Use unmatchable paint color in a carefully selected finish and stay up to date with kitchen cabinet trends.
Replacing your kitchen cabinets every few years with new ones is a stretch—even for those with the biggest budgets. Happily, there is a colorful, much less expensive alternative: The combination of Benjamin Moore’s unmatchable colors and Advance® Interior, a premium paint formulated specifically for cabinetry.
On this page, you’ll find kitchen cabinet ideas curated by our color and design team that will help kick off your kitchen cabinet redesign. From traditional off-white hues to sleek monochromatic looks, to a video on how an all-white kitchen got a refreshing color update, we have all the inspiration you need. We’ve even got how-to tips and tools to get started if you are doing it yourself.
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Inspiring Kitchen Cabinet Color Ideas
Start by finding the design, style, and color idea you love within your own home. What do you dislike, love, or want more of? When considering new color for your cabinets, look to your countertop, backsplash, fixtures, and flooring. Let these color cues inspire an updated look for your cabinet colors.
What’s trending with kitchen cabinets? Create a Pinterest board to keep your favorite looks top of mind. Add in the dynamic color ideas you love from this curated list:
1. Two-tone Kitchen Cabinets
Infuse a playful touch in your kitchen with two-tone cabinets and use color creatively. Two-tone cabinet paint color pairings we love include:
- Bold red Caliente AF-290 with Harbor Haze 2136-60
- Swiss Coffee OC-45 with Yarmouth Blue HC-150
- Weimaraner AF-155 with Etiquette AF-50
2. Accessible Open Shelving
Open shelving is convenient—and stylish. Consider combining these tones for kitchen open shelving:
- October Mist 1495 on wall, paired with Forest Floor 1498 on shelving
- Soft Chamois OC-13 on wall, paired with Luxe AF-580 on shelving
- Fennel Seed 1101 on wall, paired with Soleil AF-330 on shelving
3. Glass-front cabinets
Pair sleek glass doors and windows with pales and soft pastels. We love these soft color combinations:
- Soft greens: October Mist 1495 and Guilford Green HC-116, both soft greens and former Colors of the Year
- Warm yellows: Honeybee CSP-950 and Hawthorne Yellow HC-4
- Airy light blues: Ocean Air 2123-50 and Beacon Gray 2128-60
4. Coastal-Inspired Kitchen Cabinets
Use a variety of finishes to add dimension. Here, soft and balanced Cloud White OC-130 gives this coastal kitchen a bit more depth:
- Eggshell on walls
- Ultra flat on ceiling
- Satin on cabinets and shelves
5. Dark, Monochromatic Kitchen Cabinets
Bring a dose of drama to your kitchen with a deep color.
Here, dark brown Char Brown 2137-20 in satin infuses luxury. Get the look with these dark brown favorites:
- North Creek Brown 1001
- Whitall Brown HC-69
- Kona AF-165
6. Kitchen Cabinets in Gentle Greens
Green paint colors conjure nature and health.
Here, gentle Antique Jade 465 in Advance® Semi-Gloss is calming and refined. More soft greens we love for kitchen cabinets:
- Fernwood Green 2145-40
- Dark Linen 2147-60
- Sea Haze 2137-50
7. Timeless White Kitchen Cabinets
Popular finish combinations we love to enliven an all-white kitchen include:
- Eggshell on walls and Satin on cabinets for subtle contrast (shown here)
- Satin finish on walls and Semi-Gloss finish on cabinets for a slightly higher sheen combination
- Matte finish on walls and High Gloss finish on cabinets for a contrasting look; keep in mind that Matte finish is less durable/washable than finishes that are eggshell and higher.
8. Kitchen Cabinet Idea: Pair Black and Brown
Combine black and brown for a cozy cafe-meets-industrial look. Here, Southern Vine 2138-10, a dark olive verging on brown, pairs effortlessly with Blacktop 2135-10, a sleek black.
Consider these black/brown paint color pairings our experts love:
- Espresso Bean CSP-30 and Black HC-190
- Brown Sugar 2112-20 and Black Bean Soup 2130-10
- Barista AF-175 and Flint AF-560
9. Cool & Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets
Stir up modernity.
Ice Mist OC-67, seen here, keeps the cool vibes coming with walls in Smoke 2122-40, a versatile gray with blue-green undertones.
