The Ingalls

55 Pretty Kitchen Paint Color Ideas to Update Your Space

Give your kitchen a fresh new look with one of these tried-and-true paint color ideas for walls and cabinets.

By Jennifer KopfUpdated: Jul 15, 2024

An all-white kitchen will always be timeless, especially in a farmhouse, but kitchens wrapped in colorful painted cabinetry are back, and, we think, looking better than ever. We know trying to decide on a cabinet color for your kitchen can be hard so we’re here to help.

With a range of shades from airy mint to deep forest, green kitchens have come a long way from the days of avocado-colored appliances; and what could be more farmhouse-chic than a kitchen clad in a classic pairing of blue and white? Sporting warm whites and soft grays to sunny yellows and even a red or two, the kitchens in this roundup are some of our favorites ever and provide lots of inspiration to help you decide on your own kitchen’s color scheme.

If you’re not quite ready to commit to painting your cabinets, consider painting just the kitchen island to create an accent piece. (If you’re planning to go the DIY route, read this article for tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets. Yes, even laminate cabinets!) Or, if you like the look of natural wood or white cabinets, try a painted floor for a fun twist. You can also bring in color to your kitchen through a tile backsplash, wallpaper (yes, it’s back in the kitchen, too!), lighting, or your favorite vintage collections. Whatever you choose, have fun creating the kitchen of your—colorful!—dreams!

For more kitchen decorating ideas and inspiration, check out these related stories:

Soft Olive Green

ALI HARPER

Painting the walls, trim, cabinetry, and ceiling all the same color provides a cozy, sophisticated effect. Keep the paint color on the lighter side to keep the overall feeling airy, as in the Alabama designed by Jensen Killen of Logan Killen Interiors.

Get the Look:
Paint Color: For similar, Dry Sage by Benjamin Moore

Tannish Gray

Emily Followill

For a kitchen with natural wood walls, pick a gray that has brown undertones like in this cabin kitchen designed by James Farmer. “Z-back” detailing on the cabinet fronts adds a custom touch that adds depth to the small room.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Prairie Grass by Sherwin-Williams

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Crisp White

coastal kitchen with a blue stove and matching blue and white stools

Roger Davies

For this California beach house, designer Alexis Garrett went with the most classic of country color pairings: blue and white. The fun blue La Cornue range and diamond ticking-patterned backsplash tile by Tabarka Studio pop against the crisp white English kitchen-inspired Shaker-style cabinetry. Rich walnut butcher-block countertops add warmth amongst all the crisp white.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Simply White by Benjamin Moore

Deep Gray-Green

farmhouse kitchen with blue green cabinetry and tan gingham wallpaper

Becky Lugart-Stayner

Designer Trinity Holmes poured on the country charm in this North Carolina kitchen by choosing a rich, dark green for the lower cabinets and furniture-like built-in. Simple, hand-carved wood knobs add a warm accent.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Enchanted Forest by Benjamin Moore
Wallpaper: For similar, “Bebe Gingham Driftwood” by Seabrook

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Green Gray

Par Bengtsson

Painted a soothing greenish-gray to complement the surroundings, this kitchen’s cabinetry’s grooved doors and drawer fronts with bronze latches and bail pulls give the airy kitchen an elevated farmhouse look. Designer Shannon Bowers chose complementary tan checked curtains to add softness and help frame the outside view.

Get the Look:
Kitchen Cabinetry Paint Color: French Gray by Farrow & Ball

Soft Black

modern kitchen with black stained cabinetry, blue tile, and orange range

Adam Albright

Dark soapstone countertops, black-stained knotty alder cabinetry, and hickory barstools add to the rustic character of this Wisconsin lake home, while sunny yellow lanterns offset the darker finishes. “We wanted the open kitchen and great room to feel like an old lodge,” says homewoner Sarah Anderson. The counter-to-ceiling blue-and-green tile backsplash echoes the lake home’s natural surroundings

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Stain Color: True Black Semi-Transparent Stain by Minwax

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Warm White

Jim Westphalen

Rather than flat drywall, designer Cathy Chapman prefers how white beadboard (on the ceiling) and shiplap (on the walls) offer ample farmhouse appeal. The warm white paint color she chose pairs nicely with all ranges of wood tones and hardware finishes ensuring a timeless, love-it-forever kitchen.

Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: White Heron by Benjamin Moore

Yellowy Cream

small kitchen with cream cabinetry and wood shelving

Annie Schlechter

To warm up a small kitchen, choose a yellowy cream, like in this Hamptons home of Paul Caddell. The neutral color complements wood tones for a cozy, cohesive look.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: For similar, Ambient Light by Magnolia

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Dusty Red

kitchen with red cabinetry and blue range

Rustic White Interiors

“Life is too short to live in a white box,” says designer Grace Mitchell. “I ask clients, ‘When you where young, what crayon did you always pick first out of the Crayola box?’ If you loved cornflower blue then, you’re going to love cornflower blue today...and tomorrow. Don’t worry about hating it in 10 years. Enjoy your home now!” To keep it balanced, Grace pairs bold cabinetry with quieter, primarily white, marble or quartzite countertops, like in this kitchen. For even more smiles, she added a watery blue range and hood. “Why choose fingerprint-y stainless steel when colored appliances are so fun and memorable?” she says.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Dinner Party by Benjamin Moore

Pure White

bright white farmhouse kitchen with open shelving and a white range

David Tsay

Small kitchens feel significantly larger when painted in a crisp white. Adding to the airy feeling, homeowner Maria Carr went white all the way: Carrara marble countertops, handcrafted marble-and-wood shelving, and a marble subway tile backsplash. She also replaced existing linoleum floors with a light-toned herringbone patterned floor of black oak. Rather than staining, they Woca oil by Woca to keep the wood tone from becoming pink.

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

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Creamy White

white kitchen with green and white checkerboard floor

Kirsten Francis

Designer Stephanie Perez lined her Hudson Valley, New York, kitchen with creamy white Shaker-style cabinetry for a timeless farmhouse feel. A beaded inset gives them an elevated look, which Stephanie extended to the dishwasher. “Paneling the dishwasher creates a seamless appearance,” she says. Handcrafted Zellige tiles in shades of white complement the cabinets’ hue while also adding texture, while the green-and-white checkered floor brings European farmhouse vibes.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Creamy by Sherwin-Williams

Moody Blue

mississippi farmhouse makeover takeover blue kitchen

Hector M. Sanchez, styling by Anna Logan

To help the large kitchen feel cozier, Country Living Editor-in-Chief Rachel Hardage Barrett chose the same soft blue color for the cabinets, walls, and ceiling of her Mississippi farmhouse. “This just-a-bit-moody blue has undertones that keep it feeling historic, not coastal,” says Rachel. Tip: When painting cabinetry, choose a cabinet-grade enamel paint for a flawless, chip-resistant finish.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry and Trim Paint Color: Dutch Tile Blue by Sherwin-Williams

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Deep Blue

Michael Kaskel

Glossy deep blue cabinetry pair with white walls for a crisp, modern farmhouse kitchen by designer Stephen Shutts. Brass accents add a handsome finishing touch.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Naval by Sherwin-Williams

Navy Blue

David A. Land

Marine blue cabinets topped with walnut countertops, a red cedar ceiling, and a pine subfloor give this tiny kitchen a handsome nautical vibe. Unlacquered brass and rope pendants add another coastal nod.

Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: London Fog by Benjamin Moore
Cabinetry Paint Color: For similar, Salty Dog by Sherwin-Williams

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Cornflower Blue

nostalgic farmhouse kitchen with blue cabinetry and wallpaper

Chase Daniel

For a period-appropriate look for an early 1900s farmhouse, choose a timeless color like this cornflower blue in Melissa Duckworth's small galley kitchen. It’s the perfect complement to the reproduction William Morris wallpaper and antique mint-colored enamel gas range.

Get the Look:
Trim and Cabinet Paint Color: Jamestown Blue by Benjamin Moore

Silvery Gray

airy coastal kitchen with cabinets and island painted in silver lining by benjamin moore

Read McKendree

Classic Shaker and English kitchens inspired this timeless space, designed by Katie Rosenfeld in partnership with Jannell Zarba of Damiana Design + Project Management. “There are a lot of [English] scullery and back of house aspects to the kitchen,” says Katie, including punch-outs in the cabinetry. The soft gray paint color echoes the billowing seas beyond the windows.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Silver Lining by Benjamin Moore

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Green Blue

John Gruen

Homeowner Dana Simpson chose a soft green blue for the Shaker-style cabinets in her light and airy modern farmhouse kitchen. “I love the way it contrasts with the white walls and the colors of nature that come through the windows.” The color is complemented with sandstone and butcher block countertops.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: Green Blue by Farrow & Ball

Olive Green

rustic kitchen with dark green cabinetry

Read McKendree

A rich olive green cabinet color helps this tiny beam-capped kitchen feel even cozier, but light-reflecting tile keeps it from feeling too dark. The unlacquered brass faucet and bistro-style shelving also bring some aged shine.

Get the Look:
Cabinetry Paint Color: For similar, Mountain Olive by Behr

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Earthy Blue

a modern cottage kitchen with blue cabinetry and white tile walls

The Ingalls

Inspired by the outdoors, architect Steve Giannetti chose a deep blue paint with green undertones for the lower cabinets along this kitchen’s back wall. The other cabinets feature a soft gray instead to convey a feeling of a separate freestanding piece.

Get the Look:
Back Cabinetry Paint Color: Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
Side Cabinetry Paint Color: Worsted by Farrow & Ball

Blueish-Black

kitchen ensconced in blue gray paint including the cabinets, paneled backsplash, walls, door, and ceiling

Plain English

This moody hue is making us crave a rainy day indoors with a cup of tea while bread bakes in the oven. It is the perfect muted blue—almost black—that feels warm and rich.

Get the Look:
Cabinet and Millwork Paint Color: Opera Glasses by Behr