21 Beautiful White Kitchen Cabinet Ideas to Update Your Space

Poured concrete countertops add just enough color contrast to white kitchen cabinets without being jarring or distracting. Here, designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas used 5cm thick counters, instead of the more standard 3cm, to give them more presence.

Get the Look:
Trim and Cabinetry Paint Color: Shaded White by Farrow & Ball
Ceiling Paint Color: Swiss Coffee by Behr

As in this Mississippi farmhouse kitchen, a vent hood crafted of reclaimed wood adds warmth to the expanse of white cabinetry and walls.

Get the Look:
Wall and Cabinetry Paint Color: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams

RELATED: See more of this Mississippi new-build farmhouse.

To keep an all-white kitchen from feeling too white, swap out the upper wood cabinet fronts for glass insets. Not only will the glass bring in light-reflecting sparkle, the glass-fronted cabinets will provide lots of places to show off pretty dishware and colorful collections.

Add interest to a solid island by adding millwork detailing that is similar in styling to the cabinet door fronts. Your cabinetry company should be able to create the look for you, or you can try your hand at it by using trim pieces from the hardware store. (This is also a good DIY trick if you want to upgrade existing flat panel cabinet doors!)

Get the Look:
Walls and Cabinetry Color: All White by Farrow & Ball

In an older farmhouse or cottage, add heft to simple white cabinetry with period-appropriate oil-rubbed bronze or iron hardware, like these bin pulls. For extra vintage charm, use exposed hinges on the cabinet doors.

Get the Look:
Hinges: For similar, surface mount butterfly hinges from Van Dyke’s
Bin Pulls: For similar, “Claybourne” by Rejuvenation

Along one wall in her Michigan kitchen, homeowner Stefanie Turner added grill-paneled upper cabinet doors and a small set of open shelves to display antiques. “It just adds a little character that’s more unique that traditional glass fronted doors,” she says.

RELATED: See more of this charming family farmhouse in Michigan.

For an airy all-white look that has some dimension, choose marble subway tile for the backsplash. The gray veining brings slight color variation and makes crisp white kitchen cabinetry really pop. Continue the tile all the way up the wall for the most cohesive look.

Get the Look:
Backsplash Tile: White Carrara Marble from Home Depot

Leaving off or removing the doors on upper kitchen cabinets immediately adds dimension to your room. To keep it looking clean and not cluttered, stick to clear glass and white tableware, then pop in some texture with baskets. For farmhouse charm, line the back of the open-front cabinets with beadboard.

If an old crusty piece of furniture makes your heart skip a beat, then bring that patina and charm to your kitchen. Paint your existing or new cabinetry with a distressed finish for an aged appearance. The look pairs well with stainless steel countertops.

For a farmhouse kitchen look, nothing pairs with white cabinetry better than butcher block. For the most warmth, use butcher block for all countertops. But, if you’re fearful of the upkeep or want a look that is a little more bright and airy, consider installing durable quartz countertops on the perimeter cabinets and using butcher block just for the island top.

Lifestyle expert and author Liz Marie Galvan used gallons and gallons of white paint in the transformation of her circa-1800s saltbox-style farmhouse. The cozy kitchen was no exception, where she grounded the airy wrap of pure white cabinets, shiplap walls, and pine floors with a hunky antique pine island that was likely a former general-store counter.

Get the Look:
Wall and Cabinetry Paint Color: Pure White by Sherwin-Williams
Floor Paint Color: Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore

RELATED: See More of Liz Marie’s Dreamy All-White Farmhouse

Look to your favorite furniture pieces for design ideas for your kitchen cabinetry. The corner legs of this large white island resemble those of a farmhouse dining table. Also consider adding bracket feet to the base of wall cabinets.

RELATED: 70+ Stylish Kitchen Island Ideas for Kitchens Large and Small