Love this look? Try:
- White Ice OC-58 and Exhale AF-515
- Brilliant White OC-150 and Watercolor Blue 793
- Snow White OC-66 and Summer Shower 2135-60
10. Pretty in Pink Kitchen Cabinet Colors
Balance a pop of pink paint with neutrals.
Bring subtle retro design to your kitchen. Pink kitchen cabinet pair with these neutrals to provide beauty and balance:
- Brandy Cream OC-4 and Odessa Pink HC-59
- Lychee AF-40 and Head Over Heels AF-250
- Onyx White OC-74 and Fruit Shake 2088-60
11. Pair Cabinets & Crown Moldings
Elevate off-white kitchens with creative use of cabinet colors, as seen here with the same hue on crown moldings and cabinets.
Here, Stone 2112-40, a deep neutral, elegantly connects the kitchen cabinets to crown moldings with White Opulence OC-69, a fresh white, on walls. Consider these winning color combinations:
- Cabinets & crown moldings in Pashmina AF-100, walls in Fossil AF-65
- Cabinets & crown moldings in Hale Navy HC-154, walls in Dove Wing OC-18
- Cabinets & crown moldings in Silhouette AF-655, walls in Thunder AF-685
12. Neutral Spaces with Bold Cabinets
Spike an all-white space with a pop of color.
Here, kitchen cabinets in Steep Cliff Gray 2122-20, a dark gray with cool green undertones, amps up an all-neutral look. Check out these other dark gray hues with strong undertones.
- Montpelier AF-555
- Smokestack Gray 2131-40
- Providence Blue 1636
13. The Minimalist Kitchen
Marble-topped cabinets with smoky mirrored drawers? Yes please. Winter Snow OC-61 in eggshell, shown here, is the perfect backdrop for this minimalist look.
Other white hues with blue-green undertones we love include:
- Distant Gray 2127-70
- White Ice 2139-70
- Gray Lake 2138-70
14. Who Says the Kitchen Can’t Be Luxe?
Consider foundational Black Tar 2126-10, shown here on this chic kitchen. Other dark, bold kitchen cabinet paint colors we love:
- Deep Space 2125-20
- Mysterious AF-565
- Baby Seal Black 2119-30
15. Black & White: A Polished Look
Pair off-white and black hues to elevate traditional kitchens.
Here Jet Black 2120-10 in Satin finish, punctuated by simple white drawer pulls, makes a subtle statement against Vapor AF-35-painted walls.
Check out these black and white kitchen color combination ideas:
- Vanilla Milkshake OC-59 wall with Raccoon Fur 2126-20 for cabinetry
- Intense White OC-51 wall with Soot 2129-20 for cabinetry
- Snowfall White OC-118 wall with Ebony King 2132-20 for cabinetry
16. Tropical Accents Punch Up White Kitchen Cabinets
Add zing to a white kitchen with saturated yellow walls. Here, Sunflower 2019-30, delivers a cheery dose of sunshine in any season.
Bring the happy in with these eye-opening bright yellows:
- Sparkling Sun 2020-30
- Yellow Flash 2021-10
- Golden Nugget 2019-20
17. The Blues Have It
Infuse ocean, sea and sky into your kitchen cabinets.
Here, an accent wall in Westcott Navy 1624 pairs effortlessly with Blue Nose 1678. Other blue kitchen combinations we love include:
- Van Courtland Blue HC-145 on wall paired with Evening Dove 2128-30 on cabinets
- Jamestown Blue HC-148 on wall paired with Van Deusen Blue HC-156 on cabinets
- Buxton Blue HC-149 on wall paired with Schooner AF-520 on cabinets
18. White Kitchen Cabinets with Warm Brown & Taupe
Create earthy, organic vibes with browns and taupes.
Here, Coastal Path AF-380, a nuanced greige from our mix-and-match Affinity® collection, provides a warm backdrop for this country kitchen. Other warm neutrals we love for kitchens include:
- Cotswold AF-150
- Annapolis Gray HC-176
- Warm Sand CSP-280
19. Green with Envy
Go for all-green for an enveloping, modern look. We love emerald Balsam 567, shown here. Bold green kitchen cabinet paint colors include:
- Aurora Borealis 565
- Bunker Hill Green 566
- Gumdrop 564
20. Kitchen Cabinet Idea: Mind the Accents
Deep navy elevates classic white hues.
