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Best colors to paint cabinets


7 Best Kitchen Cabinets Paint Colors for a Happier Kitchen

Kitchen

Expert Interview

Interior Design

Tips & Techniques

by Alyssa Longobucco

updated Sep 7, 2022

“If you hate it, you can always repaint.” That’s what people say about painting and it’s true. But if you’re painting your kitchen cabinets, that’s a lot of work. What if you go through all those steps to paint your cabinets and you end up really disliking the color? What if you wished you had picked a more white white than a cream white?

Save yourself the trouble and read this story before you even pick up a paint brush. We asked seven interior designers to share their favorite kitchen cabinet paint colors. And these aren’t just any kitchen cabinet paint colors, either — these are the colors that will really shine, hold up well over time, and add a bit of happiness to the kitchen.

1. White and dark gray

“It’s important to keep in mind how much natural light your space gets before deciding on paint colors. White and a rich, dark gray are my favorite colors to use in a kitchen. We recently used Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White on upper cabinets and Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe on lower cabinets in a kitchen project and it turned out so well. The dark gray really grounded the design, and the satin brass hardware that we used really popped against it, while white on the upper cabinets and walls kept the space feeling light and bright. For both, we used a matte finish that was still wipeable for a more modern take. Both of these shades also work well with stainless steel appliances and Carrara marble.” — Elizabeth Lawson, Elizabeth Lawson Design

2. Crisp white

“Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace is a nice clean, crisp white that works really well in any kitchen. It allows other design elements to stand out as a focal point, such as the blue stove in the above kitchen, or a warm wood island. We’ve used it in many homes and it always ends up looking great. ” — Renee DiSanto, Park and Oak

3. Understated gray

“When it comes to kitchens, I never tire of bright, white spaces. It’s a classic look that stands the test of time and allows your furniture (and food!) to be the hero of the room. That being said, I love adding a subtle contrast to strong white walls with Farrow and Ball’s Cornforth White in their Estate Eggshell finish for the cabinetry. It’s a wispy shade that reads like a cloud-gray and adds the perfect amount of depth to a space.” — Crystal Palecek, Crystal Palecek Interiors

4. Vibrant blue

“If we are going for a bit of a bold contrast, we tend to gravitate towards darker blues. In the kitchen above, Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy gives the space a lot of depth and warmth. The blue is timeless, but makes a statement, which is one of our favorite design combos!” — Megan Papworth, E. Interiors

5. White and dark gray

“To add a splash of sophistication to bright white kitchens (my favorites are Farrow and Ball’s All White and Benjamin Moore Decorators White — both are bright and welcoming), I like to add a dark gray, like Benjamin Moore Gray to the cabinets. It’s the perfect combination. These colors go with all finishes (stainless steel, brass, bronze, black, etc.) and complement both a natural stone (such as marble) and a quartz counter.” — Claire Zinnecker, Claire Zinnecker Design

6. A slightly off-white white

“We love using Benjamin Moore’s White Heron for kitchens. It’s a beautiful, bright white without any weird undertones. The color feels light and airy — we love the way it works with Carrara and Calcatta marbles, as well as colored countertops and tiles, because it’s such a neutral and versatile hue. On cabinets and trim, we usually use a satin finish unless we want a higher gloss or a hand-painted look — then we switch to semi-gloss. ” — Amy Storm, DesignStorms Interior Designs

7. Greige

“Generally when a paint color goes wrong, it’s because the wrong undertone was selected. Gray isn’t just gray — there are blue-grays, green-grays, purple-grays, etc. Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore is the perfect greige (a mix of beige and grey). Often times, we are dealing with existing tile that has a lot of gold and I’ve found that Balboa Mist can really help tone it down for a more cool, neutral affect. It’s literally the perfect shade to complement so many things.” — Leyla Bowden Jaworski, Design Shop Interiors

Have you painted your kitchen cabinets recently? What color did you use? Or maybe you’re currently eyeing something specific? Tell us in the comments!

