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Choosing the best kitchen cabinet colors is one of the most impactful decisions you can make for your space. Your cabinet color choices can completely transform the mood, style, and resale value of your home.
In this guide, we will help you explore expert advice on choosing cabinet colors that suit your kitchen space, as well as lighting and design trends that cater to your personal and functional needs.
Tips on Choosing the Best Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
Here are expert tips on choosing the right color for your kitchen cabinets.
Kitchen Lighting First
The first thing you should consider when choosing the best cabinet color is the overall lighting of your kitchen space, including both natural and artificial lighting.
Lighting has a dramatic influence on how colors appear in a space. A shade that looks crisp in a showroom may seem dull in your kitchen.
Determine how much light your kitchen receives during the day and how different types of lighting will affect your cabinet color choices.
Natural light can make your cabinets vibrant or warm, depending on the time of day or direction your cabinets face. Artificial light can also alter the color tones of your cabinets, depending on the type of bulbs used in the kitchen.
In terms of impact and priority, kitchen lighting should take precedence over other design elements, such as style.
Why Not Start With Kitchen Style First
Considering kitchen lighting first when choosing a cabinet color is a common debate in interior design. Here are the reasons why lighting comes first before style in most practical decision-making.
1. Lighting is a physical constraint
You can choose your kitchen style, but it’s challenging to change the lighting in your kitchen, especially when it comes to natural light.
2. Color perception is 100% dependent on lighting
Starting with style alone can lead you to pick a cabinet color that ends up looking different once installed in your kitchen. You might want warm white shaker-style cabinets to match your cozy farmhouse style, but they might look sterile or grey under cool LED lighting.
3. Choosing lighting first is a standard practice
Testing color samples under real-world lighting conditions is a standard practice for interior designers. Although style guides are helpful, the final decision always involves viewing samples in your actual kitchen lighting.
It is more efficient to narrow down what works best in your lighting conditions before matching it to your preferred kitchen style.
Once you have evaluated your kitchen lighting, you can then consider your kitchen style, existing finishes, personal preferences, and current trends.
When Does Style Come First
Style comes first when undertaking an extensive remodeling project, where you can control the lighting, layout, and finishes. Thus, you can start by choosing your kitchen style and build the lighting plan to match.
For minor renovations or simple cabinet updates, it is ideal to start evaluating with the lighting to select the best shade or tone for your kitchen space.
Determine Your Kitchen Style
Once you have tested how your chosen cabinet colors will look under your lighting, you can then proceed to determining your kitchen’s style.
Your kitchen style will reveal which shades or hues complement your other design elements best, allowing you to achieve a personalized and unique kitchen.
You can explore Sherwin-Williams’ color palettes to find inspiration for your kitchen style.
Image Caption:Sherwin-Williams Modern Palette
Coordinate With Your Kitchen’s Fixed Design Elements
Once you have evaluated your kitchen lighting and defined your kitchen style, it is time to coordinate your chosen cabinet color with the fixed elements of your kitchen, such as countertops, backsplashes, and flooring.
The color of your cabinets should match your kitchen’s design elements. Achieving a cohesive design will enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen.
For example, quartz countertops pair well with cabinets that have both warm and cool colors. Granite countertops, on the other hand, need cabinets that complement the stone’s undertones.
Assess Your Kitchen Size and Layout
When choosing a color for your cabinets, it’s also best to consider your kitchen’s size and layout.
Tiny kitchens benefit most from lighter colors to create a more open and airy feel. They don’t work well with dark cabinets as they feel cramped.
Cabinet color options are more flexible in larger kitchens. With sufficient natural light, darker and bolder colors can create a striking visual impact.
Styling Tips:
- Avoid dark colors for tiny kitchens.
- Consider having two-tone cabinets
- Use bold colors for a large kitchen size
- Use deep colors to add sophistication to a spacious kitchen.
- Integrate accent colors to cabinets to add character
Follow Current Trends With Caution
Following current kitchen trends seems exciting, but it is always recommended to do so with caution, as trends are fleeting.
Choose a cabinet color you will still love even in 5 to 10 years, especially if you are not planning to renovate anytime soon.
Think About The Potential Resale Value
The cabinets take up approximately 40% of the kitchen space, and thus, they become one of the factors that affect the buyer’s initial interest.
If you are thinking long-term and planning to stage your kitchen for a higher sale price later, choose kitchen cabinet color combinations that increase home value.
