Great Color Ideas for Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Feeling bored with your current kitchen and looking for a way to give it a fresh look? Instead of a major renovation, consider some new color ideas for painting your kitchen cabinets. A simple coat of paint can often transform the entire look and feel of your kitchen. Plus, it’s a budget-friendly alternative to replacing your cabinets, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

Think Carefully About Dramatic Color Changes

Kitchen cabinets are a focal point, so it's important to choose a color you truly love. If you pick a color you're not crazy about, you'll likely get tired of it quickly since you see it every day.

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Consider How Wall Colors and Daylight Affect the Look

Choosing the right color for kitchen cabinets can be tricky. Before picking an unusual color, consider the other elements in your kitchen, such as walls, counters, backsplash, floors, and appliances. If your kitchen already has a lot of color, white or neutral cabinets might be the best choice.

White cabinets come in many shades, all of which can make your kitchen feel bright and fresh. They are especially good for brightening up a dark room. Other neutral options include light gray, dark gray, or greige (a blend of gray and beige). These colors create a grounded space, allowing you to add playful colors through accessories and appliances.

Embrace Bold Colors

If you like to experiment with color, your cabinets offer a great opportunity to make a bold statement. Vibrant colors can add a unique style to your kitchen.

Yellow is a popular kitchen color; consider a light, buttery yellow or a pastel shade like lemonade. Sky blue can also create an airy and ethereal vibe, especially when paired with white and stainless steel accents. Mint green or bluish greens are also excellent choices for kitchen cabinets.

Darker colors, such as emerald green, cranberry red, black, and navy blue, can make a bold impact but work best in large spaces, as they can make small rooms feel smaller. If using these in a small kitchen, balance them with white walls and lighter accents.

Experiment with Two-Toned Cabinets

When it comes to kitchen cabinet colors, creativity has no limits. If you like both neutral and bright shades, why not combine them with two-toned cabinets? A good approach is to use a lighter color on the top cabinets and a darker one on the bottom to anchor the space. Try pairing white or gray upper cabinets with yellow, blue, green, or red lower cabinets.

Update Your Hardware for a Fresh Look

Before committing to a new paint job, consider changing your cabinet hardware. Sometimes, all it takes is new hardware to give your cabinets a fresh look without even painting them. Earthy metals like brass provide a timeless style, while flat black hardware adds a modern touch.

Stick to Neutrals for a Timeless Look

While colors like navy blue, earthy green, and moody mauve are trending, neutral kitchens also have their own beauty and elegance. Neutral colors allow for plenty of visual space for stylish hardware, decorative accents, and trim.

Consider Skipping Upper Cabinets

Struggling to choose a new color for your kitchen cabinets? It might not be the color but the cabinets themselves. Skipping upper cabinets can balance the look of your kitchen and allow you to go bolder with the base cabinets without the kitchen looking too overwhelming.

Add a Pop of Pink

Why not have fun with your kitchen cabinets and go for a pop of pink? It’s your kitchen, after all!

The key to making bold colors like pink work is choosing the right shade and pairing it with the right finishes. Luxe touches, such as brass hardware, elegant tile patterns, and a premium solid-stone backsplash, can balance the playful pink perfectly.

As featured on Rock the Block, HGTV star Jasmine Roth created a stunning huge island with Dolomite marble and Northern California Dark Walnut, complete with seating for eight and floor-to-ceiling custom glass cabinets, transforming her kitchen into a winner in season one of Rock the Block.

Embrace Earthy Greens

Green cabinets are a love-it-or-hate-it choice, but if you’re a fan, finding the right shade can be challenging. Greens can appear different under various lighting conditions, so test your options at different times of the day and with different lighting before deciding.

Keep It Classic with Black and White

Black and white is a timeless color combination that works with any kitchen style, whether it's modern farmhouse, industrial, traditional, or contemporary. You can play with the shades of black and white to find a balance that suits your dream kitchen.