One of the most important elements in the kitchen is the cabinets and how they are designed — their finish and color can make or break the room's look. For a lasting space, it's perhaps ideal to go for a tone that will never go out of style, so you don't have to change your kitchen cabinet paint color every few years. When looking for the right shade, consider one that works with various design styles.
To help you, we reached out to top experts to understand the best kitchen colors for cabinets and those that will deliver a design that feels everlasting. Take a look at these suggestions and get painting.
1. Ivory
Kitchen cabinets in ivory tones can make a space feel inviting and timeless. A warmer tone than stark white, ivory also has a way of making the kitchen feel fresh, new, and sleek.
"This classic shade brings a soft, timeless appeal to any kitchen," say Hardesh Chawla and Monica Chawla of Essentia Environments. "Its versatility allows it to blend well with both traditional and contemporary styles. The tone effortlessly pairs well with a wide range of accents, ensuring they remain stylish regardless of changing trends."
In this kitchen designed by Stephanie Sabbe of Sabbe Interior Design, the cabinets are drenched in Sherwin-Williams Naturel (SW-7542).
2. Navy blue
"Navy blue kitchen cabinet color is enduring and sophisticated, offering a bold yet versatile alternative to neutrals," shares Lauren Lerner, CEO and founder of Living with Lolo. "Navy acts as a neutral while providing depth and richness, giving the kitchen a stylish, elegant feel without being overly trendy."
This tone has always been in vogue as it has a calming, soothing visual. It blends well with any decor style so it’s a safe choice. A good paint color to experiment with is Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore as it's not too bright so it reads more neutral and has a slightly gray undertone for warmth.
3. Warm gray
A warm gray kitchen will never feel old, dated or staid. In fact, gray is one of the kitchen cabinet colors that will never go out of style, as it is a soothing tone that can be paired with brighter wall colors to energize the look.
“While cool gray tones in cabinetry feel a bit dated, warm gray tones like Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles create a serene and inviting vibe perfect for a classic kitchen," says Briana Gershenzon, partner and chief of design at Renovation Sells. "Try pairing this color with unlacquered brass or polished nickel finishes to enhance the warmth and timelessness of the room.”
4. White and blue
For the most relaxing kitchen color combination, consider a coastal theme with blue and white.
"White and blue often evoke coastal and nautical themes, which are always in style," says Barbara Vargas of nobilia North America. "Historically, this combination has been used since ancient times, seen in traditional pottery from the Netherlands and Chinese porcelain, and later in colonial and federal architecture to add character to homes."
You can do this with two-tone kitchen cabinets. This combo allows you to get creative when it comes to metal finishes, decor, and countertop material.
5. Gray-Green
"Green kitchens with a gray undertone are definitely having a moment, but they can also be timeless," adds Briana. "One of our favorite cabinet colors is Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog, SW 9130, because it's so versatile." With hints of green, gray, and blue, this tone complements both warm and cool palettes beautifully.
"Pair it with MSI's Fossil Gray quartz if you're going for a cooler-toned space," says Briana. "For a warmer feel, MSI's Calacatta Karmelo quartz is a perfect match."
6. Sage green
Sage green kitchens are reminiscent of the outdoors, and the tone is soft, grounding, and easy to live with.
"Sage adds depth without overwhelming the room," shares Barbara. "It is often associated with wellness and tranquility, qualities that every homeowner seeks."
7. Deep green
Among the kitchen cabinet colors that will never go out of style, is dark green. It’s a hue that we’ve grown up surrounded by and evokes a sense of growth, nourishment, and refreshment. "I think the color of cabinetry in the following image is really interesting," says Washington-based interior designer Lisa Staton. "Black, white, cream as well as navy and deep greens are classic and stand the test of time."
Dark green modern kitchens also provide a sense of visual stability; Their depth and darkness are both grounding and alluring. Staton’s pairing with brass fixtures helps to light up the kitchen and makes for a classic combination with the forest green.
8. Black
A black kitchen may sound like a bold idea but this tone is extremely versatile, which can be dialed up or down depending on the look you wish to achieve. A moody black space, that's well-lit can actually last generations. Plus, this deep color hides stains and marks easily, making your kitchen appear neat and clean, at all times.
What's also great about using black-saturated cabinetry is that the hardware of all finishes looks great against it. To warm up the scheme, you could add a natural wood paneled backsplash and flagstone flooring.
9. White
White, as a cabinet color, can be considered by some to be the ‘safe’ choice, but its ability to reflect light and create an elegant kitchen is second to none.
The key to creating a white kitchen that feels timeless and engaging is in the contrasting accents, as in this project from New York-based studio Ronen Lev — the navy cooker and brass accents add color and texture to the design.
"White and off-white hues exude a timeless elegance that can adapt to various design styles," says Jessica Kamel, co-founder of Ronen Lev. "We like to select an off-white hue like Farrow and Ball's School House White for kitchen cabinets. This color acts as a neutral canvas and a clean backdrop, allowing us to choose a statement marble for the countertops and backsplash. The lighter color can also make a space feel larger and brighter. They reflect light effectively, which is beneficial in smaller kitchens, or where there’s less natural light."
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10. Bronzed Tones
When it comes to choosing an unpainted material for a kitchen cabinet, wood can be a surprisingly tricky choice to get right. Interior design trends for wood shift over time, which could mean the on-trend wood tone you choose now might not hold up in years to come.
However, metallic accents are a little less fickle, and this kitchen from Tendens Studio presents brass as an eternal cabinet color. Brass’s appeal makes sense, this gilded hue provides all of the metallic glow of gold but with the earthiness of brown. Choosing a warm tone for your cabinet colors is an easy way to ensure your kitchen feels welcoming.
"When I'm sketching projects I like to assemble materials, colors, etc. to find the right combination," says Rasmus Buchmann from the Copenhagen-based practice. "For this project, I was working on a warm color palette with the idea of using steel as the primary material, with a mind on making it look like brass."
Opting for a textured finish also means your brass kitchen cabinets will be more resistant to marking over the years, allowing them to stand the test of time.
What color cabinets don't go out of style?
Amongst the sea of colors to choose from, experts especially suggest white, cream, black, green, and gray as tones that will never fall out of favor. You can choose different tones and incarnations of these colors to suit your interior design style.
What is the number one color to paint kitchen cabinets?
While there is no one specific color that is considered best for kitchen cabinets, experts say that the safest one is warm white or ivory. These tones give the kitchen a sterile feel without making it look cold.
