Kitchen Cabinet Color Ideas for a Fresh and Inviting Look

Wood cabinets are beautiful but can make your kitchen look dated. If you’re ready for a fresh look in your kitchen, then it’s time to change the color of your cabinets. These kitchen cabinet color ideas will help you decide what kind of look you want to create with your kitchen cabinets.

You’ll find that painting kitchen cabinets is an affordable way to change the look of your kitchen. Choose the wrong color and you bring the energy in your kitchen down and close the space in. But get the color right and you’ll create a comfortable and welcoming space that everyone wants to be in.

So which color and style will you choose for your kitchen cabinets?

1. Embrace Elegance With These Kitchen Cabinet Color Ideas

Neutral colors are universally appealing when deciding on a color scheme for your cabinetry. You can choose beige for your cabinet color and then other complementary colors for your kitchen design. This creates a calming and bright space that will be a comfortable place for family and guests.

When choosing your beige, you could paint your existing cabinets. This will give you a uniform and smooth look. It’s also a smart option if you want to save money during your kitchen remodel. You can lightly sand your wood cabinets, then paint the surface.

Another option is to choose a light wood cabinet that is beige in color. This will create the beige look you’re going for while also creating texture and depth.

beige kitchen cabinets wood countertop washing machine — renovatingno.64/Instagram

large modern kitchen long breakfast bar green cabinets

large and bright industrial kitchen with silver appliances and polished cement floor

2. Timeless Sophistication

Make a bold statement with black cabinets. If you want to create a modern kitchen, try painting your cabinets black. You’ll be at the height of modern kitchen cabinet color trends.

When choosing black, consider your kitchen’s qualities. Since black reflects the least amount of light, it can make your kitchen feel dungeon-like, dark, and moody. This may be the look you’re going for. However, black cabinets look best in more open and larger spaces. They also work best in kitchens with plenty of natural light. If your kitchen doesn’t have a lot of natural light, try adding more by installing light fixtures.

modern kitchen with black cabinets and white subway tile splashback — nybrointerior/Instagram

rustic kitchen with black cabinets marble countertops and hardwood flooor

country kitchen with white and black cabinets marble countertop and silver pendant lights

modern kitchen with black cabinets and white shelves

all-black kitchen with polished granite splashback

large cabin kitchen black island and cabinets tan seats

elegant modern kitchen black cabinets marble countertop and splashblack gold chandeliers

country kitchen with black cabinets wood wall shelves and dual ovens

modern black kitchen with large island breakfast bar silver ceiling pendant lights

black kitchen cabinets hardwood floors country kitchen

large black cabinet island with marble countertop in modern kitchen

breakfast bar copper stools modern kitchen

long kitchen island black cabinets silver pendant lights

modern luxury black kitchen long island with black and gold stools

3. Serene and Tranquil

Nothing is more visually stunning than pairing navy blue with white and light wood. You can then accent this paint color combination with gold, silver, or brass hardware. With blue being one of the most popular colors, your kitchen will be universally appealing.

If you’re afraid of painting your cabinets a dark color, fear not; you have options. Consider using dark blue for the lower cabinets. Then paint the upper cabinet white. This keeps the kitchen feeling large and bright because the lighter color is at eye level and the darker color is low.

Another option is to paint your kitchen island dark blue. Then leave the cabinets along the wall the lighter color. This limits the number of dark cabinets.

If you want to create a seaside, coastal, or nautical feel to your kitchen, consider using a lighter blue. It can have hints of green to mimic the colors of the ocean. Then pair this with other elements that are considered nautical.

blue cabinets with gold accents in country kitchen white granite countertops — ellecordesign/Instagram

country kitchen with blue cabinets wood countertops and wall shelves — helensoonrich/Instagram

modern blue and gray kitchen with black island and two white stools

modern kitchen with blue cabinets concrete floor and wood panel island

4. Warm and Earthy Tones

Embrace the beauty of nature with wood cabinets. This gives you rich brown tones that will add texture to your kitchen. What’s nice about wood is that there are plenty of shades available to give you the exact look and feel you want.

Light wood like pine, birch, or oak cabinets will keep your kitchen looking bright and fresh. Darker wood cabinets create a sense of sophistication and luxury. You can stain your light wood cabinet or opt for something naturally darker, like maple, cherry, or walnut.

brown kitchen cabinets cooper storage unit and floral shade — mollyerindesigns/Instagram

rustic kitchen wood cabinets granite countertop small wood table and wicker chair — updatemycape/Instagram

large open wood kitchen pendant ceiling lights

modern brown kitchen with granite island and white stools

modern kitchen large gray island four stools and brown cabinets

large open brown kitchen with floor to ceiling windows

stone kitchen with wood cabinets and large dining table and chairs

country style kitchen black and white kitchen with pendant lighting

large brown kitchen cabinets white countertop

brown kitchen cabinets in alpine cabin kitchen

wood cabinets large marble island ceiling to floor windows

traditional brown kitchen with hardwood floor and polished granite countertops

5. Subtle and Versatile

If you love the look of white kitchens but want something a bit more subtle, then a natural and softer alternative with a more neutral color such as cream is what you should be looking at. The softer color palette creates a warmer environment for your homely kitchen space.

