Colored Kitchen Cabinets: Popular Trends and Timeless Choices

White and gray cabinets dominate kitchen design, and for good reason. They're versatile, bright, and work with almost any style. But colored cabinets create personality and visual interest that neutrals can't match.

The key is choosing colors that feel intentional rather than trendy, that work with your specific kitchen and home, and that you'll still love in five or ten years. Some colors have staying power. Others will date your kitchen quickly.

This guide covers the most popular colored cabinet choices right now, which colors have proven themselves timeless, and how to choose cabinet colors for Lafayette kitchens that balance current style with long-term appeal.

The Case for Colored Cabinets

Why choose color when safe neutrals work so well?

Personality and Character

Colored cabinets make design statements. They show thought and intention beyond playing it safe. Navy cabinets signal sophistication. Green cabinets bring nature indoors. Even subtle colors like soft blue-gray add character that pure white can't achieve.

For homeowners who want kitchens that feel personal rather than generic, color delivers.

Visual Interest

Color adds depth and complexity to kitchen design. It creates focal points, defines zones in open floor plans, and provides contrast that makes spaces feel more dynamic.

Even muted, sophisticated colors create visual interest compared to all-white kitchens.

Flexibility with Trends

Colored cabinets, when chosen well, let you incorporate current trends without betting everything on looks that might feel dated soon. Paint an island bold color while keeping perimeter cabinets neutral, and you can easily change the island if your tastes evolve.

Disguising Wear

Darker colored cabinets hide fingerprints, minor scuffs, and daily wear better than white cabinets. This practical advantage matters in busy family kitchens.

Colors with Staying Power: Timeless Choices

Some colored cabinets have proven themselves over decades. These aren't fleeting trends.

Navy Blue

Navy has been popular for kitchen cabinets for more than a decade and shows no signs of fading. It works because navy reads as a neutral despite being a color. It coordinates with almost any countertop, backsplash, and flooring.

Navy brings sophistication and depth without feeling dark or oppressive in well-lit kitchens. It works across design styles from traditional to contemporary.

Popular navy paint colors include Benjamin Moore Hale Navy, Sherwin-Williams Naval, and Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue. These are true, saturated navies without excessive gray or purple undertones.

Navy works beautifully on islands paired with white or gray perimeter cabinets. It also works on all lower cabinets with white uppers for a classic two-tone look.

Forest Green and Sage

Green cabinets bring calm, natural tones into kitchens. Deep forest greens create rich, traditional looks. Soft sages feel organic and relaxed.

Green has been used in kitchens for centuries, which gives it historical staying power. It's currently having a moment in popularity, but it's not a flash-in-the-pan trend.

Try Benjamin Moore Forest Green, Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage, or Sherwin-Williams Evergreens for deep tones. For softer options, consider Benjamin Moore October Mist or Benjamin Moore Salisbury Green.

Green cabinets work particularly well in Bay Area homes with garden views or lots of natural light. They bring the outside in and create peaceful, grounded spaces.

Charcoal and Deep Gray

Charcoal isn't quite black but it's close. It creates dramatic, moody kitchens that feel sophisticated and contemporary.

Deep grays have been popular for years and continue to work beautifully. They're more forgiving than true black (which shows every fingerprint and dust particle) while delivering similar visual impact.

Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, and Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn are excellent charcoal options that read as deep gray rather than muddy brown-gray.

Charcoal works on lower cabinets or islands with lighter upper cabinets. All-charcoal kitchens can feel dark in homes without excellent natural light.

Soft Blue-Gray

Blue-grays walk the line between neutral and colored. They provide subtle color that still feels safe and versatile.

These colors work particularly well in coastal-influenced Bay Area homes. They bring calm, relaxed feelings without the potential starkness of pure gray.

Try Benjamin Moore Smoke, Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray, or Sherwin-Williams Online for sophisticated blue-grays that work across design styles.

These colors work on all cabinets or in two-tone combinations. They're particularly lovely with white quartz countertops and light wood or white oak flooring.

Warm Cream and Greige

For homeowners who want colored cabinets but prefer warm tones, cream and greige (gray-beige) options deliver softness without going full beige.

These colors feel collected and lived-in rather than showroom-perfect. They work beautifully in traditional and transitional kitchens with warm wood floors and natural materials.

Benjamin Moore White Dove (technically white but reads as soft cream), Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, and Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (in lighter tints) create warm, inviting kitchens.

