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What are the most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors?
This is a question I see quite often. It’s no surprise though, kitchen cabinets are a major part of a kitchen and you of course want them to look the best they can. I get it! I’ve been there.
Painting your outdated kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to give them a new life. If they are in good shape, why not? Painting your cabinets is the best way to update your kitchen.
So you know you want to paint your kitchen cabinets, but what paint color should you choose?
Who better to ask about the most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors than non-other than the cabinet painting experts? At WOW 1 Day Painting, we do paint our fair share of cabinets and I am going to share the most popular paint colors customers go for. However, I wanted to talk with someone who exclusively paints kitchen cabinets, a true expert in the matter.
I decided to reach out to the very talented, expert cabinet painter, Bethany from My Reclaimed Cottage to find out what paint colors are most popular among her clients.
As expected, white paint colors topped the list, however, there were a handful of non-white paint colors that also made it. It’s a true mixed bag of paint colors.
Before I dive into the actual paint colors there a few tips to remember when you are choosing a kitchen cabinet paint color.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLOR
So when you start thinking about a paint color make sure you take into account your walls, counters, backsplash, floor, and appliances. You want everything to be in balance and play nicely with one another.
Consider the following:
- Cabinet style
- Kitchen size
- Decor style
- Lighting – natural and artificial
- Countertop color
- Backsplash
- Floor color
- Appliances
Do your paint color research.
All that being said it’s a good idea to do some research before diving right in with a paint color for your kitchen cabinets. You want to make sure it’s the best choice and you’ll enjoy it for years to come.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Do a Google search for the paint color you are thinking about. You’ll be able to find great articles and pictures of what the color looks like.
I have a ton of in-depth posts about all different paint colors. For example, my two most recent paint color posts were the ever so popular Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray and Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.
- Go to Pinterest. Just like Google, you’ll be able to find several helpful pictures of the paint colors in question.
I am browsing and posting on Pinterest all the time. Check out my Pinterest page for some inspiration.
- Talk to a professional. Sometimes scheduling a color consultation and getting help from someone who knows about paint colors can be a tremendous help.
This is something I do all the time for clients. A lot of the time people know what they want but they just need a little help making the final decision.
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Sure, painting your cabinets is much cheaper than replacing them but, if you choose the wrong color you’ll end up repainting them. Not only is this more time but, it’s also more money.
13 MOST POPULAR KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS
Choosing a paint color for interior walls is undoubtedly difficult, we know it’s no easy task. And choosing a paint color for kitchen cabinets is no different. No one wants to deal with the frustration and headache that can come from picking the wrong paint color.
Some of the most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors are whites and grays. But as of lately some cabinet colors that have been trending are darker colors and blues.
So, today I’m sharing with you the 13 best and most popular kitchen cabinet paint colors.
PURE WHITE SW 7005 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 84
Sherwin WIlliams Pure White is such an all around beautiful white paint color. What makes this partiular white such a popular color for kitchen cabinets? It’s because Pure White has, in my opinion the absolute perfect balane of undertones. Some whites can have a loud blue or yellow undertone that pushes them to the warmer or cooler side. Whereas Pure White is right smack in the middle not leaning one way or the other. It’s an amazing white kitchen cabinet color for sure.
ALABASTER SW 7008 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 82
It’s no surprise that Sherwin Williams Alabaster made it to the popular kitchen cabinet paint colors list. It’s a fantastic off-white paint color. It’s a great option for kitchen finishes that have some warm tones in them. Being that Alabaster isn’t a stark white, rather it’s more on the creamy side, it just works well.
REPOSE GRAY SW 7015 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 58
Surprise, surprise, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray made it to the popular list. Actually, no surprise at all! Repose Gray is my favorite gray paint color. I think it’s the best Sherwin Williams gray paint color for kitchen cabinets. It works well on cabinets because it has some depth to it. Repose is not too light of a gray, it’s just dark enough.
