Kitchen Paint Color Ideas and Schemes

The kitchen is the heart of your home, where family and friends gather to share stories and delicious meals. It needs to be a comfortable and inviting place to be. The right color in your kitchen can fuel your appetite and create the right atmosphere you hope to create. The wrong color can make your kitchen feel uncomfortable and dark. When choosing your paint colors, think beyond the walls. You could paint the cabinets, island, ceiling, or floor. 

These kitchen paint ideas will help you figure out which colors are the perfect addition to your kitchen.

1. Blue

Turn your white walls blue and make your white subway tile pop. Whether it’s a bright pastel or a deep, highly saturated navy, the combination of white and blue is one of the most popular color ideas. If you have a neutral farmhouse kitchen, adding blue can refresh it. Dark blue looks classic when paired with white.

Paint your lower cabinets dark blue and leave your upper cabinets white. Or paint your kitchen island dark blue and your wall cabinets white. For a unique approach to the color combination, paint your ceiling blue. This works for both light and dark shades of blue.

2. Brown

Don’t paint your kitchen brown. It will look outdated and dirty. A darker shade will not inspire feelings of hunger, life, or comfort. If you have your heart set on a neutral color palette, consider more earthy tones. Instead of chocolate brown, consider rust, terracotta, mustard, clay, or moss.

These colors aren’t brown but are in the same color family and will give you an updated look to your kitchen. For homeowners who aren’t willing to give up on brown, achieve your desired color in another way other than with paint. Choose a wood in your chosen shade of brown for the cabinets and a brown stone for the countertop.

3. Dark Green

When it comes to kitchens, dark green and white is quite a trend these days. If you’re feeling adventurous, dark green cabinets paired with a white wall make for an incredibly cozy atmosphere that many people find calming.

With dark green cabinets, you can always add a burst of color to your kitchen through some fun decor pieces — like patterned tea towels or vibrant potted plants. And if dark greens are too much for you, opt for lighter shades that still allow the white wall to stand out as the main focus of the room.

When it comes to creating the perfect kitchen color scheme, dark green and white is a winning combination.

4. Dark/Black

If you have dark cabinets and countertops, then you’d be wise to paint your walls a complementary dark color. If you used a light color for the walls behind the dark cabinets, you would close your kitchen in, making it feel darker and smaller than it really is. If your kitchen units are light-colored, dark walls also work for you. If you aren’t ready to paint your entire kitchen a dark color, there is another option.

Paint your kitchen island a dark color. This kind of accent in your color palette gives your kitchen a fresh design while also helping to define your kitchen. The dark island keeps the dark color low so it won’t close your kitchen in. By keeping the visual weight low, the upper half of your kitchen feels bigger.

6. Gray

If you’re looking for a contemporary color that feels modern but not too sleek, then consider gray. It’s a perfect kitchen color idea for a kitchen that has broad appeal. A light gray will give you a bright design that works well with Scandinavian, contemporary, and farmhouse designs.

A dark charcoal gray is perfect for giving your kitchen a more masculine and sophisticated feel. It’s softer than black, so it’s a more approachable color for an intimidating design style. The only drawback of gray is that you need to be careful with your stainless steel appliances. Choose a shade too close to the stainless steel, and your kitchen design will fall flat and look bland.

See more gray kitchen ideas here.

7. Beige

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s never more apparent than when you choose beige cabinets to be the star of the show. Beige cabinets are an amazing way to bring in a subtle warmth while still creating an atmosphere of relaxation.

The beige color will bring out wood accents and be complemented by almost any wall color, bringing a level of versatility along with timeless charm. Whether you’re adding new beige cabinets or refreshing existing ones with beige paint, your kitchen will be one-of-a-kind and beautiful.

9. Pink

Pink is a less common kitchen cabinet paint color. There are a few shades that people typically gravitate towards. Pastel, magenta, and mauve are popular. Depending on the interior design style you are aiming for, you will choose a different shade of pink.

Magenta is vibrant and intense, making it perfect for a glam kitchen. Pastel is soft and gentle, perfect for a farmhouse, country, or even contemporary kitchen. Mauve is muted and darker, making it a good choice for a bohemian, rustic, or retro kitchen.

10. Red

Choosing a red color for your kitchen is a smart decision. There’s a reason many restaurants choose the color for their color scheme. Red inspires energy, passion, and appetite.

This bold color is perfect for the walls or your kitchen cabinet color. However, it doesn’t work with all interior design styles. It looks best in modern and minimalist styles. It’s a little more challenging to use with a farmhouse or vintage design, but still possible. It won’t look right in a contemporary or Scandinavian kitchen.

See more modern kitchen ideas here.

11. Yellow

Yellow is a bright and cheery kitchen paint color. It’s the color of the sun, which helps it feel energetic and youthful. To keep it from becoming too intense, choose a softer shade. Unless you’re aiming for a kindercore design, primary yellow has a limited number of applications where it looks beautiful and isn’t overwhelming.

Avoid a muted yellow shade. It will look dull and slightly dirty. A soft pastel shade is perfect for a farmhouse, country, or contemporary kitchen. It softens the look of an all-white kitchen while not detracting from the light reflecting effect.