If you choose to have cream-colored cabinets, try to embrace the warmth of the color by using other warm-toned neutrals in your kitchen. You can also have gold fixtures for the plumbing and electrical. These light-colored cabinets are versatile for your changing sense of style. This makes them an ideal base for the rest of your kitchen decor.

cream kitchen with granite countertops — fitzgeraldsinteriors/Instagram

country style cream cabinet kitchen with wood countertops — helenmaryhome/Instagram

large open kitchen with white cabinets and green subway tile splashback — piskainteriors/Instagram

country kitchen with white cabinets and apron sink — sylvieathome/Instagram

6. Modern Neutrals

With gray being the new en-vogue neutral color, you may be tempted to use it on your cabinets. However, gray cabinets may not be the best option. If you have stainless steel appliances, then choosing a color that’s too close to this shade will make everything blend together and eliminate the sense of depth. If your appliances aren’t stainless steel, then this isn’t an issue, and light grey cabinets can look beautiful.

Another great option is dark gray. It gives the illusion of black without being as harsh or dark. Think charcoal gray paired with silver hardware for a cool and modern feel. Or use gold or brass hardware for a warmer touch.

Using grey with another color is a smart design choice for your cabinets. You’ll enjoy the same effects of the two-tone cabinets but have a unique and modern take on the trend. Don’t be afraid to get adventurous with your pairings. Grey cabinets can look beautiful with almost any other color, including wood grain cabinets.

gray cabinets in modern kitchen with two wicker stools and marble tile flooring

pendant candle ceiling lights modern kitchen

open kitchen dinning and living room stone fireplace pendant tracking lights large kitchen island

large open gray kitchen with long island

modern industrial kitchen with floor to ceiling black shelving and gray island

gray cabinets in modern kitchen with white subway tile splashback — fayechapman_home/Instagram

small gray kitchen with purple led lighting — house.of_.newbold/Instagram

white shiplap feature wall in small kitchen with gray cabinets and wood wall shelf — salthousecollective/Instagram

high ceiling kitchen with large white island and breakfast bench white stools concrete floor

small kitchen with gray cabinets and exposed wood beam ceiling

gray kitchen cabinets and white brick splashback

See more about - Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Ideas

7. Nature’s Palette

If you love the color green, then why not choose it for your painted cabinets? A vibrant grass green is perfect for your country kitchen. It brings the color of nature into your kitchen. This color is also perfect for creating a vintage feel in your kitchen. If you can, pair it with brass hardware, white subway tile, and black appliances.

A softer sage color can also look beautiful in a vintage-inspired home. This shade of green also blends beautifully with an American craftsman style of kitchen. The softer and more muted shade works well in luxury kitchens too.

A less popular shade is an electric or almost neon shade of green. This intense color is best for someone who truly loves this hue. It’s polarizing, so it’s not a smart choice if you’re planning on selling your home soon. This bright shade works best in a modern kitchen with a sleek slab style of cabinets.

green kitchen cabinets in rustic country kitchen with vintage fridge — little_house_on_dartmoor/Instagram

green cabinet kitchen with black countertop — nadiaartcustom/Instagram

8. Greige Delight

If you’re ready for a different color that’s beyond the typical standard grey, white, black, or tan, then consider greige. This unique color is a mix of grey and beige tones that will change and morph in the changing light of your kitchen. Sometimes it will look more grey and other times it will look more beige. It looks beautiful with both warm and cool neutral colors.

You most often see greige when talking about wall color ideas, but that doesn’t mean that you’re only limited to painting your walls with this unique color.

When choosing your greige color, consider how light or dark you want it to be. There are lighter pale shades that will give you just a hint of color and then darker, more vibrant hues that will give you a richer and more sophisticated tone. Consider the color of your walls, counters, and appliances and create a nice balance of light and dark.

white shiplap kitchen walls brown shelf and marble countertop — wildwillowsfarm/Instagram

greige kitchen cabinets in modern kitchen

greige kitchen cabinets large brown island with four chairs and pendant lighting

9. Fresh and Minty

One of the most popular kitchen cabinet colors of modern design is mint. This refreshing shade of green looks beautiful as an accent color with white and light hardwood floors.

