How to Choose the Perfect Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets

Have you been searching for the perfect kitchen cabinet color? For some, it might come easy. Using the internet for inspiration can be an impactful tool, but there are lots of details to consider. Kitchen size and design style, durability of finishes, coordinating with surrounding rooms and natural lighting all play a part in this important decision.

If that weren’t enough, you need to decide if you prefer kitchen design trends or a timeless kitchen design. To answer these questions, we will break down how to choose the perfect cabinet color. Explore which colors go best with your kitchen based on size, how to compare samples and much more below. 

Is your kitchen large or small? Whether you realize it or not, this does have an impact on how your color palette looks. Small kitchens obviously need to maintain the appearance of more space. To accomplish this open feel, it’s best to stick with light and mid-tone colors. Outside of a few accents, using dark colors will risk making your space seem closed in and cave-like.

Large kitchens have more flexibility. Since they have more square footage, it’s easier to incorporate medium and darker tones to add character, depth and drama. Some great colors for this scenario include chocolatey wood stains, navy blue, black and moody greens. Just remember, regardless of what you choose, dark paint makes your room look smaller and light makes it look larger.

Choosing your kitchen cabinet color is a fun aspect of remodeling. But don’t let yourself get caught up in a whirlwind of color. Keep your kitchen design style in mind as you make this decision. For instance, if you chose a farmhouse-style kitchen, purple cabinets might look out of place. We are about to enter 2025, and it’s more than okay to take creative license. But avoid making design decisions that are wildly outside of your preferred style.

A few tips...

• Make sure your color palette is cohesive with surrounding rooms. There is nothing worse than a newly remodeled room that doesn’t match the rest of the home.
• Coordinate your kitchen cabinet color with wall paint and countertops at the same time. It’s easier to create a color palette for the whole room at once. Don’t leave wall paint and countertops as an afterthought. It can greatly impact the style and appearance of your new kitchen remodel.
• If you have children or like to entertain a lot, consider using darker paint or wood stain for base cabinets. The darker shade will help cover up dirt, fingerprints and wear and tear.

Choosing the right style for your kitchen is always based on personal preferences. Some homeowners love all the latest and greatest kitchen design trends while others only prefer timeless details. There are benefits to both.

Kitchen design trends are fun, usually vibrant and allow you to explore your creativity. Because they change every year, you get to experience the most updated styles and colors. However, there can be a downside.

The reason they are called ‘trends’ is because they come and go. Even the latest patterned tiles and electric color schemes will go out of fashion. Trendy colors are usually varying shades of yellow, electric blues and greens, red, pink and purple.

Timeless kitchen designs, however, can last a lifetime. Although these designs don’t typically include a particularly vibrant color palette, they are cozy, fresh and last for years to come. You will never need to worry about whether you made a sound investment. This style uses colors like white, gray, taupe, black and neutral shades of blue and green.

If you’re torn between timeless and trendy designs, mixing color schemes is a great compromise. As always, choose how much color you want to introduce to the design based on your comfort level. If you’re mildly comfortable, try using a trendy color on your island or base cabinets. This will give your kitchen design a fun pop of color. You can easily refinish these cabinets if you get tired of them and transition to something calmer.

For homeowners who prefer to dip their toe in, try accessorizing with trendy colors. Introduce fun accents through draperies, rug runners, decorative dishware and decor. This allows you to easily update your color scheme in the future. And for those who fall somewhere in between, add color through backsplash tiles for a styled look.

One of the best ways to make final color decisions is by gathering samples. Once you receive samples, bring them into your kitchen. You will find it much easier to eliminate or say ‘yes’ to colors once you know what they look like in your kitchen’s natural lighting.

Even the location of kitchen windows will affect how colors look. For example, homes with south facing kitchen windows, you will have warmer natural light making your kitchen appear warmer in tone. The reverse is true for north facing kitchen windows and colors looking cooler.

Mood boards are a wonderful way to create a complete color scheme. However, as you look at samples, place them in the direction they will be installed. For instance, prop up paint and cabinet samples against the wall and lay your flooring and countertop samples down on the kitchen counters. This will give you the most realistic look at how these colors will appear once installed.

As you analyze colors, take into account how each makes you feel. Color theory is all about how colors affect emotions and change the atmosphere of a room. Below are some of the most common color examples and what they can do to a space.

White | Sense of purity and cleanliness

Blue | Creates a calming effect and regal look

Green | Promotes tranquility and connection to earth

Black | Exudes confidence and an elegant look

Red | Creates urgency and an energetic look

Use all these recommendations to curate the perfect color palette. Of course, this will include your ideal kitchen cabinet color among other crucial materials. When making decisions for an investment as big as a kitchen, take your time. It’s better to finalize colors after thinking it through than make a rash decision.

Need expert help picking out the perfect cabinet color? Talk to one of our expert designers. They have years of experience, insight on trends and have a deep understanding of timeless design principles to help you make the right decision.

Schedule a complimentary design consultation now!