Whether you want to create an elegant or casual kitchen, the right color scheme can make all the difference. Browse these cabinet refacing color trends to find a look that suits your personality.
For a bright and energetic kitchen, try leaf green with crisp white cabinets. In this kitchen from homeowner Nancy Traversy, green perimeter cabinets frame a sunny yellow island. Contact San Jose Cabinet Refinishing for more details.
1. Cool Gray with Hot Orange
A fresh paint job transforms a kitchen, giving it a brighter feel and breathing new life into a room that’s often the heart of your home. It’s also a great opportunity to introduce a fun color combination that feels current and on-trend.
One of our favorite combinations combines warm oranges with cool grays, like the soft ‘Soft Sunset’ palette from Benjamin Moore. The vibrant oranges capture attention and convey energy, while the subtle grays provide a sophisticated backdrop that’s engaging yet refined. This versatile palette is ideal for artisan product branding, as it evokes feelings of innovation and creativity while remaining professional and elegant.
Pairing bright red with neutral shades creates a bold and balanced look in a kitchen. Blogger Aniko from Place of My Taste painted Shaker-style cabinets with white uppers and dark navy blue lowers to create an updated classic look. The contrasting colors add depth to the space, making it feel more modern and inviting.
Green is another classic choice for cabinetry, and it pairs beautifully with a variety of other colors. For a cheerful kitchen, consider a sunny yellow shade with crisp cornflower blue walls, like in this traditional space from DeVOL Kitchens. The soft colors emphasize the clean lines of the cabinetry and accentuate the multicolor accent tiles in the backsplash.
For a more understated effect, opt for a dark blue-green shade. This relaxing hue works well with natural wood floors and wood-paneled ceilings, while it complements many types of wall color and coordinating appliances. Urbanology Designs opted for dark blue-green cabinetry and a natural wood open shelving system to create a relaxed family kitchen. The rich shade stands out against the light stone countertops and wood flooring, but doesn’t overwhelm the space.
2. Flame Red with Soft Yellow
Color trends come and go, but classic shades can stand the test of time. If you’re looking for a bold hue to refinish your kitchen cabinets, consider pairing bright red with soft yellow. This combination provides a dynamic contrast that creates an energetic kitchen. When choosing a shade of yellow, be sure to select one with warm undertones that will complement the red rather than cool undertones.
For a more classic option, try painting your cabinetry in a rich shade of brown. This versatile color can work well in a variety of styles, from traditional to modern farmhouse and coastal. To make the most of this color, refinish your cabinet doors in a glossy finish that will protect them from everyday use and spills.
If you’re looking for a timeless look, opt for light neutral colors that offer a fresh and clean aesthetic. White and creamy neutrals are the most popular cabinet colors, but pale grays also look modern and sophisticated. Neutrals like beige, taupe, and gray are also versatile and coordinate with any style of kitchen.
Another timeless choice is a soothing shade of blue-green. Designers at Home Made by Carmona used a muted shade of blue-green to delineate blocks of upper and lower cabinetry in this large kitchen, highlighting earth-toned backsplashes and wood slat range hoods for a cohesive feel.
If you’re hesitant to commit to an all-over shade, try painting just the front of your cabinets in a bright color. This is a great way to add pops of color that you can change up down the road without the expense and hassle of replacing your entire set of cabinets. Peach and coral are fun options that pair beautifully with white or wood finishes.
3. Charcoal Grey with Dove Grey
Your kitchen is more than just a functional space; it’s the heart of your home. The right color scheme can make your cabinets the standout feature that elevates your overall design and gives the room a warm, welcoming feel. Whether you prefer the understated elegance of greige, the tranquil vibes of earthy greens, or the bold energy of vibrant hues, there’s an option that will perfectly suit your style.
Neutral shades like white, cream, beige, and taupe are classic cabinet colors that can work in any decor style. They’re a popular choice because they create a light and airy backdrop that can easily be accented with other colors, textures, and finishes.
For a modern kitchen, try a soft shade of gray to add definition. In this bright kitchen from Liz Caan, neutral gray cabinets around the perimeter and dusty green-blue island cabinets create a balanced look that’s fresh and modern.
Dark shades of blue are a versatile trend that can be paired with any decor style. Choose a deep navy for a moody look that works in traditional and coastal kitchens, as seen in this kitchen from Blythe Interiors. Or, opt for a blue-green shade like this one from Velinda Hellen Design to evoke the soothing feel of nature.
If you want a touch of drama in your kitchen, go for a bold color pairing that works in modern or contemporary spaces. The rich tones of true black paint create a moody effect and work well with contrasting white, gray, or color accents. Blogger Ursula Carmona used midnight blue to define blocks of cabinetry in her large kitchen, giving the room a custom feel.
4. Wood Tones with Painted Cabinets
If replacing your cabinets isn’t in the budget, you can refresh your kitchen with a fresh coat of paint. Choose a color that will coordinate with the wood in your floors or countertops to create a cohesive look. Then, use a high-quality cabinet paint with a primer and sealer to ensure your painted cabinets last. If you’re using a roller to paint your cabinets, be sure to change the brush often to avoid streaking.
One popular design trend is to paint cabinets in a natural wood tone, then add a pop of color on the island or backsplash. Sage, olive, and moss green are warm colors that pair well with wood. Or, go bold with a shade like bubblegum pink or lime green to add an element of surprise.
Shades of blue can work well with both wood and painted cabinets, creating a cool wash of color in a modern kitchen. Leanne Ford Interiors used a soft pale blue to paint flat-front base cabinets and glass-front upper cabinetry in this space, contrasting them with a white handmade zellige tile backsplash for a clean, classic look.
Light shades of gray can complement a range of cabinet finishes, from light oak to dark walnut. Blogger Diane Henkler of In My Own Style painted her Shaker-style cabinets in a grayish white with Behr Ultra Pure White and Behr Night Club for a neutral that works with multiple styles of kitchens.
For an elegant look, accentuate your painted cabinets with dark hardware and a wood floor. Brophy Interiors paired black-and-white painted cabinets with a dark wood floor and heavily veined marble countertops for a sophisticated modern kitchen. You can also accentuate wood features in your kitchen with painted accents, as seen in this space from Louis Duncan-He Designs.
5. Two-Toned Neutrals
Achieve a crisp, clean look with neutrals like white, cream, taupe, and greige (a mix of gray and beige). These versatile shades give your kitchen a classic, timeless aesthetic that never goes out of style. They also allow the personality of your countertops, appliances, and hardware to shine without competing for attention.
Softer tones, like pastel pink or mint green, add a fresh, feminine touch. Pair them with earthy tones, like muted sage or olive, for a traditional look that feels natural and grounded. Brighter tones, like teal or emerald green, offer a bolder feel that can make your kitchen feel modern or retro depending on the shade you choose.
Darker colors like burgundy and plum create sophisticated focal points on kitchen islands that bring depth to open-plan spaces. When paired with warm, creamy white cabinets or wood tones on the perimeter, they create a balanced and elegant two-toned look.
If you love a bolder color but don’t want to commit to all-in, try painting your lower cabinets a rich tone and keeping the uppers neutral. This technique works especially well for small kitchens where a darker palette can seem claustrophobic, and it allows you to easily update your look later if your tastes change.
Forevermark Cabinets offers a wide range of painted finishes and door styles that work beautifully with both neutral and dramatic colors. Explore our gallery to see how homeowners are embracing this year’s best cabinet color combinations and find your ideal color scheme for your new kitchen.