neutral options. Biscuit and buttercream cabinets suit traditional kitchens. Greige (gray + beige) makes a versatile and popular combo.
Use darker beiges for base cabinets and lighter tones on uppers. Natural wood countertops and open shelving add nice contrast to neutral beige cabinets.
5. Antique White
Slightly distressed antique white cabinets provide vintage farmhouse charm. The subtle wood grain peeking through creates warmth and texture. Antique white suits shabby chic cottages but also works in modern kitchens.
Black hardware, butcher block counters, and subway tile backsplashes complement distressed white cabinets. Avoid making the look too rustic.
6. Classic Wood Stains
Natural wood finishes like oak, maple, cherry, and walnut never go out of style. Wood offers a timeless, organic look. Combine wood species for an eclectic style. Mixing stained cabinets with painted pieces adds visual interest.
Unstained wood provides flexibility for future updates. Keep wood cabinets looking current with modern backsplashes, hardware, and appliances.
7. Matte Black
Deep charcoal and matte black kitchen cabinets make a sophisticated style statement. Especially popular in contemporary, modern, and industrial kitchens, black cabinets work with stainless appliances.
White quartz countertops pop against black cabinets. For contrast, pair black lowers with crisp white uppers. Copper, brass, and polished chrome hardware suit black cabinets.
8. Mint Green
Cool minty greens are trending for kitchen cabinets and suit vintage, cottage, and farmhouse spaces. Use soft mint green in an airy kitchen with natural light. Deep hunter green makes a dramatic impact for an urban loft.
Minty green cabinets pop alongside bright white trim. Natural wood accents prevent too much green overload.
9. Yellow
Warm golden and mustard yellow cabinets provide vintage appeal to country kitchens. Soft buttery yellows keep things light and cheery. Use yellow on upper cabinets with white or blue base cabinets.
Yellow resonates happiness and pairs nicely with gray, blue, green, or purple accents. Just avoid going too lemon-lime bright.
10. Charcoal Gray
Charcoal gray kitchen cabinets offer a sophisticated, dramatic look. Lighting plays off the rich gray tones. It contrasts beautifully with marble countertops and backsplashes.
Combine charcoal gray with antique brass hardware and vintage lighting for an urban industrial edge. Use creamy uppers to keep things from looking too dark and masculine.
Unique Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinet Combinations
Two-tone kitchen cabinets create visual interest through contrast. Blend and match upper and lower cabinets in these popular color combinations:
Navy Blue Lower Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets
Crisp white uppers keep things light and airy. Navy base cabinets anchor the space. The combo suits coastal, cottage, and farmhouse designs.
Light Green Lower Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets
Vintage pastel green on base cabinets looks fresh against bright white uppers. Use a muted seafoam green or buttermilk yellow on the lowers.
Medium Wood Lower Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets
Wood base cabinets offer warmth while white top cabinets provide brightness. For contrast, mix stained oak below with painted white maple up top.
Black Lower Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets
This dramatic combo suits modern and contemporary kitchens. The white balances out the bold black on lowers.
Gray Lower Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets
Cool gray base cabinets ground white uppers in this versatile blend. Try a blue-gray on lowers with crisp clean white tops.
Beige Lower Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets
This combination provides a light and neutral palette. Use almond or greige painted lowers with antique white tops.
Choosing Cabinet Colors for Small Kitchens
Small kitchens can feel cramped and closed in if the colors are too dark or bold. Here are smart cabinet color considerations for petite kitchen spaces:
Embrace White or Light Cabinets
White, antique white, light gray, and light wood cabinets keep things airy and open. All-white kitchens maximize the feeling of openness.
Incorporate Glass Front Cabinets
Glass-front upper cabinets maintain visual openness even when darker cabinet colors are used on lowers and base cabinets.
Add Windows and Skylights
More natural lighting prevents dark cabinets from making a tiny kitchen feel gloomy. If adding windows isn’t possible, choose light colors.
Use Mirrored Surfaces
Strategically placed mirrors on cabinets and walls reflect light and the outdoors. Mirror backsplashes expand small kitchens.
Choose Bright Accent Colors
Use a saturated bright color like aqua, orange, or yellow on an accent wall or island to inject color without darkness.
Direct Lighting is Key
Proper kitchen lighting is especially key in small spaces. Task lighting, pendant lights over islands, and recessed can lighting ensure the space stays bright.
Stick with Cooler Hues
Cool blues, grays, and greens give the impression of openness. Warm reds, oranges, and yellows can make small kitchens feel compressed.
Kitchen Cabinet Color Combinations
Kitchen cabinet combinations mix and match painted or stained finishes across base, wall, and upper cabinets. Here are aesthetically pleasing examples:
Stained Wood Base Cabinets + White Upper Cabinets + Open Shelves
This combination provides a balance of warm wood below with bright white up top. Floating shelves lighten up the room.
Charcoal Gray Base Cabinets + Lighter Gray uppers
Use a rich charcoal gray stain or paint on lowers with a weathered gray or pale driftwood paint on upper cabinets.
Navy Blue Base Cabinets + Wood Hood + White Open Shelves
The dramatic navy lower anchors the space while the wood and white balance it out.
Walnut Base Cabinets + Maple White Upners + Black Island
Mixing wood types adds dimension. The white counters and island keep the walnut from feeling too heavy.
Black Base Cabinets + Rustic Wood Open Shelves
Black lower cabinets add modern contrast to worn, rustic wood shelves for an urban farmhouse vibe.
Green Base Cabinets + Antique White Hood and Upners
Sage green or muted olive cabinets below with distressed white tops and hood feels fresh yet vintage.
No matter your kitchen size, style, or color preferences, there’s a perfect kitchen cabinet color combination for you. Determining the effect you want and assessing how colors interact in your unique space leads to a cohesive, on-trend kitchen that remains stylish and functional for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Cabinet Colors
What are the most popular kitchen cabinet colors in 2023?
Earth tones like beige and walnut continue trending in 2023. Crisp whites remain timeless. Black and charcoal gray offer high-contrast drama. Sagey greens are on the rise, along with unique two-tone combinations like navy lower cabinets with white uppers.
How do you pick kitchen cabinet colors?
Choosing cabinet colors involves assessing your kitchen’s existing elements like flooring, countertops, and lighting. Narrow down colors you like and get samples to view in your actual kitchen. Coordinating or contrasting your cabinets with other finishes creates a cohesive palette.
Should you match kitchen cabinets to floor color?
It depends on the look you want. Matching cabinet and floor colors can create a seamless, monochromatic look. Contrasting floor and cabinet colors defines each element. Same-tone kitchens work best with texture variation in the finishes. There are no set rules – just make sure cabinet, floor and counter colors complement each other.
What kitchen cabinet colors make a small kitchen look bigger?
White, off-white, light gray and light wood cabinets make small kitchens feel more open and expansive. Dark cabinets can feel oppressive and cramped. Glass-front upper cabinets, mirrors, proper lighting, and cool-toned hues also give the illusion of a larger space.
What is the most popular color for kitchen cabinets?
White kitchen cabinets are the most popular color and have been for years. Crisp bright white as well as antique white variations suit any kitchen style. White reflects light, expands small spaces, and serves as a blank canvas. Soft beiges and grays are also versatile go-to cabinet colors.