30 Gorgeous Gray Kitchen Ideas That Are Anything But Boring

updated Sep 6, 2023
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While white has reigned supreme as the primary kitchen color du jour for years, gray is also a timeless color that brings depth and interest without feeling too bold. Its earthiness and moody sensibility makes it a soothing, striking color to swathe your cook space in. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gray paint color, gorgeously marbled countertops, stylish tiles, or just a few gray accents, the following gray kitchen ideas are sure to inspire your next cook space upgrade.  

1. Pair it with mid-mod colors.

This Chicago dining room displays how well gray can work alongside bolder, brighter colors, especially those that tend to give off a mid-century modern vibe like teal and mustard yellow. It’s a neutral backdrop that reduces visual clutter in the space and makes the eclectic table pop like crazy.

2. Always add greenery for a beautiful contrast.

The color green stands out beautifully against the classic grey and white tiled backdrop in this Boston kitchen. Think of a field of stunning green trees on a gray, dreary day.

3. Create an elegant aesthetic.

Dark and brooding is the overall vibe of this stunning Swedish kitchen, which incorporates a monotone cabinet and backsplash combination (the trick of using kitchen cabinets the same color as the walls is always a win). We love how the wooden cutting board stands out against the dark gray background.

Credit: Jake Boeve

4. Go with gray, black, and white for a bold look.

The retro black-and-white checkered flooring works perfectly alongside the gray cabinetry in this Michigan kitchen. It’s a great combination of bold and neutral that doesn’t overwhelm this relatively small kitchen.

Credit: bloggaibagis

5. Gray coordinates perfectly with pink.

We’ve loving everything about this gray and pink Swedish kitchen! The beautiful pink vase and pink rug pop against a barely-there pink paint on the walls, while the gray cabinetry serves as a gorgeous base tone.

Credit: Tamara Day

6. Use tile in unexpected places.

We love how designer Tamara Day made these swoon-worthy kitchen cabinets even more beautiful with the addition of a tiled backsplash. This is a great way for color lovers to strike balance in the kitchen while creating a one-of-a-kind layered space. 

7. Go all-in on moody neutrals.

Designer Autumn Dawn Pochiro of Autumn Dawn Design says that gray is such an underrated color, and you often don’t even realize the power it holds until incorporating it into the stylistic drama of the room. Here, the designer uses gray all over this kitchen for a sophisticated yet warm cookspace that is well-balanced with brown.

8. Go beyond the countertop with marble.

This kitchen, designed by Sarah Bartholomew, showcases how subtly striking marble can be when used all throughout the kitchen. Here, it surrounds bright windows and acts as a backsplash to bring a sense of elegance to this inviting, comfortable kitchen.

9. Take to the floors.

This neutral kitchen feels anything but drab and forgettable, thanks to these killer tiles. Designed by Young Huh, this gorgeous NYC cook space strikes the perfect balance of utilitarian elegance. 

10. Lean on darker hues for more drama.

Designer Alexandra Kaehler proves that with just the right shade of gray, your kitchen doesn’t need much more adornment to have it feeling richer and more moody. Acrylic chairs and pendants allow this color to shine at every turn. 

11. Create contrast.

Deep gray walls offer a rich contrast to simple white cabinets and millwork, while allowing silver fixtures to shine, just as we saw in this light-drenched kitchen in a San Francisco home.

12. Consider square tiles.

Not a fan of gray walls? No problem. Gray square tiles forge an equally elegant kitchen scene and can double as a backsplash as well, just like we saw in this Illinois home

13. Accent a lofty kitchen.

Dark gray-painted cabinets bring depth and dimension to a white-walled kitchen with soaring ceilings, like the ones we spotted in Katie Day’s eclectic Australian home.

14. Go for grayscale.

Never underestimate the power of a little grayscale in a kitchen. Take a cue from Chelsea Ellis and dress up your kitchen island with a grayscale mosaic tile display to make an artful—but subtle—statement in an all-white kitchen, just like she did inside her Australian abode.

15. Energize a neutral space.

A glossy gray backsplash, like the one we spotted in this New York City apartment, livens up a compact kitchen with plain white cabinets and dark floors, without straying from the industrial color palette.

16. Paint your under-sink cabinetry.

A bit of light gray paint can go a long way in an all-white kitchen. Case in point: this Pennsylvania home’s  minimalist kitchen, where pale gray under-sink cabinets bring a pop of personality to the otherwise white-washed space. 

17.  Play with pattern.

Gray-colored cabinets work wonders to subdue a patterned backsplash, like the one we spotted in Massachusetts home. Butcher block countertops also help neutralize the space while adding texture and visual interest.

18. Warm things up.

Chic brown-gray cabinets warm up a monochrome kitchen palette without sacrificing its industrial feel, like we saw in this ultra-cool Chicago loft

Credit: Bethany Nauret

19. Draw from similar tones.

Light gray cabinets, like the ones we spotted in this charming Silver Lake bungalow, balance out the cool hues of white subway tile and pale blue-green walls for a warm and inviting cookspace.

20. Upgrade a small galley kitchen.

Paint your kitchen cabinets gray to bring a dash of drama to a narrow kitchen without cramping up the space, as we saw in this remodeled Pennsylvania home.

21. Utilize unfinished floors for a modern, laid-back look.

Gray concrete floors create a casual, stylish vibe in a modern kitchen, just like the ones we spotted in this Austin abode.

22. Maximize a cramped kitchen.

Dark gray floors, like the ones we saw in this New York City studio apartment, bring depth and drama to a tiny kitchen without overwhelming the neutral spac

Credit: Cathy Pyle

23. Affordably update your floors.

Smooth, gray rubber floors offer a sophisticated (and affordable) alternative to concrete ones in a contemporary kitchen, as we saw in this London flat

Credit: Faith Durand

24. Blend various hues.

Pale gray floor tiles incorporate the hues of dark gray cabinets and light gray-painted kitchen walls, as we found in this London home.

25. Employ lots of texture.

Light gray flooring, like what we spotted in this San Francisco rental, bring out the colors of a gray-veined marble backsplash and gray cabinetry.

Credit: Katie Currid

26. Color-block your whole kitchen.

Gray-painted cabinets create an eye-catching scene in a black-and-white kitchen, as shown in this Kansas City house.

27. Add greenery.

Nothing brightens up a gray kitchen palette faster than a few cheery houseplants. Follow in Jennifer Biswas’ footsteps and place a handful of pretty plants around your gray kitchen cabinets, like she did in her Minnesota home

28. Play with cabinetry.

Natural wood floating shelves offer up extra storage space while playing up the warm tones of gray kitchen cabinets, as we saw in an Australian home.

29. Try a statement light fixture.

When all else fails, you can always count on a swanky chandelier to bring a touch of glamour to a dark gray kitchen, like we saw in Andi and Dean’s San Francisco abode.

30. Take to the hood vent.

This chic, airy kitchen designed by Alexandra Kaehler has a sophisticated focal point in the kitchen’s range hood, which is painted to match the island and bottom cabinets for a seamless, thoughtful feel.