The Best Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors, According to 18 Designers

AD It Yourself

Plus, how to paint with them

Choosing kitchen cabinet paint colors that will make your cupboards pop may seem like an impossible task when there are so many brands and shades to choose from. But whether your inclination is to go for a classic white or think outside the box a bit with a moody hue, there are plenty of designer-approved options that you should feel confident about choosing. Below, 18 designers weigh in on the kitchen cabinet paint colors that they find to be ultra-dreamy and perfect for your DIY painting job.

A kitchen by Amhad Freeman showcases wall cabinets in Sherwin-Williams’ Crushed Ice.

Photo: Nick McGinn

Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice (SW 7647)

“This is the most absolute perfect color of light gray, and it’s as close to white as possible. I request that the cabinets be primed with standard white primer, as it will provide a clean and clear backdrop for the truest color. Always use semigloss paint, and have the cabinets hand-painted for the best look. This way, if the paint chips or gets scratched, they can be touched up much easier!”—Amhad Freeman

Farrow & Ball Pointing (No. 2003)

“It’s the perfect shade of creamy white and looks great with anything from veiny Paonazzo marble to Belgian Bluestone countertops. A little tip: I always recommend a hand-painted finish. I really adore seeing the faintest hint of paintbrush lines; I think this adds so much character.”—Alyssa Kapito

Behr Ultra Dark Cobalt Blue Extra Durable Semi-Gloss Enamel Interior Paint & Primer (PPU15-3)

“My favorite kitchen cabinet paint color is deep cobalt blue. While this color is striking, it also represents peace and serenity—perfect for one of the most-used places in your home. To achieve the desired look, you need three coats.”—Dominique Fluker

Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal (HC-166)

“This is a saturated warm gray that works well in kitchens and bathrooms. For cabinet durability, oil-based paint is the best. We have the cabinets sanded thoroughly, then use an oil-based primer. I prefer to have existing cabinets sprayed for a clean look, but they can be hand-brushed as well. If a client is sensitive to smell, I recommend using Benjamin Moore’s Stix primer followed by their waster-based Advance paint line.”—Laura Casey

Sherwin-Williams Caviar (SW 6990)

“Choosing a black with depth can be a bit challenging, but we’re leaning into Caviar as the perfect black for kitchen cabinets. To keep the cabinets from getting too flat and cold, we suggest utilizing festive hardware in brass finishes to warm them up a bit.”—Eneia White

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist (OC-27)

“It’s one of those paint shades that looks beautiful in almost any setting. It breathes an air of sophistication and visual appeal to any space. I recommend two coats of paint paired with one coat of primer for optimal results.”—Nishi Donovan

Sherwin-Williams Salty Dog (SW 9177) and Sherwin-Williams Dark Night (SW 6237)

“These impactful blues allow for a lovely contrast when paired with lighter natural or quartz countertops. We recommend using a tinted primer close to your color to cut down on the number of coats needed—at least 50 percent of the full color should be in the primer. Don’t shy away from a fun and dramatic color!”—Laura Umansky

Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone (No. 241) and Farrow & Ball Strong White (No. 2001)

“Off colors that straddle the line between gray and beige are particularly stunning and can work well with both dark and light countertops. They have just enough pigment, so if your countertops are marble, the cabinet paint intentionally doesn’t match (versus a white, which has to be perfect). Like all paint jobs, be sure to test in different lights, such as early morning and dusk.”—Anne Mueller

Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117)

“We love a creamy white kitchen cabinet and often use this—it looks great with many different quartz and marble countertops and is clean, simple, and not too bright. From our experience, kitchen cabinets require a primer and a minimum of two coats of paint. We strongly recommend letting your paint cure for a minimum of 48 hours; we like to wait three days before adding hardware and all your favorite items back.”—Liz Goldberg

 Sherwin-Williams’ Black Magic stars in this kitchen by Arianne Bellizaire.

