BY ALYSSA GAUTIERI
AND MONIQUE VALERIS
The right colors can completely transform your kitchen, whether it's a light hue (think white, gray or powder blue) or a moody tone (like rich brown or dark green). It's important to consider trending paint colors, but when it comes to choosing the best color scheme for your cooking space, you'll want to find a combination that feels timeless. To help you settle on a favorite shade, we've rounded up the best kitchen color ideas for 2024 and beyond.
If you're upgrading your current space, look to the surrounding elements like your kitchen flooring, lighting, countertop style and backsplash design. Also, take notice of your layout's size and how many windows you have. Bright colors, like true whites or cool grays, work best in small kitchens or interiors lacking natural light. Rich tones, like emerald green or navy blue, can also make a statement in tiny spaces.
Choose to focus on one color for a monochrome moment, or experiment with timeless color combinations — you can't go wrong with black and white kitchens. On par with 2024 kitchen trends, green kitchens are still all the rage — ranging from light sage to forest green. We're also loving deep reds, sunny yellow and even Barbie pink this year. No matter if your kitchen design is modern, farmhouse, country or maximalist, we've got a gorgeous hue that'll inspire your space.
Bold Black
Painting cabinetry black — a popular paint color in 2024 — is an easy way to create contrast and add drama. Here, Woodland Road Design pairs the dark hue with a white tile backsplash.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Cracked Pepper by Behr
Pastel Blue
Lighten up your interior with powder blue, which evokes a calm, cool feeling. The pale hue, chosen by Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors, looks stunning mixed with walnut wood accents and gold hardware.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
The Early Stuff by Backdrop Home
Forest Green + Soft White
Rather than commit to a single paint color, design firm Forge & Bow opts for a nature-inspired green for lower cabinets and a crisp white for the uppers.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Buffett Green by Benjamin Moore
Blank Canvas by Behr
Wine Red
From burgundy and auburn to muted mauve, warm rusty reds are trending this year. Here, Kelsey McGregor, founder of Kelsey Leigh Design Co., uses a wine-inspired paint color on walls, cabinets and window treatments for a monochrome moment.
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Eating Room Red by Farrow & Ball
Light Blue + Dark Woods
Contrast baby blue cabinets with bright white walls and a dark wood paneled ceiling. The dark wood creates drama and warmth, as well as a connection to the outdoors, according to Anna Popov of Interiors by Popov.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Glacier Stream by Behr
Deep Green
Dark yet calming, this cool green is filled with gray undertones that make it feel nearly neutral. The modern shade is a perfect complement to natural wood flooring and marble countertops.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Pewter Green by Sherwin Williams
Creamy White
Light, warm and welcoming, this off-white shade looks elegant paired with gold fixtures and marble countertops. We're also loving that Ellen Hatton of BarnesVanze Architects swaps upper cabinets for a wall of windows.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Creamy White by Behr
Sunny Yellow + Bright Blue
Blue and yellow sit opposite from each other on the color wheel, which means these sunny yellow cabinets work well with a blue patterned tile backsplash.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Sundance by Benjamin Moore
Cool Gray
Light gray kitchens are timeless. Here, designer Kate Lester chooses a neutral shade that looks elegant and helps to reflect natural light, so the space feels larger.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Gray Screen by Sherwin-Williams
Dark Blue
No matter your design style, rich blue cabinets are a hit. The dark shade looks bold, yet still feels timeless. Take note from Caren Rideau, founder of The Kitchen Design Group, and opt for a blue patterned backsplash as well.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Very Navy by Behr
Teal Green + Bright Coral
Experiment with a dramatic color combination, just as designer Michelle Bordeau does here with dark green cabinets and terra-cotta-colored upper walls.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Coral Reef by Benjamin Moore
Essential Teal by Behr
Rich Brown
Twenty twenty-four is all about warm earthy tones, and designers — like Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated interiors — are loving rich brown. This deep shade creates a moody feel, without making the interior feel too dark thanks to a surge of natural light.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Rich Brown by Behr
Barbie Pink
After the year of Barbiecore home decor, hot pink looks striking on kitchen cabinets. Pair it with white walls and chrome hardware.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Peony by Benjamin Moore
Crisp White + Warm Woods
Instead of going for a classic all-white kitchen, interior designer Emily Henderson creates intrigue with natural wood accents — from the wood paneled ceiling to the kitchen island base.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Supermoon by Backdrop
Light and Dark Gray
Gray doesn't have to be boring. Subdued gray wall paneling tempers the dark gray cabinets in this kitchen design scheme.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Seize the Gray by Clare
Graphic Charcoal by Behr
Bright White
Crisp white paint is a timeless choice. It helps brighten your work station, and gives you the flexibility to decorate with bold accents. In her personal home, Shelby Girard — Havenly's VP, Creative & Design — contrasts an all-white palette with gold fixtures and raw wood bar stools.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Strong White by Farrow & Ball
Light Green
Draw on the beauty of nature with a soothing green shade, like Caren Rideau of The Kitchen Design Group does here. She elevates the style with a display of wood cutting boards.
