4 Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends on Their Way Out (and 3 Replacing Them)

1. Stained Cabinetry

“Stained cabinetry is definitely having a moment right now,” says Cheyenne Ely, owner and principal designer at Cheyenne Paige Interiors in The Woodlands, Texas. “It’s more forgiving with scuffs and messes.” Not to mention, stain highlights wood’s natural knots and grains, providing depth and texture you’ll never get to enjoy with paint.

2. Moody Green

According to Bynn Esmond, founder and principal designer of her namesake design firm in San Carlos, California, “homeowners want more depth, mood, and mystery in their kitchen.” They also desire calm and a connection to nature, making dark green an obvious choice. “The right shade creates a beautifully warm, inviting, and intriguing space,” she finishes.

3. Warm Neutrals

There are two avenues Ely says clients go down when looking at warm neutrals: white or greige/putty. “Not only are they a little more forgiving from a practical standpoint; they also create a sense of coziness and comfort that some kitchens need alongside stainless steel appliances,” she explains. Bonus: According to Sarah Anderson, founder of Chansaerae Designs in Washington, D.C., “it helps expand outside of the chokehold white kitchens have.”

1. Stark White

The all-white kitchen debate is still raging, and there’s a good chance it always will. “Trends aside, homeowners are moving away from stark white kitchens for practical reasons,” Ely says. “Clients with large families, young children, or who frequently host gatherings often find white kitchens difficult to keep clean.” Even the clients who are still opting for white kitchens prefer to inject more personality through a pop of color or warmer neutrals. Some homeowners also opt for two-tone kitchen cabinets to hide the dirt, which leads me to…

2. Single-Tone Palettes

What Ely means by this is that all the perimeter cabinets and the island are the same color. “In certain kitchens, a single-tone palette can make the room feel flat and uninteresting,” she says. “Deciding on another cabinet color seems like an unnecessary and unwelcome step for design-sake, but it’s an opportunity to bring cohesiveness to a home.” This sounds counterintuitive, but with a two-tone kitchen, you could match your island to your front door, the adjoining room, or even your decor.

3. Gray

While Ely still considers “millennial gray” blacklisted, she does have a recommendation if your heart is still set on the hue: “Accessible Beige” by Sherwin Williams. “It’s a great neutral beige with gray undertones that can pull both cool and warm depending on the surrounding design elements,” she explains. Just don’t forget to swatch first! Paint can look drastically different, even between walls in the same room, depending on the light.

4. Dark Wood

Even though stained cabinetry in general has made a comeback, Anderson says not every shade has. “Some people are still using woods like dark cherry, but most stay on the light end,” she explains. It makes sense: It’s easier to see the natural beauty of the wood, plus it makes the kitchen (which is usually 80% cabinets) feel more open.