Choosing the perfect kitchen cabinet color is an essential part of creating a cohesive and stylish kitchen.
The color of your cabinets sets the tone for the entire space, impacting everything from your mood to your resale value.
With so many options available, selecting the best one can sometimes be overwhelming.
To help you achieve that easily, here are 20 detailed ways to choose the perfect kitchen cabinet colors with examples and reasons for each choice.
1. Consider Your Kitchen Size
Considering your kitchen size is very important.
A small kitchen with navy blue cabinets can feel cramped, whereas white or light gray cabinets make the space appear larger.
Why you should consider this is because lighter colors reflect more light, making your kitchen feel open and airy, while dark colors can make it feel cozy but potentially smaller.
2. Evaluate Your Kitchen’s Natural Light
Similarly, evaluating your kitchen’s natural light is key in your selection.
If your kitchen has large windows and gets plenty of sunlight, dark green or deep blue cabinets can work well.
This is because natural light will help you balance darker shades and also prevent your kitchen from feeling too dark or enclosed.
3. Match Your Kitchen Cabinet Colors with Your Countertops
Matching your kitchen cabinet colors with your countertops is a good technique.
White cabinets with a white marble countertop create a seamless, elegant look, whereas navy cabinets with butcher block countertops will give you a rustic feel.
The reason here is that coordinating colors between cabinets and countertops ensures you have a balanced aesthetic without clashing.
4. Complement Your Flooring with Your Kitchen Cabinet Colors
Complementing your flooring is one of the quickest ways of choosing your cabinet color.
Do you know that dark brown wood floors paired with warm beige cabinets create harmony, while stark white cabinets on dark floors provide contrast?
That is because your cabinet color should work well with your flooring to create a unified design rather than a disjointed one.
5. Align with Your Backsplash
If you have a bold, patterned backsplash, neutral cabinets like gray or taupe will help you balance your overall design.
Make sure you avoid visual clutter by choosing cabinet colors that work harmoniously with your backsplash.
6. Follow a Color Scheme Based on Your Home Style

Most modern homes today often have sleek black or gray cabinets, while traditional homes might feature classic cream or oak cabinets.
You will notice that staying within the style of your home will help you create a cohesive and natural flow.
7. Decide on a Monochromatic vs. Contrasting Look
This decision is important because it helps you opt for white cabinets paired with off-white walls for a seamless look or navy cabinets with white walls for contrast.
Note that a monochromatic look creates sophistication, while contrasting colors add drama and interest to your kitchen’s appearance.
8. Factor in Your Kitchen’s Functionality
This is also important because, for example, a high-traffic kitchen might benefit from medium-tone colors like warm gray, which hide dirt better than stark white.
So, this practicality matters because some colors require more upkeep than others.
9. Think About Your Resale Value
How To Utilize White Paint Color For Your House ProjectSoft neutrals like white, gray, and grey tend to appeal to a broader audience compared to bold colors like bright yellow.
Not that if you plan to sell your home, neutral kitchen cabinet colors will make your kitchen more attractive to buyers.
10. Consider Your Personal Preferences
If you are a lover of bold colors, a deep teal or emerald green can make a striking statement. Your kitchen should reflect your personality and make you happy every time you enter.
11. Use Color Psychology
Do you know that blue cabinets can promote calmness, while yellow cabinets add a cheerful and energetic vibe?
This is because colors can influence your mood, so pick one that aligns with the atmosphere you want to create.
12. Mix and Match Your kitchen Cabinet Colors
For example, white upper cabinets and navy lower cabinets can add depth and interest to your kitchen.
Two-tone cabinets can also create dimension and prevent your kitchen from looking flat.
13. Choose a Timeless Color Over Trends
This is important because while sage green is trendy, classic white remains timeless and won’t go out of style.
Remember that trendy colors may look outdated quickly, whereas timeless colors will ensure you enjoy a lasting appeal.
14. Test Your Color Samples First
Sample a small section of your cabinet in two or three shades to see how it looks at different times of the day.
This is because lighting changes throughout the day, affecting how your color appears.
15. Coordinate with Your Appliances
White cabinets pair well with stainless steel appliances, while matte black appliances go well with deep green or charcoal cabinets.
Cohesion between your cabinets and appliances will create a polished look.
16. Don’t Overlook Undertones
Undertones will affect how your color interacts with your surrounding elements.
Know that a cool-toned white might look stark next to a warm wood floor, while a warm off-white would create harmony.
17. Consider Between Open and Closed Kitchen Layouts
In an open-concept kitchen, neutral cabinets will help you blend your space seamlessly with the adjoining areas.
Also, an open layout benefits from neutral colors to ensure a smooth transition between rooms.
18. Match with Your Kitchen Hardware
For example, brass handles complement navy blue cabinets, while chrome hardware pairs well with white cabinets.
This is because hardware can either enhance or clash with your cabinet colors, affecting the final look.
19. Take Inspiration from Nature
Nature-inspired colors feel timeless and comforting in a kitchen.
Soft sage green cabinets with wooden accents will create an organic and calming feel.
20. Follow Your Intuition
If a deep plum color speaks well to you, go for it!
Ultimately, your kitchen is a personal space, and the best color is the one that makes you happy.
Conclusion
Choosing the right kitchen cabinet color involves more than just picking a shade you like; it requires careful consideration of the space, lighting, complementary elements, and your personal style.
Be assured that, by following these 20 detailed tips, you can confidently select a cabinet color that will enhance your kitchen’s beauty and functionality for years to come.