A Baker’s Dozen Colours for Kitchen Cabinets
Not into white? Try one of these deliciously colourful kitchen cabinet possibilities
Erin Carlyle
12 November 2018
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
White kitchens cabinets continue to be popular, but if you’d prefer to use more colour there are so many options beyond the popular blue, wood or grey. Here we celebrate 13 pleasing cabinet colours you may not have considered. Which colour would make you feel happiest in your kitchen?
1. Light blue-green
There’s an endless variety of blues to consider, but blue-greens, with their water-like feeling, can be especially refreshing. This beachy shade brings a sense of calm to this kitchen.
There’s an endless variety of blues to consider, but blue-greens, with their water-like feeling, can be especially refreshing. This beachy shade brings a sense of calm to this kitchen.
2. Dusty mauve and turquoise
And unexpected combination of warm mauve and cool turquoise in this kitchen feels both fun and balanced. The backsplash marries the room’s tones thanks to the warmth of the copper and its cooler patina.
And unexpected combination of warm mauve and cool turquoise in this kitchen feels both fun and balanced. The backsplash marries the room’s tones thanks to the warmth of the copper and its cooler patina.
3. Periwinkle
This butler’s pantry off a kitchen embraces periwinkle paint for the cabinets from ceiling to floor. A pantry area can be a fun place to embrace a bold colour, though here glass cabinet fronts help tone down the strong choice. The cabinet interiors in the pantry are oiled cherrywood and the main kitchen has the inverse cabinet colour scheme, with oiled cherry for the exteriors and periwinkle paint on the interiors.
The homeowner seems confident about quirky decor choices; if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can just see a cheeky George Washington head decorative piece to the left of the sink.
This butler’s pantry off a kitchen embraces periwinkle paint for the cabinets from ceiling to floor. A pantry area can be a fun place to embrace a bold colour, though here glass cabinet fronts help tone down the strong choice. The cabinet interiors in the pantry are oiled cherrywood and the main kitchen has the inverse cabinet colour scheme, with oiled cherry for the exteriors and periwinkle paint on the interiors.
The homeowner seems confident about quirky decor choices; if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can just see a cheeky George Washington head decorative piece to the left of the sink.
4. Purple-blue
The cabinets in this kitchen bring an elegantly playful feel to an otherwise neutral kitchen. Yellow accessories offer punchy contrast with the power of colour theory behind them: Yellow and purple are complementary colours, meaning they are opposite each other on the colour wheel.
Mood-boosting colours for your home
The cabinets in this kitchen bring an elegantly playful feel to an otherwise neutral kitchen. Yellow accessories offer punchy contrast with the power of colour theory behind them: Yellow and purple are complementary colours, meaning they are opposite each other on the colour wheel.
Mood-boosting colours for your home
5. Peach
Modern flat-panel cabinets get a warm touch from their peach colour in this kitchen. The cabinet colour picks up on the peach in the natural stone backsplash, which has an agate-like pattern.
Modern flat-panel cabinets get a warm touch from their peach colour in this kitchen. The cabinet colour picks up on the peach in the natural stone backsplash, which has an agate-like pattern.
6. Coral
The deep colour of the cabinets on this kitchen island draws the eye. This is one way to make a mostly white kitchen more colourful (black counters also help).
The deep colour of the cabinets on this kitchen island draws the eye. This is one way to make a mostly white kitchen more colourful (black counters also help).
7. Mint
A distressed green dresses the cabinets in this farmhouse. The colour is a close match to that of the Smeg retro style toaster just visible beneath the glass-front cabinets.
A distressed green dresses the cabinets in this farmhouse. The colour is a close match to that of the Smeg retro style toaster just visible beneath the glass-front cabinets.
8. Emerald green
Dramatic deep green brings richness to this kitchen. The cabinets feature custom insets constructed from two layers of meshed brass. The counters, too, are green: a soapstone so dark it looks nearly black.
Read more about this kitchen
Dramatic deep green brings richness to this kitchen. The cabinets feature custom insets constructed from two layers of meshed brass. The counters, too, are green: a soapstone so dark it looks nearly black.
Read more about this kitchen
9. Light lemon
Pale yellow graces the kitchen of this New York townhouse. Retro-style appliances continue the colour theme.
Pale yellow graces the kitchen of this New York townhouse. Retro-style appliances continue the colour theme.
10. Gold
If you prefer deeper yellow, a bold gold could bring a sunny feel to your kitchen, as it does in this London space.
If you prefer deeper yellow, a bold gold could bring a sunny feel to your kitchen, as it does in this London space.
11. Red
The dramatic red island in this Washington, D.C., kitchen features a textured finish embossed to look like crocodile skin. Subdued modern wood cabinetry balances the eye-catching island colour choice.
The dramatic red island in this Washington, D.C., kitchen features a textured finish embossed to look like crocodile skin. Subdued modern wood cabinetry balances the eye-catching island colour choice.
12. Bright plum
Glossy bright plum bedecks the upper cabinets in this kitchen in Minsk, Belarus. The grey lower cabinets keep the room feeling calm and liveable.
Glossy bright plum bedecks the upper cabinets in this kitchen in Minsk, Belarus. The grey lower cabinets keep the room feeling calm and liveable.
13. A favourite trio
This kitchen features not one or two, but three distinct cabinet colours: a grey-blue for the lowers, soft green for the uppers and pale pink for a full cabinet wall that contains the microwave. It’s a unique look that makes this a very personalised kitchen.
Cabinet laminates: Oceanic, Lamitak; Garden Fantasy, Jennings; Soft Petal, EDL
TELL US
Do you like the idea of colourful cabinets? If so, what favourite colour – or colours – would you like to see on your kitchen cabinets? Share in the Comments.
MORE
10 Kitchen Colour Schemes That Will Stand the Test of Time
This kitchen features not one or two, but three distinct cabinet colours: a grey-blue for the lowers, soft green for the uppers and pale pink for a full cabinet wall that contains the microwave. It’s a unique look that makes this a very personalised kitchen.
Cabinet laminates: Oceanic, Lamitak; Garden Fantasy, Jennings; Soft Petal, EDL
TELL US
Do you like the idea of colourful cabinets? If so, what favourite colour – or colours – would you like to see on your kitchen cabinets? Share in the Comments.
MORE
10 Kitchen Colour Schemes That Will Stand the Test of Time
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We had just started the trim in this pic. I don't have a finished after pic yet.
Love 1, 2, and 8! Fabulous colors!
Given the significant cost of kitchen cabinets versus the negligible cost of paint, I would much prefer to have cabinets in a light natural wood and use paint or colorful backsplash tiles to help set the decor. While photos of colorful cabinets might be interesting, I'd get so tired of them too quickly. And who wants to spend $20,000 and more for new cabinets or even half that for cabinet refinishing. Colorful cabinets are certainly not a trend I'd like to see gain hold.
Fads in kitchens and bathrooms hold on for way too long. As an example, the industrial look which is about the only 'look' manufacturers have provided for years now. When will they even begin to consider those of us who refuse to remodel because of the paucity of attractive products from which to choose?