These Gorgeous Kitchen Paint Ideas Will Breathe Life Into Your Cooking Space

The kitchen is arguably the most experimental room in the house in terms of what you create and make there, so rather than just limiting yourself to mixing and matching flavors while cooking, why not spice up its interior? Kitchen paint colors extend much further beyond the few shades you might think belong in there—white, we’re looking at you. If you consider your favorite bright hues or dramatic dark shades to be solely reserved for smaller rooms, think again. There are a variety of tasteful, trendy ways to make the boldest colors and even the quietest hues work to your advantage when adding interest to your space.

In the past year, it seems the selection of kitchen paint colors in heavy rotation for designers have orbited around bluish grays, whites, deep greens, and grays. The shades tend to be more muted with matte finishes, but they look bolder once spread out across an entire kitchen. While paint is a no brainer for updating a kitchen, you don’t have to save it for just the walls. Recently, kitchen paint trends have switched focus from using paint on walls to using it on cabinets instead. A quick scroll through Instagram, and you’ll find lots of white walls with pops of color featured on base and wall cabinets as well as kitchen islands. One of the best parts of this trend is how easy it is to change out when you’re ready for something new. It’s also much less overwhelming to have green cabinets, for instance, instead of all green walls. 

You can also adjust your color palette depending on what you’d like to emphasize about your cook space. To give the illusion of space, try white walls and colorful wall cabinets on for size. If your walls feel a little blasé, a bolder dark shade can instantly make your kitchen the focal point of your home. In terms of selecting the right paint finish for your kitchen, it’s typically a smart move to go for a semi-gloss or satin finish for the best results because these finishes are the easiest to wipe clean without doing any damage. 

Above, this jewelry designer’s kitchen in Brisbane is harmoniously balanced with deep navy matte cabinets. While they are bold, the warm wood and white accents throughout the rest of the kitchen help to really soften the space up. If you’re looking to try out darker colors in this area of your home, it’s important to find a complementary palette with a few lighter colors or textures. This will prevent your space from looking too heavy.

Before you jump to the conclusion that this color is overdone—hear us out. White is the cleanest slate you can start with and works with nearly any decor style or paint color. You can keep it minimal or use it as a base to add bright pops of color. This kitchen from Victoria and Nikolai’s house tour is a perfect example of how to use white to make a space look airy, spacious, and unique. A wood clad island and an ultra subtle chevron pattern tile backsplash show how spectacular of a base white can be and how easy it is to build on with custom touches.

Because the rest of this kitchen by Côté Maison is minimal in color and structure, the teal paint used on the walls is rich and dramatic—not overwhelming. This hue breathes life into a smaller space and makes it feel more personal, instead of a standard fare plain apartment kitchen. Choosing a subdued tone of teal like this one makes for a more sophisticated room that doesn’t feel too offbeat.

White might be the first color you think of when considering paint colors that brighten up a kitchen, but pale pastel pink could be just the eclectic swap you’re looking for. This soft bubblegum pink kitchen from Sadie and Lorin’s house tour is tangible proof that pink makes for a pretty snazzy kitchen color. Sticking with just one or two shades will ensure it’s tonal and doesn’t enter tacky territory.

As a paint color, black often gets a bad rap for being too moody and dark. But when used in the right amounts, it can make for a chic, sharp statement. The chevron accent wall, painted black wall above the cabinets, and black hardware turns this kitchen from a Chicago house tour into a modern, sophisticated escape. It’s a cool contrast from the rest of the house’s antique vibes. In a smaller space, it’s usually best to use black sparingly as a statement color. If your kitchen has extra square footage or lots of natural light, it’s easier to get away with painting the walls or cabinets all black.

In Hayley Francis’ Seattle craftsman above, the kitchen is one of the most show stopping rooms in the house. From black and white checkered floor tiles to its minty green cabinet and trim color (Benjamin Moore’s Southfield Green), it was a memorable design. Although it is bold, a crisp white backdrop balances out the punchy mint, making it still an accessible (albeit really fun) kitchen hue.

Take a page out of Emily Henderson’s playbook and try out Wolf Gray from Benjamin Moore for your kitchen. A bluish gray hue brings your cabinets to life without making the space feel too dark. It looks especially beautiful contrasted against gold hardware accents and white countertops, which brighten up the deep color. It’s also a great hue to contrast patterns against, whether that be on your kitchen floor or backsplash.

Don’t be afraid of dark colors. If your kitchen is airy with a lot of white accents then you can paint the bottom half of your cabinets a dark hue without feeling like the room is closing in on you. As Studio McGee proves, deep green is a beautiful color to experiment with, especially when paired with butcher block shelving and brass accents. This particular green is Benjamin Moore’s Forest Green.

For those who have a more vintage aesthetic, painting your cabinets a Robin’s egg shade is a playful way to give it a pop of color, as

A Lovely Lark

Bring some interest to white cabinetry by adding a bold blue hue to your island or peninsula. Not only is it subtle, but a vibrant color against an all-white kitchen helps carve out the space from the living room in an open floor plan. The designer, Orsi Panos Interiors, used Lead Gray from Benjamin Moore.

Light gray cabinets give off a country kitchen vibe, creating warmth in the room while still keeping the space light and airy. Three Birds Renovation enlivened the quiet color with black cabinet knobs, white countertops, and a light gray granite on the island. You can find a similar shade using Cascade White from Benjamin Moore.