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Picnic by Sherwin-Williams
Navy Blue
Create a modern, moody aesthetic with a rich blue hue. Here, interior designer Kelsey McGregor uses the same deep shade for cabinets, walls and trim.
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Old Navy by Benjamin Moore
Give your retro kitchen a refresh with a layer of sweet light green paint. For a cohesive look, paint the exterior and interior of your cabinets — plus the backsplash.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Two Scoops by Clare
Breezy Blue
Bring in a calming blue shade that adds color to your kitchen without overpowering the space. Take a note from the Mendelson Group and find a pale blue that feels bright, fresh and welcoming.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Summer Friday by Clare
Beige + Olive Brown
With an olive brown on top and a sandy beige below, this country kitchen doesn't settle for one shade of brown.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Dirty Chai by Clare
Brooklyn Cowboy by Backdrop
Hunter Green
Take inspiration from design team Studio McGee: This trendy shade makes any kitchen look fresh and modern. Keep things bright by pairing the color with a white backsplash and funky tiled flooring.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Hunter Green by Benjamin Moore
True White + Slate Blue
If you're worried about committing to a bold paint color, keep your walls and cabinets a neutral shade (like white) and add a pop of color to your kitchen island base.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Steel Blue by Benjamin Moore
Moody Gray
Create a moody, monochrome look with similar shades of gray — as Studio Sven does here with gray cabinetry, walls and decor.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
NO CURFEW by Backdrop
Moss Green
In this Austin residence, the team at BHDM Design goes for an earthy green hue for the kitchen cabinets, trim and island base.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Oakmoss by Sherwin-Williams
Aqua Blue (With a Pop of Pink)
For a modern look, have fun with a high-energy color like sky blue. It's the perfect choice to bring personality to cabinets.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Cool Aqua by Benjamin Moore
Soft Cream
In this airy kitchen, balancing soft cream wall tiles with cabinets in a deeper shade of the hue make for a cohesive look.
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Casa Blanca by Sherwin-Williams
Classic Black and White
Black and white is a versatile color combination that can blend seamlessly in a kitchen. Take a cue from this spacious layout that features Benjamin Moore’s Almost Black for a dose of drama.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Almost Black by Benjamin Moore
Supermoon by Backdrop
Dark Green
Bold shades of emerald green, including painted cabinets, anchor interior designer Jean Stoffer's West Michigan kitchen.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Forest Green by Benjamin Moore
Pale Green + Matte Black
In this light-filled kitchen, soft green serves as the perfect backdrop against striking black cabinets and window frames.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Dirty Martini by Clare
Seafoam Green
Recreate this bold, ocean-inspired interior with seafoam green cabinets and baby blue walls. The finishing touch: a woven pendant light.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Arsenic by Farrow & Ball
Black + Bright Red
For a unique style, consider a bold hue — like a retro red. It pairs well with stainless steel appliances and a black center island.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Candy Apple by Glidden
Black by Behr
Dark Turquoise
From walls to cabinetry, this velvety blue-green is the perfect shade to make a statement. Complementary hues: bright yellow, hence the flowers.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Tucson Teal by Benjamin Moore
Stormy Gray
Elevate your neutral kitchen with a calming gray hue, like interior designer Elizabeth Krueger does here.
FIND A SIMILAR SHADE:
Stormy Gray by Behr
Soft Blue-Gray
This lovely kitchen created by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design uses a soothing blue-gray for cabinets. A calm shade like this will never get old.
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Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball
Deep Blue
A navy blue island and cabinets provide visual contrast to the neutral porcelain tile in this Houston kitchen by Mary Patton.
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Surf Camp by Backdrop
Fresh White + Unexpected Black
The ceiling, which designers often refer to as the "fifth wall," is often overlooked. This kitchen's daring black ceiling proves that it's worthy of attention.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Pitch Black by Farrow & Ball
Bit of Sugar by Behr
Shades of Green
The kitchen is one of the best places to experiment with color weights, like this design's trendy mint green and teal color palette.
FIND SIMILAR SHADES:
Two Scoops by Clare
Teal by Benjamin Moore
Sage Green
This kitchen, featuring attractive sage green cabinets against white walls, is a lesson in juxtaposition.
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Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams
A farmhouse kitchen in rural Connecticut copied the greenery outside for a laidback retreat. Skipping the block island in lieu of a warm wood table makes the room feel much larger.
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Pretty Ugly by Backdrop