Photo: Jessie Preza

Most Popular

Sherwin-Williams Black Magic (SW 6991)

“For any darker color, you will likely need more coats to fully cover the cabinets. I almost always recommend choosing a semigloss finish on cabinets because it is a lower maintenance option than the flatter finishes. If covering an existing color, I would highly recommend a primer to neutralize the base and then allow the new color to present without the bleed-through from the previous color.”—Arianne Bellizaire

Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029)

“This is a very light, warm gray that works well with all types of neutrals—whether they’re cooler or warmer—and contrasts beautifully with darks. When painting with this shade, one coat should probably do it if you are going from a pure white, but for existing dark cabinets, I recommend at least two or even three coats to fully cover. For a more dramatic, elegant look, I recommend a semigloss or even high-gloss finish. For a more casual look, go for a flat enamel sheen.”—Amy Youngblood

Benjamin Moore Soft Sand (2106-60)

“It’s all about blush right now. A lot of clients who are getting sick of going white with their cabinets have been trending toward a soft, pale pink. When this color is done in a high-gloss mirror-like finish, it comes across as very chic yet romantic. My pick would be Benjamin Moore’s Soft Sand (2106-60) tinted in the Fine Paints of Europe’s Hollandlac Brilliant 98 enamel. You will need someone with experience in using those types of finishes; it would need to be sanded down and sprayed on and can take up to 5 to 10 layers to get the right sheen. The multilayer process ensures that there is not a bump to be felt when you brush your fingers across the final product. ”—Blanche Garcia

In a kitchen by Beth Diana Smith, the back of the peninsula is painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Caviar.

Photo: Mike Van Tassell 

Sherwin-Williams Origami White (SW 7636)

Most Popular

“You’ll see me use this color any and everywhere. With its warm gray undertone, it will never feel stark or cold. And using this warmer white with brass hardware gives a very sophisticated kitchen vibe that can be made playful or modern.”—Beth Diana Smith

Farrow & Ball Studio Green (No. 93)

“I like that this is almost a soft black with a hint of green. To prep your millwork or paint over previously painted cabinets, start by using a wood knot and resin blocking primer. I usually do three to four coats of this before putting on the primer. Farrow & Ball recommends different primers based on the shade you pick. For example, we did one coat of Interior Wood and a primer undercoat for dark tones. We used the Estate Eggshell finish for our topcoat, because I prefer a low-shine finish on my cabinets, as it hides any imperfections that you may see otherwise. Finally, we did two coats with an air sprayer, with four hours of drying time between.”—Pallavi Kale

Sherwin-Williams Privilege Green (SW 6193)

“Green is gaining popularity, with nearly all the paint companies selecting a version of green as their current color of the year. I have found that the key is proper prep work. If the cabinets are not prepped properly, the paint finish looks amateurish. So whether it’s a DIY project or you hire a painter, be sure that time will be put into sanding and smoothing the cabinets before painting.”— Pamela O’Brien

Farrow & Ball Lime White (No. 1)

“This is a really rich taupe-y off-white that is completely classic but very warm and interesting. I like to do this shade in either Modern Eggshell or Full Gloss depending on the look we are trying to achieve. Full Gloss works better in a space that’s a little more polished, and Modern Eggshell is perfect when we're trying to achieve a more rustic look. I always suggest using the Farrow & Ball primer under the paint, as even the most beautiful cabinet color in the world still won’t look good if it’s scuffed and chipped.”—Emma Beryl

Christina Kim Interior Design conceived this kitchen with North End Builders. The cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray.

Photo: Raquel Langworthy Photography

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23)

“This is actually a white paint with a tiny drop of warm gray. It’s a great look for an elevated white kitchen. First things first: We always wash the cabinets with a degreaser. Then they get sanded before getting one coat of an oil-based primer. We let that dry for a day or two and try not to rush it. Then we cover the cabinets in two coats of Benjamin Moore Advance in the Satin finish and lightly sand between coats. I’m always amazed when even older cabinets turn out so fresh and great-looking!”—Christina Kim

Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015)

“This is my go-to neutral kitchen cabinet color. It’s the perfect shade of greige—not too gray or too beige—and brings that earthy, organic vibe I love to see in kitchens. Choosing a high-quality paint is crucial. Kitchen cabinets are not the place to skimp on quality. Finish is also extremely important; be sure to select a durable finish that’s easy to wipe. Leave the eggshell and matte paints for your walls: Choose a more durable finish that won’t hold on to all your sticky fingerprints.”—McCall Dulkys

