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55 Designer-Approved Kitchen Color Ideas That Will Transform Your Space

From the right whites to moody blues and mauves.

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kitchen color ideas
Karyn Millet

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A beautiful kitchen is the hub of your home. A lot happens within this room's four walls, from your weekly dinner party, game night, or study group to everyday breakfasts. So shouldn't those walls make an impact? The best kitchen color ideas set the mood you want for your space without being overwhelming. It's wise to err on the side of timeless rather than trendy unless you have the patience and budget to repaint every few years.

Minimalism, maximalism, modern farmhouse, and industrial styles all have their signature color palettes, but you may want to think outside the box of design styles to create a kitchen that reflects you and your family. White is the most popular kitchen paint color by a long shot. It's neutral, timeless, and brightens up even the smallest apartment kitchens. But there's a reason that navy blue and sage green follow close behind: People love a pop of color, and these classic hues can act almost as neutrals. Of course, the color you choose isn't limited to the walls or cabinet fronts. You can paint your kitchen island, molding, and window trim in a contrasting shade to draw attention to the details.

For a bold, dramatic look, opt for rich jewel tones in a high-gloss finish. If Scandinavian modern is more your speed, keep your cabinets natural and paint the walls a subtle pastel. There are so many ways to refresh a kitchen with color alone—no monthslong renovation necessary. We've gathered our 60 favorite kitchen color ideas to spark your inspiration and kick-start your next weekend's DIY project.

1

Blue on Blue

house beautiful kitchen paint color ideas
Rustic White Photography

Can't decide between two shades of blue paint? Choose both! Designer Whitney Parkinson makes the case for a monochrome two-tone color palette in House Beautiful's 2022 Whole Home.

Shop a similar shade of blue paint below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball De Nimes Blue, $44

2

Blue and Tan

house beautiful kitchen paint color ideas
CHRISTIAN HARDER

In Delish's new, state-of-the-art test kitchen, bold blue built-in shelves pop against gray walls that blend into the countertop.

Shop a similar shade of blue paint below:

BUY NOW Backdrop Home Porsche Riviera Blue, $75

3

Butter Yellow

house beautiful kitchen paint color ideas
Chaunte Vaughn

Wanting to give her clients' San Diego home the Spanish Revival treatment (but with a utilitarian approach), designer Meta Coleman chose warm yellow paint to complement an antique wooden table and wicker baskets.

Shop a similar shade of yellow paint below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Sudbury Yellow, $44

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4

Vermillion Orange

house beautiful kitchen paint color ideas
Nickolas Sargent

To brighten up even the most overcast of days, designer Matthew Boland opted for a bold and vibrant shade of orange for this Florida kitchen's cabinetry. White walls and stainless steel appliances help temper the effect.

Shop a similar shade of orange paint below:

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Tomato Red, $50

5

Mauve and Grey

house beautiful kitchen paint color ideas
Patrick Biller

For a cozy yet sleek kitchen, designer Celia Bryson chose a quiet but still impactful alternative to the traditional barn red the homeowner was originally considering.

Shop a similar shade of purple paint below:

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Hodley Red, $50

6

Olive Green and Warm Wood

kitchen colors
Tessa Neustadt

Though designer Tammy Randall Wood is a believer in hiding appliances and other kitchen essentials away behind closed doors, she also makes a strong case for allowing the enclosures to shine with a bold paint color that nods to nature.

Shop a similar shade of green paint below:

BUY NOW Valspar Satin Brisk Olive, $44

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7

Black and Charcoal

black kitchen
Heidi Caillier Design

This kitchen designed by Heidi Caillier is only separated by an archway, so to create visual separation without totally clashing, she chose a bold and dark color scheme for the kitchen. The wood-paneled walls are painted black and a charcoal-hued natural stone material serves as a backsplash and also frames the windows for an extra punch of style.

Shop a similar shade of black below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Pitch Black, $46

8

Icy Blue and White Brick

kitchen colors
Heidi Caillier Design

Heidi Caillier painted the cabinets an icy blue hue and the brick walls white for a brighter aesthetic and then secured a small piece of artwork to bring some moody depth. The brass hardware and fixtures speak to the gilt frame.

Shop a similar shade of blue paint below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Graupel, $110

9

Pale Yellow

small kitchen with yellow paint
Read McKendree

The cabinets climb almost all the way up the wall in this coastal kitchen by Kevin Isbell, but that didn't stop the designer from applying a soft shade of pale yellow paint to the top of the wall and ceiling. This cheerful shade contrasts with the blue painted floors just enough!

Shop a similar shade of yellow paint below:

BUY NOW Backdrop Disco Nap, $45

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10

Khaki Green, Gray, and Pink

kitchenby the time they began working on the kitchen, dohmen said, “no more pink” so they went with earthy tones though violet still makes an appearance in the calacatta marble counter backsplash tile intercodam pendants verpan cabinetry custom paint invisible green,little greene cabinets mouse’s back, farrow ball island cooktop pittcooking faucet quooker
Thijs de Leeuw/Space Content/Living Inside

The rest of the home designed by Nicole Dohmen of Atelier ND is dominated by rosy hues, so to prevent it from taking over the kitchen while still ensuring flow with the surrounding rooms, she opted for earthy tones on the cabinets. Violet still makes an appearance in the Calacatta marble counter and backsplash zellige tiles, and a dusty blush tone veils the ceiling.