Zillow has surveyed thousands of home buyers and found that olive green shade for kitchen cabinets attracts more buyers.
Pro Tip: Ask your designer for recommended kitchen colors to boost your home’s value.
Understand the Color Psychology
Exploring the psychology of color may be a little extra, but it helps you choose the best color for your cabinets if you understand the psychology behind it.
Different colors evoke different moods or feelings. Select a kitchen cabinet color that complements the ambiance you desire in your kitchen.
- White: Clean, timeless, and spacious
- Gray: Neutral and calming
- Blue: Trustworthy and cool
- Green: Balanced and natural
- Black: Elegant and dramatic
- Wood: Warm and organic
Don’t Forget the Finish
Color is just one part of the equation. The finish determines the final look of your kitchen cabinets.
- Matte: soft, subtle look, and understated elegance
- Satin or Semi-Gloss: balances durability with easy cleaning
- High-Gloss: reflective, sleek, modern feel
Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends 2025 According to NKBA
Image Caption:Deep Green Modern Kitchen Cabinets
According to the NKBA 2025 Kitchen Trends Report, a survey completed by industry experts such as designers, remodelers, and architects, 52% of the respondents agreed that the cabinets are the main subject for integrating statement colors in the kitchen interior.
Among those surveyed, 71% of respondents stated that homeowners prefer a colorful kitchen to let their personalities shine through, with 52% predicting that the earth tones and vibrant colors of the 1970s would become increasingly fashionable in the years to come.
The survey further showed that green is the most preferred color for 2025, followed by blue and brown, respectively.
Yet, you are not obligated to stick entirely to these trends.
“There are no rules; it is really about how one feels on any given day and what resonates at the moment,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, to Veranda.
Popular Kitchen Cabinet Colors in the US
Image Caption:Most Popular Kitchen Cabinet Colors Among Homeowners in the US
White is the most popular color for kitchen cabinets, according to a Statista survey of American homeowners.
White color remains popular for cabinets for various reasons:
- Clean and cozy look
- Bright and airy feel
- Unmatched versatility
- Timeless appeal
Yet, the call for personalized kitchen designs allows the white shade to evolve. Nowadays, interior designers favor creamy, inviting white hues with warm undertones, as opposed to the cool, crisp white shades of the past.
According to Superior Stone and Cabinet, there’s a shift from cool, crisp white shades of the past towards warmer, creamy whites with subtle undertones in 2025.
Despite the ongoing kitchen trends, you can rest easy if you are considering white cabinets for your kitchen space. White can be used to generate a wide range of modifications and applications to fulfill your desire for a customized kitchen design.
So, if you are wondering if white cabinets are going out of style soon, well, the short answer is no.
You can confirm this by checking catalogues and portfolios of high-end kitchen cabinet makers such as LinqKitchen. You are likely going to see white kitchen cabinets.
Image Caption:Modern Warm Kitchen with Vanilla White Panels by LinqKitchen
White is then followed by Wood, Off-White, Gray, Blue, Green, Greige, Black, and Brown, respectively, as the most popular kitchen cabinet colors among American homeowners.
Timeless Colors For Kitchen Cabinets
Image Caption:Timeless Shades by Sherwin-Williams
Timeless colors are those that remain stylish and useful, regardless of shifting kitchen trends.
They work well with various kitchen styles and allow for easy updates with accessories and decor changes.
Choosing timeless cabinet colors is a safe and smart choice, especially when:
1. You are thinking about resale value
2. You have no plans to remodel within 5 years
Timeless Cabinet Color Options:
- White – broadly appealing to potential buyers.
- Soft Gray – works well with changing decor trends.
- Wood Tones – bring a sense of warmth and timelessness to the kitchen.
- Cream and Off-White – offer a lasting appeal to kitchen cabinets
- Greige – suitable for both modern and traditional kitchen styles.
- Navy – provides a classic look and is best paired with brass or gold hardware.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best kitchen cabinet colors requires striking a balance between personal preference and practical considerations, such as lighting, size, and long-term value.
The best colors for your cabinets are those that reflect your lifestyle and complement the interior of your kitchen. While neutral colors are always safe, don’t be afraid to experiment with bold hues, especially if you plan to stay in your current home for the long term.
The key is selecting a cabinet color that makes you happy every time you enter your kitchen.
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