Give your kitchen cabinets a fresh new look with one of these tried-and-true paint color ideas.
An all-white kitchen will always be timeless, especially in a farmhouse, but kitchens sporting colorful painted cabinetry are back, and, we think, looking better than ever. We know trying to decide on a cabinet color for your kitchen can be hard so we’re here to help. With a range of shades from airy mint to deep forest, green kitchens have come a long way from the days of avocado-colored appliances; and what could be more farmhouse-chic than a kitchen clad in a classic pairing of blue and white? From warm grays to sunny yellow, and every shade in between, this roundup of some of our favorite kitchens provides lots of inspiration to help you decide on your own kitchen color scheme. If you’re not quite ready to commit to painting all your cabinets, consider painting just the kitchen island to create an accent piece. (If you’re planning to go the DIY route, read this article for tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets. Yes, even laminate cabinets!) Or, if you like the look of natural wood or white cabinets, try a painted floor for a fun twist. You can also bring in color through a tile backsplash, wallpaper (yes, it’s back in the kitchen, too!), lighting, or your favorite vintage collections. Want even more country kitchen inspiration? Check out these kitchen decorating ideas for hundreds of ideas. Kashmir White Granite
To help the large kitchen feel cozier, Country Living Editor-in-Chief Rachel Hardage Barrett chose the same soft blue color for the cabinets, walls, and ceiling of her Mississippi farmhouse. “This just-a-bit-moody blue has undertones that keep it feeling historic, not coastal,” says Rachel. Tip: When painting cabinetry, choose a cabinet-grade enamel paint for a flawless, chip-resistant finish.
Get the Look: Cabinetry and Trim Paint Color: Dutch Tile Blue by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: See more of this Mississippi farmhouse.
Interior designer Christina Salway gave her 230-year-old Maine kitchen a new-old look with a cozy, yet sophisticated green-on-green palette, choosing a darker blueish-green for the lower cabinets and a lighter sage green for the trim and millwork. A tone-on-tone checkered countertop-to-ceiling backsplash of earthy green Zellige tiles continues the palette, while the warm wood floor adds relief. Get the Look: Lower Cabinet Paint Color: Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball Trim Paint Color: Vert De Terre by Farrow & Ball Backsplash Tiles: Wintergreen and Garden Grove Zellige Tiles by Villa Lagoon
To inject British charm into her newly-renovated bungalow kitchen Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones chose a warm, vibrant yellow for the room’s trim and Shaker-style cabinets. A tall 6-foot-8-inch wood-paneled backsplash punctuates the color choice. White appliances give the room a pretty feel, rather than stainless.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Sudbury Yellow by Farrow & Ball White Appliances: Matte White by Cafe
RELATED: 11 Ways to Add Cheery British Charm to Your Kitchen
Marine blue cabinets topped with walnut countertops, a red cedar ceiling, and a pine subfloor give this tiny kitchen a handsome nautical vibe. Unlacquered brass and rope pendants add another coastal nod. Get the Look: Wall Paint Color: London Fog by Benjamin Moore Cabinetry Paint Color: For similar, Salty Dog by Sherwin-Williams
Designer Trinity Holmes poured on the country charm in this North Carolina kitchen by choosing a rich, dark green for the lower cabinets and furniture-like built-in. Simple, hand-carved wood knobs add a warm accent.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Enchanted Forest by Benjamin Moore Wallpaper: For similar, Bebe Gingham Driftwood by Seabrook
For a period-appropriate look for an early 1900s farmhouse, choose a timeless color like this cornflower blue in Melissa Duckworth's small galley kitchen. It’s the perfect complement to the reproduction William Morris wallpaper and antique mint-colored enamel gas range.