Pull a bold color from your kitchen cabinets through accents like floating shelves and window mullions. We love these black-meets-navy hues:
- Evening Sky 833
- Blue Note 2129-30
- Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20
21. Teal This Look
Try a captivating hue for statement-making kitchen cabinets.
Here, Newburg Green HC-158, from our Historical Collection, is a sophisticated, stylish star on doors, trim, backsplash and kitchen cabinets. Love this hue? Consider:
- Vanderberg Blue 721
- New Providence Navy 1651
- Olympus Green 679
Creative Kitchen Cabinet Ideas with Innovative Finishes
Choose a durable, high-end finish for kitchen cabinets
Benjamin Moore’s Advance® Interior provides a hard, furniture-quality finish making it the gold standard for painting or repainting kitchen cabinets. Available in all of Benjamin Moore’s 3,500+ paint colors, Advance brings ultimate creative choice to the challenge of finding just-right cabinet colors.
Finish (also called sheen) is a measure of how much light–or lack thereof—reflects off a painted surface. The kitchen cabinet finish you ultimately select provides both functionality and beauty. Advance offers:
- Satin Offering slightly higher gloss than an eggshell finish, Advance Satin provides better stain resistance and durability than lower sheens, including eggshell. Smooth satin finish is similar to that of a hand-rubbed lacquer.
- Semi-Gloss Luminous yet understated, Advance Semi-Gloss is one of the most popular finishes for kitchen cabinets. With its subtle gloss, it creates dimension in the kitchen.
- High Gloss With an almost mirror-like quality, the elegant shine belies this finish’s tough sheen. Easy to clean, stain-resistant and stunning, Advance High Gloss is a showstopper.
Each of these Advance Interior paint finishes stands up to the repeated washing that’s necessary for a busy kitchen.
Use Paint Finish to Heighten Design
Using one color, in a variety of finishes is one way designers create a subtle yet striking effect in any space. For example:
- Use a low sheen such as matte or eggshell on the walls.
- Opt for a semi-gloss or high gloss sheen on the kitchen cabinets.
Even if you use the same color, using different finishes will reflect light differently in your space. The result is an elegant, understated contrast.
Painted Kitchen Cabinet Ideas: Real-life Success Stories
How One Family Transformed Their Kitchen with Cabinet Colors
In this video, the homeowners loved the fresh, clean look of their all-white kitchen. Upon seeing the huge impact blue paint made on their kitchen cabinets however, they were delighted at the transformation color made in their busy kitchen.
The newly painted cabinets “makes the space come alive,” says the homeowner. Added bonus? Thanks to Advance Interior’s easy-to-clean finish, the messy handprints of their two little ones wipe away effortlessly.
See how a dose of color on lower kitchen cabinets transformed this small kitchen.
A Cabinet Makeover with the Power of White Paint
Overwhelmed by too many kitchen cabinet colors? Stick with a classic white hue. White and off-white paint colors make any kitchen feel more spacious and bright—highly valued traits.
Even with its existing countertops and cabinet hardware, this corner kitchen’s white cabinet paint job delivered a major glow-up in Benjamin Moore’s go-to Cloud Cover OC-25, with a Satin finish.
Before
After
How to Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinet with Paint Color
Ultimate tips on refinishing cabinets with paint color #1
Ready to put your kitchen color ideas into action? Check out our step-by-step video tutorial, which includes expert tips for the ultimate kitchen cabinet makeover. You can also download our how-to guide on repainting cabinets with Advance Interior paint.
#1 Remove all drawers, doors, and hardware. Select an area that gives you enough room to work—and enough space to let everything dry.
#2 Prep is a critical step: Cabinets and doors must be clean and dry. Use grease remover if necessary. Then sand and wipe away dust.
#3 Protect your surroundings with a drop cloth.
#4 Prime with an acrylic primer like Fresh Start® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer and allow at least 24 hours to dry.
#5 Sand again.
#6 Paint! Using a nylon/polyester brush, apply Advance® Interior in your choice of Satin, Semi-Gloss or High Gloss. Let dry for a minimum of 16 hours.
#7 Sand a third and final time.
#8 Apply second coat of Advance Interior paint.
