Painted cabinets can give your kitchen a custom look. Any paint color available can be used for the project, but it's essential to first learn how to choose the best paint color for your kitchen cabinets. Before you choose your colors, you have a few more decisions to make first.
Best Colors for Painted Cabinets
Finding the right colors for your kitchen starts with inspiration. The majority of your colors are already in the kitchen, so you can be more creative with your palette, as long as you take your cherry cabinets into consideration.
Gray
Gray is the most versatile neutral color for kitchen cabinets. The range of pale gray to charcoal, and the cool and warm undertones, complements any surface colors you need to match. Greige tones are a popular choice in a kitchen that has several wood elements.
White
White is the go-to color for most kitchens now because of its fresh and clean look. Paired with solid surface counters and stainless steel appliances, white cabinets create a gorgeous backdrop for pale colors that would otherwise get lost.
Beige
Elegant and neutral, beige kitchen cabinets are a soothing choice. When paired with warm wood tones and dark accents, beige creates a timeless color palette.
Yellow
If you're looking for a solution to a sleepy kitchen, vibrant yellow cabinets can wake things up. When you're considering a bright cabinet color, it's essential to sample the color first, preferably on a board that you can set in place to get an idea of how it will look.
Black
Black is a sophisticated kitchen cabinet color that can be the centerpiece of a sleek modern space, but also used to add elegance to a welcoming modern farmhouse style kitchen. Paint sheen is the deciding factor in how to use black paint for your kitchen, with the glossier options for modern looks and less gloss for traditional styles.
Charcoal Gray
Caught between black and gray when choosing your kitchen cabinet color? Charcoal gray is a stunning choice that brings the drama of black, with the versatility of gray paint colors.
Blue
There are so many shades of blue to choose from for your kitchen cabinets. From navy blue to light blue, you can totally customize your kitchen color palette with your favorite. Blue complements all neutral colors, including beige and gray, making it very versatile.
Green
Once one of the most popular kitchen colors, green has come back on the scene with new energy and new shades to fall in love with. As an alternative to blue, green can offer the qualities of a cool color with a comfortable organic vibe.
Mix and Match Color Ideas for Your Kitchen Cabinets
If you'd like to create a custom kitchen cabinet look, using two colors is a very stylish option. There are a few ways to use color creatively in the kitchen that can really create a gorgeous focal point.
Change Your Kitchen Island Color
This is the perfect solution if you want to add a new color to your kitchen, but don't want to deal with a with large kitchen cabinet painting project. Like an accent wall, a new color for your kitchen island adds a beautiful focal point to the space. This is an opportunity to showcase your personal style.
Mix Up Your Wall and Base Cabinet Colors
When you paint your upper or lower cabinets in a different color, you're not only making a big style statement, but you could also fix your kitchen's design issues. Painting white wall cabinets, you can visually lift a low ceiling or bring light to a dark corner. When your lower kitchen cabinets appear to disappear into your flooring color, painting them a darker color can help create contrast.
DIY Painting Project or Hire a Professional?
Want to try it yourself? Consider the following when deciding whether your project is DIY or it's time to call a pro.
- DIY: If you're comfortable with DIY painting projects, painting your kitchen cabinets could be a money-saving endeavor. This is not a project for your first DIY painting experience. Cabinetry can definitely be painted by a non-pro, but starting with a few pieces of furniture can give you a feel for getting the right finish and coverage before tackling a major project.
- Hire a Pro: If you don't have the time or patience to complete a kitchen cabinet painting project, finding a professional painter can be a quicker and less-stressful experience. Be sure to interview several pros and get recommendations from friends and family. Also, be sure that you've decided on your paint color in advance, so that your project can start on time.
- New Kitchen Cabinets: If DIY painting is not your thing, and you wonder if the painting bids you're getting are close to what new cabinets might cost, it's a good idea to explore that option. With greater competition, and large retailers getting into the ready-to-install cabinet products, this may be close to the cost of having them painted. The downside is that you won't have the unlimited color options as with the other options.
More Painted Cabinets to Consider
Painted cabinetry is a stylish way to update your kitchen, but there are more spaces in your home that could probably benefit from a makeover. Bathroom cabinets in new homes are often the same color and material as the kitchen. Painting bathroom cabinets at the same time as the kitchen can be more cost-effect and timely. Built-in bookcases and shelves in a family room or great room that includes your kitchen, can also benefit from the same new paint colors. Or, keep your kitchen cabinets a natural wood like cherry and build your color scheme around those.