With a white wall color, mint cabinet doors, and wooden floors, you’ll have the perfect Scandinavian kitchen. You can give your kitchen an elegant feel by pairing your mint cabinets with a white marble countertop. Mint also looks beautiful when paired with gold hardware.

If you love pastels, consider using mint as your main kitchen color. Then select accents and decor that are other pastel colors. Try a set of pale yellow jars arranged on the counter or pale pink hardware for the cabinets.

narrow gallery kitchen with green cabinets — cliftonpropertypartners/Instagram

mint green kitchen cabinets with pattern tile splashback — w_sierakowska/Instagram

10. Playful and Chic

When it comes to pink, you have two options. You can choose a soft and delicate light color, or go bold with a bright color. Both will look beautiful, it just depends on your personality and taste as to which shade of pink you choose.

Softer pinks tend to create a more feminine feel, but that’s not always the case. It will depend on what decor, hardware, and other materials you choose. If you choose to have soft pink cabinets, you can pair them with a farmhouse French country or simple kitchen decor approach.

A darker or brighter pink will create a bold design that works well with modern or bohemian decor. You can even choose to create a vintage-inspired kitchen by having either bright or dark pink cabinets with black hardware accenting a white subway tile.

pink kitchen cabinets with subway tile flooring and round dining table and three chairs — amydowninginteriors/Instagram

pink cabinets white countertop pendant lights — les_couleurs_de_la_deco/Instagram

11. RBold and Striking

If you want your kitchen to be full of life and make a statement, then you need to choose a bold color like a fire engine or candy apple red. Pick a bright red for your kitchen cabinet paint color and create a modern design. Pair it with a grey shade that will balance the red for a softer look.

For a richer and more luxurious feel, opt for a dark shade of red, such as maroon, burgundy, or merlot. These colors look beautiful with richer wood tones because they pick up the reds in the wood. Their darkness also balances beautifully with lighter shades of marble and granite.

red kitchen cabinets and chairs — evelin_home_and_life/Instagram

red corner cabinets gray brick splashback kitchen — kdesignstudioindia/Instagram

red island with recessed shelving modern kitchen polished concrete floor — kitchencollection.co_.uk_/Instagram

modern red and white kitchen with small island and mosaic splashback — official_hpdstudioz/Instagram

12. Timeless Classic

If you aren’t sure what color you want, you can’t go wrong with a white color scheme. It’s bright, makes the space feel bigger, and looks clean. Your white cabinets will look beautiful no matter what style of cabinets you have. They can be a traditional shaker, country beadboard, craftsman with panels, or modern slab.

Look for ways you can break up the look of your white cabinets. You can do this by having bold hardware. This can be done by using black, gold, or another color. Another option is to replace some of your solid cabinet doors with glass panel inserts. If you don’t want to have all-white cabinets, white is a smart choice to pair with the other colors on this list.

all white kitchen hardwood floors and pendant light

large country white kitchen ceiling storage hardwood floors

13. Sunny and Vibrant

Yellow kitchens are popular because they’re light, bright and just have a general feeling of positivity and happiness. While you can have yellow countertops or backsplash, this doesn’t create the same effect as having yellow kitchen cabinetry. This is because the cabinets take up more visual space in the kitchen, so you get a greater effect from the yellow.

Consider the shade of yellow that you choose because you want it to be appealing and bright but not overwhelming. A pale yellow can look beautiful in a farmhouse, country, or rustic kitchen. A vibrant yellow will work well in a modern kitchen. You can have slab cabinets with a high gloss finish.

bright yellow kitchen with lemon splashback tiles and four wood stools — innboyko/Instagram

brick wall splash back red and yellow cabinets — thekitchendesigngroup/Instagram

modern yellow kitchen black sofa — tlv2go_apartments/Instagram

boat kitchen with yellow cabinets and wood countertop — yetibusbuilds/Instagram

FAQs

What is the best color for kitchen cabinets?

Neutral colors are good because they give you complete freedom in how you decorate your kitchen. You could choose bold colors for less permanent features, such as appliances or cooking utensils. This will keep your kitchen universally appealing in case you decide to sell your house in the future.

Should kitchen cabinets be lighter or darker than walls?

A lighter color on your cabinets will make the space feel bigger and brighter. The darker color on the wall gives the illusion of it being further away. This helps the kitchen to feel bigger. When you flip the colors, the darker cabinets and lighter walls work to close the space in.

What color cabinets make a kitchen look bigger?

White is the lightest and will reflect the lightest. This makes it effective at making your kitchen look and feel bigger. Other light colors can have a similar effect when they are lighter shades, such as grey, khaki, cream, pink, blue, yellow, and green.