Be savvy with your shades. Find the perfect paint color for your kitchen cabinets to set the tone and transform the most communal space in your home. Many considerations go into choosing the perfect paint colors to coordinate your kitchen. We explore how to select a suitable, cohesive color scheme.
Hues the boss?
Choosing the perfect kitchen cabinet colors should factor these elements:
- Inspiration
- Resale
- Lighting
- Kitchen Size
To begin the process, settle upon the overall vibe of your kitchen design.
Do your homework first!
Before starting your cabinet painting venture, research and gather inspiration from magazines and websites. If you can afford it, hiring a professional color consultant is a wise choice.
What is your aesthetic? Do you want a modern or rustic vibe, or do you just want to keep it all white and simple? Keep in mind that a modern kitchen may incorporate contrasting tones. A more traditional style may stick with similar hues of color.
Resale:
If you are considering selling your home, a neutral kitchen is best. White cabinets reflect light, making the space feel large, airy, and calm. A white kitchen allows buyers to see its possibilities, creating a blank backdrop to which they can add their touches. Our favorite white paint colors include:
- Farrow & Ball Number No. 1 Lime White
- Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117
- Benjamin Moore Bruton White (CW-710)
Lighting and kitchen size:
White cabinets will maintain the bright, airy feel of a space with a lot of natural light. It is a more updated look compared to dark wood cabinetry. White can also make a small space feel bigger. If there is little natural light but limited space is not a concern, then a darker hue can make a space feel warm and stylish.
Coordination with all your kitchen design elements:
If you do not plan to change your kitchen elements such as:
- countertops
- backsplash
- wall color
- kitchen island
- flooring
Then, it is essential to choose a color that will blend with your existing decor for your cabinet painting project.
Countertop
If there is no backsplash, you want to be sure that your cabinets coordinate nicely with your countertop. Neutral countertops work well with any pop of color you choose for your cabinets. Also, you may want to match the vein color to the cabinets if you have a marble pattern.
Backsplash
Some conclude that the backsplash “is king” and is the most crucial detail in coordinating cabinet color. Your backsplash should always coordinate with your countertops, and thus it can steer the paint decision. If you have a warm-toned backsplash (warm or off-white), you will want to consider white, cream, taupe, or greige as your cabinet color.
For a cool-toned backsplash, grays with a blue or green undertone work well, or a gray with a violet undertone will, too. Additionally, navy blue and various green shades are popular. If your backsplash is multicolored, you will want to be sure the cabinet color works best with the most prominent color in it.
Wall Color
Use light-to-medium neutral colors like white, off-white, beige, and gray as your base. Choose two dominant colors that complement each other. Add a third accent color for additional interest to contrast your dominant color.
Flooring
You can use flooring to create color contrast. Pairing dark and light wood can be a complementary look. Patterned tiles add spice to otherwise neutral wall colors.
Island
You can use your kitchen island to balance the color palette. A two-tone look – dark cabinet, light island or vice versa – can draw eyes to this central piece. Pay attention to the paint finishes.
You can create a more put-together look by matching say, a semi-gloss cabinet to a semi-gloss island. Both colors should represent the overall “vibe” of the kitchen (sharp contrast vs. similar colors).
To be or not to be – on trend with cabinet colors?
There is psychology in color – so choose wisely. Brighter colors are trendy now and give off the “energy” vibe, while more neutral hues evoke calmer feelings. Darker colors can often add a feeling of sophistication, drama, and luxury but can make a space feel smaller.
Navy and greens are popular right now. Sharp options include:
- Behr Ultra Dark Cobalt Blue (PPU15-3)
- Farrow and Ball Oval Room Blue (No. 85)
- Farrow and Ball Studio Green (No. 93)
- Benjamin Moore Backwoods (469)
Shades of gray are timeless, and some can also add a nice pop of color.
Our favorites include:
For more subdued grays, other good choices are:
Testing, Testing, Testing:
You will want to test your paint in several ways:
- Apply it at various times of day to see the look in different natural lighting
- Try different kitchen lighting to see how light reflects and how the paint looks
- Position your samples in different kitchen parts. We recommend using peel-and-stick paint stickers made by the paint manufacturers. You will want to try the sample on your backsplash and countertop.
Quality and finish matters!
Selecting durable paint is crucial, as cabinets get a lot of wear. You will want to choose a high-quality paint and consider your choice of finish.
- A satin finish is easy to clean and manages well against wear and tear in high-traffic areas.
- Semi-gloss or gloss is exceptionally durable and may last longer than satin. It can protect against the sun’s bleaching effect, but it is a more expensive option.
Overall, cabinet color choice can dramatically affect your kitchen’s aesthetic and cabinet painting is an economical way to update the look. Whether trendy or timeless, beautiful cabinets will set the mood in one of the rooms you live in the most. At Kevin Roberts Painting & Design, we have been helping homeowners choose vibrant colors to update their kitchen cabinetry. Since 1986 we have expertly executed thousands of interior painting and cabinet repainting projects.
Call us on 914-741-2791 or book an appointment to find out more about our services.