ALPACA SW 7022 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 57
This one I was surprised about. Sherwin WIlliams Alpaca is a warm, greige/taupe paint color. It’s warmer that Repose Gray. I think Alpaca is a popular kitchen cabinet paint color for the fact that it is a warmer taupe-ish color. Taupe paint colors work well with fixed elements like tile, with pink undertones. So the slight taupish feel Alpace has makes it an extremely useful color for kitchen cabinets.
IRON ORE SW 7069 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 6
Dark kitchen cabinets are making a comeback. I’m seeing them everywhere. Need proof? Iron Ore from Sherwin WIlliams made the popular list. Iron Ore is such a requested cabinet color because it’s dark and moody, yet it’s not quite black.
PEPPERCORN SW 7674 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 10
Sherwin Williams Peppercorn is a fantastic dark gray paint color. Just like Iron Ore, Peppercorn is a dark bold gray however it’s a bit lighter and grayer. Peppercorn is a great option for kitchen cabinets.
CHANTILLY LACE OC-65 BENJAMIN MOORE
LRV 92.2
Chantilly Lace is the best Benjamin Moore white paint color for kitchen cabinets when you want a true white. There are no surprises with this gorgeous Benjamin Moore white. Chantilly Lace is a crisp and clean white. It’s a favorite among designers and homeowners alike. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular cabinet colors.
WATER’S EDGE 1635 BENJAMIN MOORE
LRV 30.42. Also known as James River Gray AC-23
I am genuinely so happy to see Benjamin Moore Water’s Edge make it to the popular list. Why do you ask? Because blue kitchen cabinets are so beautiful! They make a bold statement without being too bold. Water’s Edge is the perfect blue-gray kitchen cabinet color. Blue-gray paint colors tend to be a bit more neutral than straight-up blues which make them easier to use.
BLUE NOTE 2129-30 BENJAMIN MOORE
LRV 7.14
Blue Note by Benjamin Moore is another fantastic kitchen cabinet paint color. Not only is it a darker color, but it’s also another blue on the popular list. This is a bold color that will make a statement in your kitchen. Whether you use Blue Note on all your cabinets or as an accent on your island, this color will truly shine. Try pairing it with brass cabinet pulls to complete the kitchens look.
WHITE DOVE OC-17 BENJAMIN MOORE
LRV 85.38
Yet another beautiful off-white paint color to add to the popular list. Benjamin Moore White Dove is truly one of the best white paint color for kitchen cabinets. Like SW Alabaster, it’s not a bright, stark white. There is a tiny bit of warm to it that makes it easy to use with the fixed elembet in your kitchen.
DORIAN GRAY SW 7017 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 39
Are you still wondering if gray is a popular kitchen cabinet paint color? Wonder no more, it still is. Dorian Gray by Sherwin Williams is a darker, more mid-toned gray paint color. It works well on kitchen cabinets because it has greige undertones. The balance of undertones makes it effortless to pair with the fixed elements of a kitchen.
NAVAL SW 6244 SHERWIN WILLIAMS
LRV 4
Not only is Sherwin Willaims Naval an overall fan favorite but it’s also on the popular kitchen cabinet paint color list. Honestly, I knew Naval would make the list. It can be considered a navy blue but with a bit more saturation to it. In my experience, Naval is often used as an accent color, for with a two tones kitchen cabinet look or on an island.
SIMPLY WHITE 2143-70 BENJAMIN MOORE
LRV 91.7
Guess white, I mean what? We have another popular white kitchen cabinet paint color on the list. You saw it coming, I did say that white paint colors topped the list. So, Sherwin Williams Simply White is a warm white with a touch of yellow in it. It’s a great update option for kitchens that have warmer tones in them.
Let’s take a quick break to talk about PAINT SAMPLES!
Instead of physically going to your nearest paint store to grab your samples, you need to try Samplize Peel & Stick paint samples.
Why should you try Samplize?
- Super affordable
- Mess-free
- Non-damaging
- Made with real manufacturer paint
- Displays color just like a wall
- Environmental friendly
- Reusable
These peel & stick paint samples are super affordable and allow you to test a paint color in all different areas of a room without the mess of a traditional paint sample!
You know how I feel about testing paint colors, itโs a must!