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How to update an old wardrobe, photos and ideas

Update an old wardrobe, give individuality to serial furniture, fill the house with mood - color can do a lot

Colored furniture in the house traditionally ends up in the children's room more often than in the living room. Nevertheless, we advise you to seriously think about "upgrading" pieces of furniture with the help of color - or to get ready-made colored ones. A well-painted wardrobe or chest of drawers often decorates and “holds” the interior. Here are some tricks on how to update an old wardrobe with your own hands, choosing the right color, as well as tips for painting multi-door furniture and storage systems.

Melissa Hill Home Design

Traffic Light
Thinking about how to update your closet with your own hands - look at the photo. Bright saturated color is able to give a second life to any old furniture. The most stable interior accents are green, yellow, red. They are very good when the tones are bright, clean. But derived hues can also be wonderful; the main thing is that there should be a correspondence between them and the rest of the colors of the interior. If you decide to paint an old Soviet wardrobe in rich grassy green, then it is better to repeat it or its derivatives in the curtain pattern, but not green in cold shades.

Tip: Before painting a polished cabinet, carefully remove the old polish, otherwise the paint will not adhere evenly or not at all.

Michelle Hinckley

In order for a bright chest of drawers to fulfill its role as it should, use the rule: the walls of the room should be a neutral shade. Cream, gray (any shades) as a background for the colors of the "traffic light" is the most suitable solution.

Tip: If the shape of the chest of drawers is complex, choose bright yellow. Shadows that form curves will look graceful, not heavy.

Annie Thornton

Black and white are the perfect company for a red dresser. Of course, in this case, allusions with the avant-garde of the beginning of the last century cannot be avoided, but this is exactly what designers usually want to achieve by choosing scarlet storage systems. Enjoy it! The red chest of drawers is the best stand for black and white posters, paintings and photographs.

Daria Nazarenko

If the interior uses all the colors of the "traffic light" at the same time, you need to be careful. There is always a risk that the interior of the adult part of the house will get too childish. And this is exactly what I would like to avoid in the living room or bedroom.

Tip: Do not grind. Let the bright object be one of the largest in the room.

Olga Shangina | Photography

Before you update an old wardrobe with your own hands, decide what exactly you will paint. The bright color of the facades can be combined with another, deliberately neutral finish - for example, with wood. In this case, the emphasis will be on the contrast of artificial and natural. If the balance of both is right, then the thing will look like an expensive gallery object, even if it's just a "IKEA" pine cabinet painted in a complex shade.

Victoria Skorobogatko

Let blue be difficult!
Bright blue color for the interior is one of the most difficult. Blue furniture, if there is too much of it, creates a tangible effect of tension. About the same as the blue food in the plate. Historically, there was practically no blue color in the interior - except for the blue sky in the window and doorway.

Maria Turykina

Therefore, blue must be treated as an exception, a neat detail. And if possible, look for complex shades in the palettes. Believe me, there are a lot of acceptable derivatives of blue, and it's not always electric blue or azure. And if you choose blue with a touch of green, then there will be much more combination options.

La Rabota

Color stretching
The principle when one color is chosen and stretched from dark to light. The method is suitable for those who tend to perceive color as a visual vitamin and collect things of similar shades. To avoid piling up objects close in tone, you can repaint the same chest of drawers based on the next seasonal hobby.

SEE ALSO…
More than 800 photos of chests of drawers in the interior of an apartment and house

NCh-BUREAU

Color in historic furniture furniture
Not sure how to update an old inherited kitchen cabinet? - Feel free to paint in bright colors! Colored, I must say, the furniture was historically. And most manufacturers of ironic classics actively use bright colors for furniture "in styles" and do not hesitate to use many colors at the same time. If you doubt the coefficient of their compatibility - take the colors closer to the pastel or "dusty" range, but do not completely deprive them of their brightness.

Erika Bierman Photography

Advice: Paint yourself - paint by box! When each box will have its own color, which is quite convenient. You can always say: "Documents in the red box" - and it will be immediately clear where they are.

