Whether you’re working with an interior designer or know exactly what to tell your contractor, it’s important to know the basics of color theory when picking out cabinet paint color. Even a neutral gray will have specific undertones that can either clash or complement other aspects of the room, so it’s essential to pick something cohesive.
Think of cool and warm palettes.
The color temperature of a palette really sets the tone for the room. Warm colors include yellows, red, and oranges while cool colors include blues, greens, and purples. A warm color scheme often brings in a cozy vibe to the room while a cool color scheme brings a calm one. Even when choosing a neutral color like gray, small variations in it can inspire more of a warm or cool tone, which is why it’s so important to keep track of undertones when browsing.
Consider a pop of color.
If you’d prefer the walls and backsplashes to be more neutral, then maybe your cabinets are going to be the star of the show. It’s a common trend now to let the cabinets act essentially as your accent wall. The walls are a neutral color like white and then the cabinets are painted to match the theme of the room. Green cabinets are a big trend right now and bring an earthy, homey feeling to your kitchen.
Try out two-toned cabinets.
If you can’t decide on one color for your cabinets, consider having one color for the upper cabinets and one for the lower. However, it’s important to know the undertones of each color so they don’t completely clash. Pairing up a warm green with a cool blue could be more jarring than harmonious.
Try neutral on neutral.
If you’re feeling more of the farmhouse, white cabinets trend but still want some color, consider a mix of white and gray cabinets. It’s a version of the two-toned cabinets option above but focused on a neutral palette. It could also be applied to painted and stained wood. Choosing a lighter stained wood to pair with a neutral color will still give it some earthy tones while still helping the kitchen look open thanks to the light cabinets.
Eischen Cabinets has been creating custom cabinet layouts since 1997, and we love bringing your kitchen dreams to life. We’ve partnered with remodelers across the Twin Cities as their cabinet experts.