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POPULAR KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS RECAP
Some of the most popular paint colors on this list are what you would expect. But I do think that people are exploring different options other than white and the proof is on this list. There are dark as well as light gray. Then there are also different shades of blue. It’s a well rounded mix of colors and I believe they are all amazing paint color options for kitchen cabinets.
THE BEST SHERWIN WILLIAMS KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS
- PURE WHITE
- ALABASTER
- REPOSE GRAY
- ALPACA
- IRON ORE
- PEPPERCORN
- DORIAN GRAY
- NAVAL
READ MORE: THE BEST SHERWIN WILLIAM SGRAY PAINT COLORS
THE BEST BENJAMIN MOORE KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS
- CHANTILLY LACE
- WATER’S EDGE
- BLUE NOTE
- WHITE DOVE
- SIMPLY WHITE
READ MORE: THE BEST BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY PAINT COLORS
Don’t start painting until you have the right tools!
SHOP MUST HAVE PAINTING TOOLS
FINAL THOUGHTS – POPULAR KITCHEN CABINET PAINT COLORS
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen. Paint can truly transform the space. Not only is it a more budget-friendly way to renovate your kitchen, but it’s also a project you can DIY.
READ MORE: HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS
When it comes to choosing a kitchen cabinet paint color, don’t forget to take into account things like the lighting or design features in the room. You want to make sure the kitchen is well balanced.
Don’t forget to swatch the paint color you choose. If you read my paint color posts, you’ll see I’m adamant about this.
Be prepared to swatch! Grab yourself some chippy brushes.
Swatching the paint colors will allow you to get a real feel of how they look once they are up on the cabinets.
Use Samplize Peel & Stick Paint Samples for a mess-free way to test paint colors!
Finally, take your time and go through the appropriate steps when choosing the perfect cabinet color. Using this advice will save you time, money, and aggravation in the long run.
Before you go, sign up below to receive your free Painting Checklist. It’s a great way to keep a handy list of all your paint colors.
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I love the look of the blue ones!
So fun right?? I think you need some blue cabinets in your life!
No Blue cabinets for me. I much prefer a blue grey
Blue is definitely not for everyone. Blue grey would be a gorgeous option!
Your post very essential for choosing cabinet colors. Here the combination of grey is much preferable for me. Others are also very standard combinations. Thanks a lot for helping me out to choose the color!!
I too love the gray cabinets. I’m glad you found it helpful!! Thank you!
My beautiful large kitchen has green granite on island and counters.
-The name is Hawaiian green , it is definitely dark green with an occasional dot of dark red. -Cabinets and fridge are dark stained solid cherry. the b
-Back splash is soft, cream/ white 5″ stone squares set on diagonal.
-Hard wood floors.- medium color.
-Bronze hardward pulls
After 15 years of the dark look, I want to go lighter. Would Antigue white by Benjamin Moore worK, especially with dark green granite?
Hi Neil!
Check out the color Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. Its a warm off white that I think will complement your beautiful green granite. Sometimes Antique White can show some pinkish undertones in certain lighting. Make sure to swatch your choices!
color called barnyard grey?
I’m not familiar with the color.
I have ‘Days End’ by Benjamin Moore in my kitchen for the island and lower cabinetry. I have white for my pantry cabinetry and around my fridge, and my one upper cabinet. The rest of the uppers are floating shelves. I LOVE the navy/gray color of Days End.
Hey Jill,
First off, your kitchen sounds like a dream! and Second, I too love how dramatic the color Days End is.
I’m struggling. My floor has browns, tans and gray and I want my walls gray and cabinets a gray but what I end up with is blue. Going Greige is an idea but did want to pull out the gray in my flooring and have more gray to my kitchen. ideas??
Hey Kay,
not knowing exactly how the floors look, its hard to give you a color that will work perfectly. However. I can recommend you take a look at a few Greige paint colors that may do the trick. Lighter options Sherwin williams Agreeable Gray 7029, Repose Gray 7015, Worldly Gray 7043. Darker options.Dorian Gray 7017, Mega Greige7031 and Intellectual Gray 7045
Kay. I need help. New kitchen coming soon. Shawn
Nice options. Are you able to have look at the name of the paint colour on the resource you’ve made for pinning? 2nd row from top, first colour in the row. It’s repeated from the bottom row and I believe the bottom colour matches the name.