You can paint the chest of drawers not across, but along. You just need to understand why this is being done. If a French flag is made from a chest of drawers, as in this case, then this is a gesture with meaning. If this meaning is not enough, then it is better to prefer transverse stripes.

Ithaca Architecture

“Mondrian”
A somewhat hackneyed but still favorite trick of all storage system manufacturers is to paint their cabinets and chests of drawers with a large number of square drawers in such a way that some of the squares remain white and the rest turned out to be made in primary colors, plus white and black.

There are (as in the photo) more difficult options that are worth trying, if only for the fact that they make such obvious references to a well-known plot. In addition, for painting “under Mondrian”, a square facade is preferable.

Read also ...

Full wall
Built-in systems with compartment doors also benefit greatly from the bright color. Four expressive shades for glossy doors will make painting the walls superfluous.

YOUR TURN…
Are you ready to buy a colored chest of drawers or order bright wardrobe doors? Do you plan to repaint the wooden furniture yourself ? What color? Share your ideas with us in the comments section!

The best interior colors. Designer advice. Grey. White. Beige

About grays and neutrals from the Top 50 Paint Colors palette

The best paint colors for walls and ceilings according to a professional.
The world's best-selling interior and exterior colors.
The best shades of grey: from almost white to almost black.
How does color change under different lighting conditions?

When choosing a paint color for the interior or exterior of your home, it's a good practice to familiarize yourself with the palettes of the most popular and best-selling colors. Such palettes are formed on the basis of the choice of both professional designers and owners of apartments and houses, and help not to drown in the ocean of thousands of available shades of paint and varnish products. This can often be a great starting point when looking for the perfect color.

Below is a palette of the 50 most popular and best-selling paints of the famous Sherwin-Williams company. Of these, we select the 12 most versatile and reliable gray and analyze them in more detail. There will be descriptions and tips for using a particular color, with explanations of why this color is more appropriate in certain places and conditions. The “pluses” and “minuses” of the selected colors will also be taken into account.

In this article, we rely on the great experience of US designer Cindy Alred.
Give her the floor:

Repose Gray

The number one color in the world in all paint companies. Of course, this cannot be said with absolute certainty, but I would be very surprised if I knew that this was not so. Repose Gray is a fantastic warm light gray that I highly recommend to my clients because it is perfection when it comes to painting all the walls in the house with neutral light tones.

Pros : Versatility. This gray is especially good because it not only looks beautiful during the day in natural light, but is also one of those rare colors that look great in the dark under artificial light. When changing the color temperature of the lighting, unpleasant shades do not appear.

Cons : In rooms with plenty of natural light, Repose can produce a very faint bluish-gray cast.

By the way, all the colors on the Repose Gray fan card (card 244) hit the bestseller list, which is not surprising, because this set is just great. These are stunning and versatile colors and you will see some of them below.

Sea Salt

This color is almost as popular as the previous one. The vast majority in the poll named it as their favorite Sherwin-Williams color. You can safely go for it if you are looking for a soothing and serene spa color.

Pros : Peace and serenity. When properly lit, Sea Salt is one of the most beautiful shades of blue-green-gray.

Cons : Has a chameleon effect and can be finicky in certain lighting conditions (usually areas with lots of natural light). It is very important to do a test run first. This color looks best in rooms with little or no natural light (bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.).

Worldly Gray

This is another trustworthy warm light gray that is very close to Repose Grey, but slightly warmer and darker. I often recommend it to clients instead of Repose Gray as the overall color for the whole interior if there is a lot of natural light in the room, as the former can look too white in such conditions.

Pros : In rooms with lots of natural light, Worldly Gray is ideal and versatile.

Cons : This color will appear darker in areas with low natural light, and may look a bit heavier than a traditional warm light grey.

Crushed Ice

I first met Crushed Ice recently when I was redecorating my living room. I chose it as a replacement for Repose Gray (our number one), which looked a bit lighter than I'd like in this space. And in the end, I just fell in love with him, so I can confidently recommend you to try this color. It's a little lighter, a little cooler, and has a little more pigment than Repose Grey.

