How to Choose Kitchen Cabinet Colors

How to Choose Kitchen Cabinet Colors

In order to make your dream kitchen come to life, you need to consider many different elements to get the most out of your space. One of the best starting places is choosing a color for your kitchen cabinets. The color of your cabinets will affect the look and feel of your kitchen. By following these tips, you’re sure to pick out the perfect color!

Look at your kitchen remodel’s design style

The design style of your kitchen should be your guide in picking out a cabinet color. Typically, traditional kitchen designs look best with classic kitchen cabinet colors, such as creams and whites. For more modern cabinet designs, bright colors and contrasting tones work best. Keeping your design style in mind will make selecting the color of your cabinets easier and less overwhelming.

Consider cabinet size and lighting

The size of your kitchen is something to take into consideration. If you have a small kitchen, then chances are you don’t have enough lighting. If not enough lighting is available, darker cabinet colors will make the area look cramped and uninviting. Choosing a light cabinet color in a smaller kitchen will allow your kitchen to feel more open and spacious.

Think about your wall paint color

When picking out cabinetry, you need to think about the existing wall color in your kitchen. If you are not changing the color of your walls, it’s best to find cabinetry that complements your existing color scheme. If you’re doing a complete kitchen remodel and don’t know what the color of your walls will be, then start looking at different cabinet styles to see what you like and then go from there.

What mood do you want to create?

An important factor to take into consideration is the mood you want to set in your kitchen. Cabinets take up a majority of the visual space, so you want to choose a cabinet color that fits your personality and your home’s style. Once you’ve decided on the style and cabinet color, you can decide on the other colors in your kitchen.

Look for kitchen cabinet ideas and inspiration

Look at interior design magazines or an online idea gallery for inspiration when choosing kitchen cabinet colors. Both platforms can show you different color combinations, ways to add pops of color and which style of cabinet looks best in your kitchen.

Tweak that inspiration to make it your own to help make your final color decision. Take your time when researching to make sure you see everything that’s out there.

Consider buyers’ cabinet color preferences

The house you’re living in right now may not be your final home. If you are considering selling your house in the near future, you need to think about colors that potential buyers would like. Kitchen cabinetry can attract the right buyer, so think about creating a space that will appeal to others and not make them want to run out the door.

Pick universally accepted colors, such as neutral colors that are bright and light. White, for example, is a great color because it makes the kitchen look more spacious and provides a blank canvas so that potential buyers can re-envision the space.

Kitchen cabinet color trends

Bring your kitchen cabinets up to date with frameless cabinets painted in contemporary colors such as white, gray and other soft shades.

If you’re in the market for new kitchen cabinets, you’ve likely noticed how today’s cabinets are smoother and sleeker than years past.

Homeowners want their cabinets frameless and painted in soft shades of white and gray, so you can forget about oak or cabinets so dark your kitchen looks like a rain cloud permanently resides on the ceiling. 

If you’re planning a kitchen makeover, check out these kitchen cabinet color trends.

White Cabinets:

“People are going for white and off-whites and now they’re starting to get into grays,” says Tom Jeffers, president of Pioneer Kitchens of Indianapolis. “Statistically, a painted cabinet is the most popular now. I think it’s going to remain popular for the next few years now [that] they’re coming up with new colors, new shades.”

Gray Cabinets:

Yes, the ever-popular gray moved from walls to home exteriors on to kitchen cabinets. Gray, regardless of the shade, adds a soft and muted look.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets:

Painted cabinets gained popularity as customers realized they didn’t have to sacrifice quality for aesthetics. It’s possible to have both.

“Painting is almost 100 percent done with maple [cabinets],” Jeffers says. “If you use other woods, there’s too much graining so there’s bleed through.”

Painting isn’t the only popular finish. Another kitchen cabinet trend involves glazing or distressing with a white wash, experts say.

Those who go for a painted look often choose a frameless cabinet, a European design that is growing in popularity in the United States, as well. Frameless cabinets offer more storage space and a sleek look, says Daniel Bowman, vice president of Madison County Cabinets of Pendleton, Indiana.

“Everything’s smooth, very small gaps between doors and drawers,” Bowman says.

Dark Kitchen Cabinets:

If you prefer a more classic-looking cabinet over a contemporary one, it’s possible to stay on trend and get the look you desire.  Unlike the soft colors for painted kitchen cabinets, the trend for wood cabinets is to stain with a rich, dark color.

“We still have people who want a traditional wood kitchen,” Jeffers says. “Oak is the only wood that’s kind of going by the wayside. Oak’s not really popular anymore because of the grain. Oak used to be the king of the Midwest.”