Hey Alita,
Thank you for making me aware of this. I thought I fixed this a while ago.
The color Should be White Dove by Benjamin Moore. I have updated the picture for reference.
Hello,
I want to paint my kitchen (well the whole house In BM classic Gray) and I was thinking about doing SW Alabaster for the kitchen cabinets. My floors are Pergo rustic amber chestnut. Do you think I can pull it off? Or itโs too much. Any advice is welcomed and appreciated. Thank you ๐
The look of two different shades on the top and the bottom is one that appeals to me. What are the visual effects of having the darker shade on the top cabinets versus the lighter shade on top w the darker on the bottom?
Thank you!
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ, ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ณ๐๐น. ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด. ๐’๐บ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฏ๐น๐๐ฒ.
๐๐ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ ๐ธ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ? ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ณ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ. ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐?
I have an antique Harvest Gold stove and don’t want to get rid of it. I want to paint my kitchen cabinets an off white color. They are now a shade of light yellow. What color would you recommend to compliment the stove? Thanks for any help!
I have my walls painted Agreeable gray. My floor is tile, white with a little taupe, mostly white. I can’t decide what color to paint my cupboards. Any suggestions?
Hi KB,
Are you looking to go dark or light?
Light, I currently have dark brown kitchen cupboards.
I have Black walnut stained cabinets, wall color is a taupe that can has a medium grey/brown tone(custom color). My new floors are light grey, Small brick tile backsplash has cream white, tan, deep taupe. The countertops are a taupe quartz. Iโm debating on painting the island cabinets an accent or complimentary color but Iโm not sure what color will work. Any ideas ?
I have a very small kitchen that I am in the process to paint the walls and cabinets. I was thinking gauntlet gray on cabinets and LFG or Repose Gray for the walls. Would they coordinate well together?
Hi Kim,
Yes, I think either one you choose will work. Light French Gray is a cooler toned color compared to Repose Gray. Both great options.
Are you familiar with the color KITTY GRAY by BM? How would that be for a kitchen island and a range hood that is amongst a wall of white cabinets?
Hi Kim,
BM Kitty Gray is a beautiful dark gray with a blue/green undertone. I think it would look amazing with the white cabinets.
I’m so nervous – starting kitchen painting today – doing SW Alabaster top cabinets with SW Roycroft Mist Gray bottoms and a Charcoal blue island with Mega Griege accent wall behind cabinets. I know it’s a lot of colors but I think they go well together – I have been so stressed over this!
Choosing paint colors can certainly be stressful!
I hope you love it!
Hi I painted my walls in Sherwin williams silver point grey, I have tile flooring in a neutral looking color. I want to repaint my kitchen cabinets in sherwin williams naval with white counter top. Do you think this combination will pull it off?
Hi Andrea,
It sounds like it will work. But without seeing the space I’m just guessing.
Naval and Silverpointe with work together though.
Hope that helps!
For weeks Iโve been going back and forth between navy blue or charcoal grey cabinets. Iโm so glad you mentioned Charcoal Blue from Sherwin Williams, thatโs exactly what I want! A perfect mix between the two. We have a kitchen cabinet painting company coming to paint our cabinets in a few weeks so this post was super helpful! Thank you!!
Hi Sadie,
I love getting comments like this!! I’m so glad my post helped you find your perfect color!!
I am painting feature walls BB porcini CSP-195 and the rest of the walls Balboa Mist what is your thoughts on this
Hello!
I’m looking to paint all the cabinets in my house. The kitchen, wet bar and baths. My kithen and wet bar have a dark granite white is a mix of dark green and black with light gray and silver flecks. No backsplash and tan colored porcelain 12″ tiles. The current cabinets are an awful orangey wood tone. I’d like to brighten up the kitchen but don’t want a bright white. Suggestions?
Thank you!