Trendy Colors: Proceed with Caution

Some colors are extremely popular right now but may date quickly. That doesn't mean avoid them entirely, but understand the risk.

Black Cabinets

Matte black cabinets are having a major moment in contemporary design. They create dramatic, sophisticated kitchens that photograph beautifully.

But black shows everything: fingerprints, dust, water spots, scratches. Black also makes kitchens feel smaller and darker unless you have exceptional natural light.

Black works best as an accent (island only) or in very large, bright kitchens. It's closely tied to current trends and may feel dated in 5 to 10 years.

Bright Teal and Aqua

Bright teals and aquas create fun, energetic kitchens. They're playful and distinctive.

But saturated bright colors date faster than muted tones. What feels fresh and exciting now might look tired or overly specific to late 2010s/early 2020s design in a decade.

Use bright colors sparingly if at all. Consider them for small spaces or secondary kitchens where you're willing to repaint more frequently.

Warm Terracotta and Rust

Earthy terracottas and rusts are emerging in high-end design but haven't proven themselves with time yet. They're warm, organic, and distinctive.

These colors work in specific contexts (Mediterranean-influenced homes, boho designs) but feel out of place in most traditional or contemporary kitchens.

They're beautiful but risky for most Lafayette homeowners. Wait a few years to see if they develop staying power before committing.

Two-Tone with Bold Colors

Pairing bold colors together (navy and green, for example) creates striking visual interest but requires confident design skills. These combinations can look amazing or chaotic depending on execution.

If you're not working with a designer, stick to one bold color paired with a neutral rather than multiple bold colors together.

Choosing Colors for Your Specific Kitchen

Abstract color preferences matter less than how colors work in your actual space.

Consider Your Natural Light

Kitchens with abundant natural light can handle darker colors without feeling cave-like. Navy, charcoal, and forest green work beautifully in bright kitchens.

Kitchens with limited natural light should stick to lighter colors or use dark colors only on lower cabinets or islands with white uppers to maintain brightness.

North-facing kitchens receive cooler, more diffused light. Cool colors (blue-grays, cool greens) harmonize with this light. Warm colors might look muddy.

South-facing kitchens get warm, direct light. Warm colors glow beautifully. Cool colors still work but might feel slightly cold.

Work with Fixed Elements

Your cabinet color needs to coordinate with countertops, backsplash, flooring, and appliances you're keeping.

Warm wood floors pair better with warm cabinet colors (creams, warm greens, greige). Cool-toned floors work better with cool cabinet colors (grays, blue-grays, cool navies).

Busy granite or tile backsplashes need simpler cabinet colors. If your counters and backsplash provide visual interest, keep cabinets in solid, straightforward colors.

White quartz countertops work with almost any cabinet color. Dramatic veined counters or bold backsplashes limit cabinet color options.

Think About Resale

If you're planning to sell within 5 years, conservative color choices make sense. Navy, soft sage, charcoal paired with white, and sophisticated blue-grays all appeal to wide buyer pools.

Bright colors, very dark all-over colors, and unusual combinations might narrow your buyer appeal. That doesn't mean avoid them if you love them, but understand the trade-off.

If you're staying 10+ years, choose colors you love. You'll repaint before selling anyway if needed, and living with colors you enjoy matters more than theoretical future buyers.

Test Colors Extensively

Never choose cabinet colors from small paint chips. Order samples (Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams sell 8-ounce sample sizes) and paint large boards (at least 2' x 2') in your actual kitchen.

View samples at different times of day. Colors that look perfect in afternoon sun might feel wrong in morning or evening light.

Hold samples against your counters, backsplash, and flooring. See how the color interacts with fixed elements before committing.

Live with samples for at least a week. Your eye adjusts to color over time, and what feels bold on day one might feel perfect on day seven.

Combining Colored Cabinets with Neutrals

Most successful colored cabinet kitchens pair color with neutrals rather than going all-color.

Colored Island with White Perimeter

This is the most popular approach. White or light gray perimeter cabinets keep the kitchen bright and open. A colored island (navy, green, charcoal) becomes a focal point and anchor.

This combination lets you incorporate trendy colors with minimal risk. Repainting just the island costs much less than repainting the whole kitchen if the color feels dated later.

Colored Lowers with White Uppers

Colored lower cabinets with white upper cabinets create sophisticated two-tone looks that have proven themselves timeless. This works with navy, gray, sage, or charcoal on lowers.

The white uppers keep kitchens feeling bright while the colored lowers add personality and hide wear near the floor.