Shop a similar shade of neutral paint below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back, $115

11

Midnight Blue

oklahoma designer kelsey leigh
mcgregor used charcoal gray
negresco granite on the backsplash
and countertops of this kitchen so
they would nearly disappear against
the dark paint paint after midnight,
kelly moore paints range frigidaire
professional art vintage
Emily Hart

Oklahoma designer Kelsey Leigh McGregor used charcoal gray Negresco granite on the backsplash and countertops of this kitchen so they would nearly disappear against the dark paint color used on the walls, hood, and cabinets. Though it's dark navy, it appears black in certain lighting.

Shop a similar shade of paint below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue, $110

12

Light Pink and Burnt Orange

kitchen color ideas
Karyn Millet

A super light shade of pink applied in a plaster-like finish and paired with a burnt orange island makes a statement in this small New York City kitchen designed by Celerie Kemble. The faux finish channels the texture of wallpaper.

Shop a similar textured paint below:

BUY NOW Portola Paints Specialty Finishes

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13

Eggplant

kitchen with purple island
James Merrell

In this striking London kitchen, design Rita Konig opted for cabinets from her own colorful line for Plain English in a shade of purple dubbed Burnt Toast. Calacatta Viola, a mauve-streaked marble, brings out the inky eggplant.

Shop cabinets in a similar shade of purple below:

BUY NOW Rita Konig Burnt Toast

14

Forest Green

kitchen color ideas
William Abranowicz

Polished concrete gets a surge of warmth from the green cabinets and abstract blue artwork in Kathleen McCormick's home. It's the perfect combination of edgy and homey.

Shop a similar shade of green below:

BUY NOW Valspar Peacock Green, $30

15

Marigold and Brick Red

shavonda gardner, home tour, sacramento, ca
kitchen
“living” finishes on the unlacquered
copper pots, sink, and soapstone
counters mean a patina will
be acquired quickly cabinetry
mastercraft range ilve table rh
lights mitzi wallpaper meadow,
kelly ventura floor and backsplash
tiles fireclay tile skylight velux
hood insert zephyr
Katie Newburn

The cheerful yellow wallpaper in Shavonda Gardner's kitchen proves that you don't need tons of windows and natural light to make your kitchen feel sunny. The red range and lower cabinets add a fun and unexpected contrast while the unlacquered copper pots, soapstone counters that quickly patina, and wood tones tine the two warm colors together.

Shop a similar shade of red below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Pelt, $110

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16

Pale Blue-Green

kitchen
Nicole Franzen

In this tiny Brooklyn apartment, Patrick McGrath sectioned off the kitchen from the living space with a freestanding island but he also did so visually by painting the wall of cabinets a soft blue-green shade.

Shop a similar shade of light blue below:

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Polar Sky, $55

17

Navy Blue

the design atelier home tour
kitchen
“i love the kitchen—it suits their
personality cool and sophisticated,”
millner says range hood, cabinetry,
and island custom, kingdom
woodworks paint sea serpent,
sherwin williams stools
hellman chang roman shade
fabric stroheim chandelier
jonathan browning studios
Emily J Followill

This kitchen designed by Melanie Milner gets the royal blue treatment, which is glamorous on its own, but even more so with the bronze, mahogany, and natural stone materials used throughout.

Shop a similar shade of light blue below:

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Deep Royal, $55

18

Greige, Cream, and Muted Mint

kitchen colors
Heidi Caillier Design

A greige tone is used for the cabinets while a cream tone is used on the ceiling and accent wall. But the color-blocking fun doesn't stop there in this Heidi Caillier-designed kitchen—the door is painted in a muted mint shade that picks up on the unique color of the range.

Shop a similar neutral shade below:

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball California Sand, $110

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19

Marigold and Terracotta

kitchen color ideas
William Abranowicz

Paint isn't the only way to bring color to your kitchen. In this impressive hacienda kitchen, The vaulted ceiling is covered in terracotta tiles while the marigold zellige tiles assert a sunny atmosphere.

Shop similar yellow tiles below:

BUY NOW Clé Tiles Saffron zellige tiles, $20

20

Cream and Dark Green-Blue

kitchen
JARED KUZIA

Designer Karen Swanson limited the number of cabinet uppers she installed in this English countryside-inspired kitchen, explaining that, "so many people want to blanket the wall in cabinets, but that can make a kitchen feel heavy and claustrophobic." Instead, she left a windowed wall bare so light can pour in, and so she could hang artwork. Dark cabinet lowers and storage columns pick up on the dark green in the still life but don't overwhelm the room.

Shop a similar shade of cream below:

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Sugar Cookie, $55

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