Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colours

Find the perfect kitchen cabinet paint colours to complement your kitchen walls, countertops and backsplash.

Painting kitchen cabinets is a cost-efficient way to transform the heart of your home. When considering new colour for your cabinets, take inspiration from the existing features in your kitchen, such as countertops, backsplash, fixtures, and flooring. These elements provide helpful colour cues to guide you.

Classic off-whites offer a clean, timeless feel, while sleek monochromatic shades can give a modern, sophisticated vibe. Don’t overlook finishes either — satin can bring a soft, elegant touch, while semi-gloss and high gloss paints are easy to clean and luminous. Well thought-out cabinet colours can truly redefine your kitchen’s style and functionality.

How One Family Transformed Their Kitchen with Cabinet Colors

In this video, watch how the homeowners transformed their kitchen with cabinet colours. They originally 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 colour 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."

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

21 Inspiring Kitchen Cabinet Colour Ideas

Start by finding the design, style, and colour idea you love within your own home. What do you dislike, love, or want more of? When considering new colour for your cabinets, look to your countertop, backsplash, fixtures, and flooring. Let these colour cues inspire an updated look for your cabinet colours.

Onyx 2133-10

White Heron OC-57

1. Two-tone Kitchen Cabinets

Infuse a playful touch in your kitchen with two-tone cabinets and use colour creatively. Two-tone cabinet paint colour 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

Wythe Blue HC-143

Wolf Gray 2127-40

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

Lambskin OC-3

3. Glass-front Cabinets

Pair sleek glass doors and windows with pales and soft pastels. We love these soft colours:

  • Soft greens: October Mist 1495 and Guilford Green HC-116, both former Colours 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

Cloud White OC-130

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

  • Satin on cabinets and shelves

Char Brown 2137-20

5. Dark, Monochromatic Kitchen Cabinets

Bring a dose of drama to your kitchen with a deep colour. Here, dark brown Char Brown 2137-20 in satin infuses luxury. Get the look with these dark brown favourites:

  • North Creek Brown 1001

  • Whitall Brown HC-69

  • Kona AF-165

Antique Jade 465

6. Kitchen Cabinets in Gentle Greens

Green paint colours conjure nature and health. Here, gentle Antique Jade 465 is calming and refined. More soft greens we love for kitchen cabinets:

  • Fernwood Green 2145-40

  • Dark Linen 2147-60

  • Sea Haze 2137-50

Simply White OC-117

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.

Southern Vine 2138-10

Blacktop 2135-10

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 colour 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

Smoke 2122-40

Ice Mist OC-67

9. Cool & Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets

Stir up modernity - here, Ice Mist OC-67 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

Thunder AF-685

First Light 2102-70

10. Pretty in Pink Kitchen Cabinet Colours

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

Stone 2112-40

Opulence OC-69

11. Pair Cabinets & Crown Moldings

Elevate off-white kitchens with creative use of cabinet colours, 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 Opulence OC-69, a fresh white, on walls. Consider these winning colour 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

Steep Cliff Gray 2122-20

12. Neutral Spaces with Bold Cabinets

Spike an all-white space with a pop of colour.

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

Winter Snow OC-61

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 OC-68

  • White Ice OC-58

  • Gray Lake 2138-70

Black Tar 2126-10

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 colours we love:

  • Deep Space 2125-20

  • Mysterious AF-565

  • Baby Seal Black 2119-30

Vapor AF-35

Jet Black 2120-10

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 colour combination ideas:

  • Vanilla Milkshake OC-59 wall with Raccoon Fur 2126-20 for cabinetry

  • Snowfall White OC-118 wall with Ebony King 2132-20 for cabinetry

  • Sun Washed 2169-70

Sunflower 2019-30

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

Westcott Navy 1624

Blue Nose 1678

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

Coastal Path AF-380

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

Balsam 567

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 colours include:

  • Aurora Borealis 565

  • Bunker Hill Green 566

  • Gumdrop 564

Mysterious AF-565

20. Kitchen Cabinet Idea: Mind the Accents

Deep navy elevates classic white hues.

Pull a bold colour 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

Newburg Green HC-158

21. Teal This Look

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 colours, Advance brings ultimate creative choice to the challenge of finding just-right cabinet colours.

St. John's Bay 584

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.

Amazon Green 2136-30

Use Paint Finish to Heighten Design

Using one colour, 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 colour, using different finishes will reflect light differently in your space. The result is an elegant, understated contrast.

Get Advice & Complimentary Swatches

If you need help in choosing your colour, come by any of our stores today to see all our colours on display. Our colour experts will also be glad to assist you in choosing the shade that truly suits your space. Also, you get to bring home complimentary swatches which are true to colour for your consideration.

Visit Us

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best kitchen cabinet colours that are timeless?

Ever-versatile, white and off-white paint colours are timeless choices for kitchen cabinets. In addition to classic neutral kitchen cabinets, other popular timeless hues include light greys, soft greens and wood tones. For darker timeless paint colours, navy blue gives rich, nautical vibes while a dark black paint colour brings a dose of drama to any kitchen. Aegean Teal 2136-40, a blue-green with a hint of grey — and a former Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year — is a beloved kitchen cabinet selection.

What colour kitchen cabinets are low maintenance?

Dark paint colours like forest green, charcoal grey, 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 colour and available in Satin, Semi-Gloss and High Gloss, Advance offers endless creative design opportunities.

Should cabinets be lighter or darker than countertops?

Colour 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 greys, airy light blues, organic greens and of course, classic white kitchen cabinets.

What colour cabinets make a kitchen look bigger?

Kitchen cabinets in lighter colours — think off-white, white, and any light neutral — tend to make smaller spaces, including kitchens, feel more open and spacious.

What are the most popular colours for kitchen cabinets?

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.