10 Designer-Favorite Paint Color Ideas To Give Your Kitchen Cabinets An Instant Refresh

Florida-born designer Ashley Whittaker prefers a crisp, bright white for kitchen cabinetry. "I love painting cabinets a bright white which allows for a great background to take center stage," she says. "Here we used a sea blue tile with a crackled glaze, a woven abaca rug, bright nickel hardware, and fun palm frond wallpaper in a Florida kitchen. The white cabinetry is what lets the other details shine."

According to Houston's Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design, "If you want a space to look bigger, white always does the job." Davis loves using White Dove and Simply White from Benjamin Moore on clients' cabinetry. "In this Houston project, I love how the beige-y Anew Grey by Sherwin-Williams plays off pure white counters and subway tile to make this kitchen feel huge."

While white is always right, Davis also loves transforming kitchens with soft color. "Adding color to a space, especially the cabinets, instantly adds 'happy' to a room," she says. "Magnetic Gray by Sherwin-Williams is one of our favorite colors because of its versatility. When used in a kitchen it provides a bold refresh!"

Whether designing a new kitchen or a renovation, Katherine Bramlett Melvin of Birmingham's Katherine B. Melvin Design often gravitates to a warm neutral instead of a white. "I love a kitchen that is inviting as well as crisp," she says. "I want those who gather or cook in our kitchens to feel both a sense of comfort and simplicity. One of my go-to naturals for this goal is Pratt & Lambert's Cadet Gray. What I love about this color is that it is neutral and yet has enough depth that it is still welcoming." Another bonus? The color works well with other natural elements, such as warm woods, rich iron tones, and neutral stone.

If you're searching for a dynamic cabinetry accent color, Dallas designer Morgan Farrow suggests Outerspace by Sherwin Williams. "When designing this modern kitchen space, I wanted a way to bring color to the room and break up the wood tones," she says. "Selecting a blue paint for the cabinets not only added an element of surprise but brightened up the whole space. Not to mention, the brass hardware flawlessly complements the shade."

Jean Liu of Dallas's Jean Liu Design loves amplify a kitchen's mood with paint. Her go-to shade? Morris Room Gray by Sherwin Williams. "The color still reads as a neutral while adding some warmth and life to this part of the house," she says. "It is also easily paired with darker or lighter hues in case the kitchen island remains a contrasting color."

For your next cabinetry update, New Orleans-based designer Hattie Collins of Hattie Sparks Interiors suggests Green Earth by Sherwin Williams. What makes it an ideal shade? "I wanted to strike the right balance of an earthy tone without it feeling grassy or evergreen," she says. "I also loved that this color had a bit of a gray undertone, instead of yellow or blue, which helps it feel mellow and perform as a neutral rather than a bold statement. It played well off the natural elements in the kitchen, reclaimed terracotta floors, walnut island, grasscloth shades, and linen pendant lights."

Houston's Jennifer Barron of Jennifer Barron Interiors loves turning to a soft white for a cabinet update. "The simplicity of white cabinets allows a space to feel updated and fresh," she says. "This color specifically, Alabaster by Sherwin Williams, is a beautiful white with the slightest touch of cream. Alabaster does a great job of brightening an older or darker space, and bringing life to any cabinetry that needs updating. This white can stand the test of time, and can be used in any type of light!"

If you're looking for a refreshing cabinetry shade, Barron also suggests Silvery Blue by Benjamin Moore. "A soft, subtle blue, this color allows the space to feel current and unique," she says. "The warmth of this light blue makes it a great choice for a cabinetry update as it is inviting and interesting. It is a color that really makes you want to use the space!"

Dallas interior designer Tracy Hardenburg of Tracy Hardenburg Designs recommends going bold with Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams. "My goal for this kitchen design was to create a moody and warm space," she says. "When selecting the paint color, I knew I ultimately wanted a darker tone. The matte black shade is a great color choice to achieve a sophisticated yet modern feel."