This Is the Cabinet Change You’ll Regret Most in Your Kitchen, According to Pros

Designing the perfect kitchen cook can be a tough process — especially if you’re waffling between a few different design choices. One way to guarantee you score your dream space on the first shot? You have to tune out the noise about trends. Just like in fashion, kitchen design trends are constantly coming up, and contractors agree: If you follow everything that’s “in” at the moment, you may end up regretting it later.

So what’s the number one trend they’ve seen their clients most regret over the years? When it comes to kitchen cabinets, there’s a glaring one that nearly all of them mentioned. And remember, you can totally incorporate trends if you want to — but don’t feel like you need to get the kitchen of your dreams.

Contractors agree: The number one cabinet trend people regret is committing to the wrong color, whether that’s a bold, trendy hue or an entirely white kitchen. “Think about it, a truly all-white kitchen, from cabinets to countertops to backsplash, can feel incredibly sterile,” says Adrian Andronachi, a contractor, interior designer, and founder of AGA Builders. “It’s like a perfectly curated museum exhibit — beautiful to look at, but not a place you want to live in.”

This may sound extreme, especially if you have your heart set on a spotless, white kitchen. After all, there are some gorgeous ones out there! But it’s a good reminder to not do it just because you see it all over Instagram. And if all-white is your dream, add pops of color or different finishes to warm up the space. 

Mike Costello, contractor and home improvement expert at TeachMe.To, also notes that a whitewashed kitchen is the number one regret he typically sees from clients. That said,  drenching a kitchen in any one color has also been known to cause a few regrets. “The folks who go all-in on a vibrant, trendy color — a deep teal, a sunny yellow, or fire-engine red that pops — tend to regret it later,” explains Andrew Bates, the COO of Bates Electric. “Living with a bold color every single day can quickly feel like too much, and as the color trends out of style, it can date a new kitchen fast.”

“A few years ago, there was a big push for vibrant blues, deep greens, and even matte black cabinets, which looked absolutely stunning in design magazines and on social media,” says Mike Belk, owner and founder of BELK Tile. “However, once these bold colors are installed, clients often realize they can feel too intense or even overwhelming in the space.”

Moral of the story? What might photograph well in a designer kitchen might not work well in an everyday space. Make sure you’re thinking about the long-term appeal of your cabinet colors and not what everyone else is doing.

“To avoid this regret, I always emphasize the importance of testing out colors in the actual kitchen space before committing, and I recommend integrating bold hues in smaller, more temporary accents — like backsplashes, lighting, or even drawer pulls — so they can still make an impact without overwhelming the entire room,” Belk says. “That way, you get the best of both worlds: a hint of trendiness without the long-term commitment.”