Pros : Crushed Ice is a stunning warm light gray that sits between a light (with barely visible color) and a medium tone. A rare gem in the range of intermediate neutrals.

Cons : Crushed Ice looks better in areas with moderate natural light. Not the best choice for rooms without windows.

Dorian Gray

This is another fantastic neutral warm gray in the midtone range. I used it on my client's range hood and it looks beautiful. Dorian Gray also works great as a neutral color for furniture.

Pros : Found on the same color fan card (244) as Repose Grey, but only two shades darker. A very versatile color for walls and cabinets.

Cons: Too much natural light can cause Dorian Gray to become colder and no longer look like a warm grey.

Dovetail

If you're looking for something darker than a neutral mid-tone warm gray, then Dovetail is a great choice. It is well suited for interior doors and cabinets. It is unlikely to be suitable for painting all the walls in the room, but the accent wall of this color will look beautiful.

Pros : Dovetail is a win-win option when you want to add contrast to a room, but don't want to use very dark tones so as not to lose the overall lightness.

Cons : Dovetail may take on a warmer tone in artificially lit rooms. Although it doesn't hurt him too much, he remains handsome. Drift of Mist It's a very subtle color that I consider to be an almost perfect neutral.

Pros : Drift of Mist is one of those rare colors that solves the problem when neither white nor more saturated colors are suitable.

Cons : There is a very slight hint of muted yellow (very faint). This is what distinguishes it from white, softening to neutral. And, although I do not like the presence of yellow, but this color I could use at home.

Peppercorn

No wonder Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn is on the bestseller list because the color is unheard of good! This overcast dark gray has tremendous depth and is perfect for an accent wall, closets, and some very small spaces.

Pros : Peppercorn is one of the most trusted dark grays. It always looks good on walls, cabinets and interior accents.

Cons : No problems come to mind with this color. He always looks great.

Iron Ore

The next sample is a beautiful very dark gray with a brown tint that has become a popular choice for interior doors, cabinets and facade elements. Truly an amazing color!

Pros : Iron Ore is a stunning deep and heavy color. It adds instant contrast to a space if used sparingly.

Cons : When using this color for finishing exterior elements, be careful to make sure that it blends harmoniously with the overall color of the facade, even if it is almost white. Indoors, this is less true, but the bright sunlight outside brings out the Iron Ore tones strongly.

Black Fox

Another fantastic dark color on the bestseller list that is very similar to the previous one is Black Fox. But while Iron Ore tends to be dark gray, Black Fox is more of a very dark brown.

Pros : Very rich dark, perfect accent color for walls, interiors and facades. Very versatile.

Cons : In windowless rooms with artificial light, Black Fox can have a rather warm undertone, but still be beautiful.

Tricorn Black

Of the black colors I most often prefer Tricorn black in my projects. First of all, because it really looks like black. And small brown-gray undertones save him from excessive roughness and harshness.

Pros : This is a very versatile and reliable color for both interiors and exteriors. If you are looking for the best black color, you can go for it, because it is really beautiful.

Cons : I've never had a problem with this color. He won't let you down. The taupe shade complements almost any color when used as an exterior finish or accent color.

Mindful

I have been using Mindful Gray for many years both on client projects and for myself. I think Mindful Gray is one of the prettiest and safest warm grays and is great especially for furniture.

Pros : An extremely versatile warm gray that looks best in cabinets and other furniture, as well as fronts. It's a little heavy to get a warm gray on the walls, but it's fine if you're looking for a warmer, mid-tone gray.

Cons : In rooms with a lot of natural light, Mindful Gray can look cold, but still not lose its splendor. However, if you want a warm gray that stays warm even in these lighting conditions, then Mindful Gray is not the best solution here.

Most of the Sherwin Williams colors featured on this list are simply stunning. I haven't worked with many yellow/beige tones so I didn't rate them in this review.

And one more thing. Before using any of the colors I've given excellent marks to, be sure to test them in the room and lighting they're intended for. Lighting can change color drastically and I wish you weren't disappointed!

For information on how light changes color, see article Warm and cold interior lighting.

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