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Selecting the Right Swatch
While natural wood finishes may be traditional, the popularity of painted kitchen cabinets continues to soar as a great way to spice up a cook space. So whether you’ll be remodeling with a new set of cabinets or considering repainting or re-facing existing ones, color selection is key. To help you pinpoint the perfect hue for your unique kitchen, we’ve identified the 14 kitchen cabinet colors that experts are championing as of-the-moment yet bound to have real staying power. Keep reading to determine the ideal hue for you.
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Blueprint (S470-5) from Behr Paint
Behr’s Color of the Year for 2019 is a striking yet soothing twist on slate blue that evokes calm in a high-traffic kitchen. Combine Blueprint upper and lower cabinets with a navy island as these homeowners did to achieve a modern, monochromatic look, or pair it with a complementary cool tone like gray, violet, or black for visual variety. Either way, Behr Paint color expert Erika Woelfel forecasts that ”this approachable mid-tone blue is poised to be a classic for years to come.”
Ecologica (S380-6) from Behr Paint
Nature lovers are likely to turn to this subdued green. Earthy yet elegant, Ecologica “provides a welcoming space for entertaining and layers well with other pops of color,” Woelfel says. In this enticing cooking hub, the pale green lower kitchen cabinets with metallic door knobs and drawer pulls bring the outdoors in and lend definition to a muted cream countertop set against a white wall.
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Pewter Green (SW 6208) from Sherwin-Williams
Apply this gray-green blend to add a dignified air without detracting from accent lighting and decor. Adorned with miniature gold door knobs, the Pewter Green upper and lower kitchen cabinets here look regal in their own right, while the hint of gray plays up the dark striations in the marble countertops and draws the eye upward to the sleek swing-arm wall sconces.
Garret Gray (SW 6075) from Sherwin-Williams
Gray is anything but glum in this galley! Garret Gray, a neutral hue with pink undertones, is classically restrained but not overly somber on upper and lower kitchen cabinets, as well as the island and range hood. He hue also plays up the peach tones in the adjacent wall to achieve a cheery, sun-drenched space for eating and entertaining.
In the Navy (SW 9178) from Sherwin-Williams
If you’d rather not totally repaint or reface your kitchen cabinets, In the Navy—a cool, dark denim from the brand’s wear-resistant Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel collection—offers maximal impact with minimal paint. The hue makes a splash on the interiors of white or light-colored open shelves, or use it exclusively on island cabinets for a statement-making centerpiece.
Snow White (11-0602 TCX) from Pantone
Refacing cabinet doors with white and glass inserts easily brightens a light-starved kitchen—and the starker the white, the brighter the effect. Pure and pleasing Snow White can also be paired with beige bar stool cushions to evoke casual elegance or complement other crisp-white accents for a more polished look. For a new look with little effort look, have your existing kitchen cabinets refaced with new cabinet fronts and drawers in Snow White through a Home Depot Home Services’ Cabinet Makeover.
Mood Indigo (19-4025 TCX) and Snow White (11-0602 TCX) from Pantone
Longing for a seaside view, but the ocean is nowhere in sight? You’ll love the nautical appeal of these bold blue island and sink kitchen cabinets alongside clean and crisp white uppers and lowers, all refaced via a Home Depot Home Services’ Cabinet Makeover. Mood Indigo, with its near-violet depth, lends grandeur, while Snow White lightens the kitchen’s overall atmosphere.
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Fountain Frolic (PPG1119-2) from PPG Paints
Aptly named Fountain Frolic, this playful, pale chartreuse with electric green undertones quietly energizes the kitchen when paired with deeper greens, charcoal grays, pinks, or whites. The sparing use of the muted color on upper kitchen cabinets adds depth to flat-panel cabinetry and draws the eye to the showpieces behind see-through doors. The complementary olive green wall, potted plants, and wood floors and bar stools contribute to an arboreal atmosphere.
Black Deco from Nuvo Cabinet Paint
There’s no arguing with the timeless elegance of black, but be choosy about the sheen you choose for kitchen cabinets. Whereas light bounces off of glossy black, drawing attention to divots, cracks, and other imperfections, matte Black Deco masks flaws as it reflects minimal light. The designer behind this kitchen sandwiched milky subway tiles between upper and lower Black Deco cabinets to heighten the drama, highlight the details of the tiles, and hide cabinet defects.
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Driftwood from Nuvo Cabinet Paint
Bring home beachcombing beauty by covering faded or dingy kitchen cabinets with this coastal-inspired neutral gray. While the oversized door and drawer pulls on the Driftwood cabinets add impact, the overall effect is unfussy thanks to a sand-colored mosaic tile backsplash, decorative wooden bowls, and fresh flowers that lend a bohemian sensibility.
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Tidal Haze from Nuvo Cabinet Paint
This dusty, pale blue is right at home in kitchens with vintage fixtures and furniture. Here, the charming Tidal Haze island cabinets, distressed bar stools, and twin metallic pendant lights hearken back to the cozy cottage-style kitchens of another era.
Sky Space (5001-6B) from Valspar
This “nostalgic, versatile blue-green helps a traditional kitchen evolve into a contemporary space,” says Sue Kim, Valspar’s Color Marketing Manager. The teal-inspired tone of Sky Space on both the island cabinet and walls suits this kitchen’s modern farmhouse vibe. The floating wooden shelves and white countertop, tile backsplash, and lower kitchen cabinet contrast nicely with the more subdued surrounding fixtures.
Winchester Green (RG230-02) from KILZ
To transform the kitchen into a Zen zone, go for this soft sage green with gray undertones. Bathed in Winchester Green, the lower kitchen cabinets make for a botanical escape. Color-coordinated pitchers, bowls, and plates, sparse living greens, and a window overlooking a real flower garden further immerse you in a plant-inspired paradise.
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Old Lamppost (TB-37) and Contemporary White (TB-02) from KILZ TRIBUTE®
Old Lamppost amps up the intensity with a blue-tinged deep gray that mimics the mystery and magic of a stormy sky. To ensure that the heady hue won’t overly darken the space, complement with clean and fresh Contemporary White kitchen cabinets and light wooden countertops, as in this daring yet still homey culinary corner.
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