All Colored Cabinets with White Trim and Walls

Some homeowners paint all cabinets a color but keep walls, trim, and ceilings white. This lets the colored cabinets stand out while maintaining overall brightness.

This works best with medium-toned colors (sage, blue-gray, medium navy) rather than very dark colors that need lighter cabinets nearby for contrast.

Colored Cabinets in Small Kitchens

Can small Lafayette kitchens handle colored cabinets?

Light Colors Work Anywhere

Soft colors like sage, pale blue-gray, or light greige work beautifully in small kitchens. They add personality without making spaces feel smaller or darker.

These colors are forgiving and work across various lighting conditions.

Dark Colors Need Good Light

Navy, charcoal, and forest green can work in small kitchens if they have excellent natural light. Without good light, dark colors make small spaces feel cramped.

Use dark colors on lower cabinets only in small kitchens, keeping uppers white or very light.

Consider the Open Floor Plan Context

In open floor plan homes where kitchens flow into dining or living spaces, cabinet color affects how the entire area feels. Bold colored cabinets define the kitchen zone, which can be positive or negative depending on your goals.

Maintaining Colored Cabinets

Different colors show wear differently.

Dark Colors Show Dust and Fingerprints

Navy, charcoal, and black cabinets show dust, fingerprints, and water spots more readily than lighter colors. Plan on more frequent cleaning to keep them looking their best.

Matte or satin sheens hide these marks better than semi-gloss or gloss finishes on dark colors.

Light Colors Show Stains and Yellowing

Very light colors show stains more easily than mid-tones. Cream and off-white can show discoloration near stove areas from grease and heat exposure.

Quality water-based cabinet paints don't yellow, but they can pick up tones from surrounding materials over time in certain conditions.

Mid-Tone Colors Are Most Forgiving

Medium grays, blue-grays, sage, and similar mid-tones balance showing wear. They don't show every fingerprint like dark colors or every stain like light colors.

For busy family kitchens, these practical mid-tones often make the most sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the most popular cabinet color after white and gray?

Navy blue is the most requested colored cabinet choice in the Bay Area. It works across design styles, coordinates with most materials, and has proven staying power. Most navy cabinet applications are islands or lower cabinets paired with white or light gray uppers. Forest green and sage are distant second choices, particularly in homes with traditional or transitional styles.

Do colored cabinets hurt resale value?

Not if chosen well. Navy, sophisticated grays, and soft greens appeal to buyers because they show thoughtful design. Very trendy colors (bright teal, terracotta) or very dark all-over cabinets might narrow buyer appeal slightly, but the impact is modest if the overall kitchen is attractive. Buyers care more about cabinet condition and kitchen functionality than whether you chose white or navy.

Can you repaint colored cabinets back to white later?

Yes, painted cabinets can be repainted any color. Going from dark to light requires proper priming to block the dark color, but it's straightforward. This flexibility makes colored cabinets less risky than permanent choices like cabinet replacement. If your navy island feels dated in 10 years, repaint it white for $500 to $800 instead of replacing $8,000 worth of cabinets.

What cabinet colors go with wood floors?

Warm wood floors (honey oak, natural maple) pair beautifully with warm cabinet colors: cream, greige, warm sage, or warm white. Cool-toned floors (gray-washed oak, ebony) work better with cool cabinet colors: gray, blue-gray, cool navy, or pure white. The key is matching undertones rather than fighting them.

Should cabinet color match wall color or contrast?

Usually contrast, though subtle contrast works too. If cabinets are navy, walls should be white or very light neutral. If cabinets are soft sage, walls can be white or lighter sage tint. Matching cabinets and walls in the same mid-tone color makes kitchens feel flat and monochromatic. The exception is very light colors where subtle tone-on-tone can work.

Are green kitchen cabinets just a trend or timeless?

Green has been used in kitchens for centuries, which suggests staying power. Deep forest greens and soft sages feel timeless rather than trendy. Bright kelly greens or lime greens are more trend-specific. Stick to sophisticated, muted greens if you want longevity. Benjamin Moore October Mist, Saybrook Sage, and Forest Green have all been popular for years without feeling dated.

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Considering colored cabinets for your Lafayette kitchen? Lamorinda Painting helps homeowners choose cabinet colors that work with their specific space, lighting, and fixed materials. We provide color consultation and expert application for beautiful, long-lasting results in any color. Contact us today for a free estimate and color guidance for your cabinet painting project.