#9 Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
Get tips for refinishing your cabinets - from prepping to painting - in this video
Keep in mind: Painting cabinets is a heavy lift for DIY-ers. Hiring a painting professional is a smart option; ask your local Benjamin Moore store for recommendations.
Ultimate tips on refinishing cabinets with paint color #2
Choosing a Paint for Kitchen Cabinets: The Critical Components
When looking to refinish your cabinets, look for the following features in a specialty cabinet paint:
- Exceptional application and feel
- Outstanding coverage and hide
- A hard, furniture-quality finish
- Low VOC, even after tinting
- Availability in thousands of colors
- Surface flexibility—the best kitchen cabinet paints are suitable for oak, cherry, mahogany, maple, as well as fabricated woods, Formica® laminate and other high-pressure surface materials
Advance Interior paint hits all of these critical elements and more. It’s unique waterborne alkyd formula makes it super easy to apply, and soap and water clean up is a breeze.
Professionally Painted Kitchen Cabinets: Before & After
As we’ve shown, paint color provides endless creative potential for transforming your kitchen cabinets. If you’re a DIY-er looking for more insights on painting cabinets, check out:
- How to paint bathroom cabinets
- How to paint inside kitchen cabinets
- Details and online shopping for Advance Interior paint in Satin, Semi-Gloss and High Gloss
Before
After
The Pros Know: Before and After Kitchen Cabinets with Advance®
Professional painters recommend Advance Interior paint for repainting cabinets, trim, doors and more. The balance of formula, consistency and aesthetics makes Advance Interior a premium product that stands apart from the rest.
Check out the before and after stories from these professional painters:
- Paper Moon Painting
- ARC Painting
Before
After
"Advance® is unlike anything we've ever used. It has great open time and you always get a smooth finish.”
Rosanne Courtien, Owner, ARC Painting & Refinishing
Ready to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Selecting your kitchen cabinet colors can often be the hardest part of getting a painting job off the ground. Benjamin Moore makes it easier with:
- Color selection tools like Betty
- A Benjamin Moore Virtual Color Consultation
- Free color chips and color brochures from your local Benjamin Moore store
Call or stop by your locally owned Benjamin Moore store for more tips, advice and all the premium Benjamin Moore products you’ll need to bring your kitchen cabinet ideas to life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the best kitchen cabinet colors that are timeless?
A. Ever-versatile, white and off-white paint colors are timeless choices for kitchen cabinets. In addition to classic neutral kitchen cabinets, other popular timeless hues include light grays, soft greens and wood tones. For darker timeless paint colors, navy blue gives rich, nautical vibes while a dark black paint color brings a dose of drama to any kitchen. Aegean Teal 2136-40, a blue-green with a hint of gray—and a former Benjamin Moore Color of the Year—is a beloved kitchen cabinet selection.
Q. What color kitchen cabinets are low maintenance?
A. Dark paint colors like forest green, charcoal gray, dark brown and black are all apt to hide dirt better than lighter hues on kitchen cabinets. Choosing a high-quality paint product also helps with maintaining kitchen cabinets: Advance® Interior paint provides a furniture-like finish that withstands wear and tear. Available in any Benjamin Moore color and available in Satin, Semi-Gloss and High Gloss, Advance offers endless creative design opportunities.
Q. Should cabinets be lighter or darker than countertops?
A. Color choice is always a matter of personal taste. Many homeowners love the crisp, minimalist envelope of white countertops and matching white kitchen cabinets. Others prefer the contrast of a timeless white countertop with an eye-catching deeper hue on kitchen cabinets and kitchen islands. Sleek black countertops act like a neutral and pair elegantly with kitchen cabinets in a wide range of hues including cool light grays, airy light blues, organic greens and of course, classic white kitchen cabinets.
Q. What color cabinets make a kitchen look bigger?
A. Kitchen cabinets in lighter colors—think off-white, white, and any light neutral—tend to make smaller spaces, including kitchens, feel more open and spacious.
Q. What are the most popular colors for kitchen cabinets?
A. Whites and off-whites are by far the most popular kitchen cabinet colours; Benjamin Moore colour experts love Cloud Cover OC-25, Simply White OC-117, and Silver Satin OC-26. If you are looking for saturated hues, homeowners love Lush AF-475, Oxford Gray 2128-40, and Hale Navy HC-154, from the Historical Colour Collection, for kitchen cabinets and kitchen islands.