Get the Look: Trim and Cabinet Paint Color: Jamestown Blue by Benjamin Moore
Classic Shaker and English kitchens inspired this timeless space, designed by Katie Rosenfeld in partnership with Jannell Zarba of Damiana Design + Project Management). “There are a lot of [English] scullery and back of house aspects to the kitchen,” says Katie, including punch-outs in the cabinetry. The soft gray paint color echoes the billowing seas beyond the windows.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Silver Lining by Benjamin Moore
For a happy and casual kitchen on the the coast, architect Nate McBride looked to the views for color inspiration. A lush grass green on the cabinets and backsplash speaks to the surrounding landscape, while white-washed walls add a sense of calm.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Buckingham Gardens by Benjamin Moore Wall Paint Color: Snowfall White by Benjamin Moore
To keep her farmhouse kitchen airy and open, homeowner Helen Norman paired new sage green Shaker-style cabinetry with three rows of simple bracketed shelves. “I think a kitchen breathes better with the openness above,” she says. Oil-rubbed bronze hardware continues the warmth of the muted green cabinet color, as does the aged wood flooring.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Gloucester Sage by Benjamin Moore
Glossy deep blue cabinetry pair with white walls for a crisp, modern farmhouse kitchen by designer Stephen Shutts. Brass accents add a handsome finishing touch. Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Naval by Sherwin-Williams
Cozy dark green cabinets set the nostalgic mood in this remodeled kitchen by designer Cameron Ruppert. A fresh coat of green paint on the existing brown wood cabinets “reinvigorated the room without disrespecting it,” says Cameron. The previous cartlike island wasn’t very functional, so they opted for a bigger custom piece but kept its features on the minimal side with slab-style drawers and bail pull hardware.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Peale Green by Benjamin Moore
Homeowner Dana Simpson chose a soft green blue for the Shaker-style cabinets in her light and airy modern farmhouse kitchen. “I love the way it contrasts with the white walls and the colors of nature that come through the windows.” The color is complemented with sandstone and butcher block countertops. Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Green Blue by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: Tour all of the Simpsons’ Connecticut farmhouse.
Inspired by the outdoors, architect Steve Giannetti chose a deep blue paint with green undertones for lower cabinets along this kitchen’s back wall. The other cabinets feature a soft gray instead to convey a feeling of a separate freestanding piece. Get the Look: Back Cabinetry Paint Color: Hague Blue byFarrow & Ball Side Cabinetry Paint Color: Worsted by Farrow & Ball
With an all-white kitchen, you can pull in color with so many other things, like a glossy grass green painted floor. Don't forget the lighting and layers of vintage collections, such as Fiestaware.
Get the Look: Red Pendant Lights: Hampton Bay Warehouse Pendant from Home Depot Floor Paint Color: Cypress Vine by Behr
RELATED: Tour all of this charming and colorful lakeside cabin.
A rich olive green cabinet color helps this tiny beam-capped kitchen feel even cozier, but light-reflecting tile keeps it from feeling too dark. The unlacquered brass faucet and bistro-style shelving also bring some aged shine.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: For similar, Mountain Olive by Behr
To help an historic kitchen keep its nostalgic charm, choose a color that feels plucked from the period, like this jadeite-like green in novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz’s circa-1890s home.
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Palm by Farrow & Ball
Painting a large island in a big open kitchen instantly helps ground the space. In this Michigan lake house kitchen, the crowd-pleasing cool blue island plays off the water hues located just outside the doors. “A lot of country kitchens would have a farmhouse table in the middle of the space, so we wanted to give it that vibe,” says designer Steve Somogyi of Chicago firm Steve + Filip Design. Adding to the fun spirit, the designers paired the statement island with colorful, patterned encaustic tile for the backsplash. Get the Look: Island Paint Color: Jamestown Blue by Benjamin Moore
Soothing gray cabinetry sets the scene for a revived traditional kitchen in a centuries-old New York farmhouse belonging to Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell of Beekman 1802. The previous remodel was completed in the 1990s, but Brent and Josh didn't feel as beholden to the more recent past as they did to true period details. One 20th-century element that survived their complete redo? The brick fireplace and its impressive copper hood. On the floor, reclaimed barnwood laid in a herringbone pattern adds historic integrity. Get the look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Smoke and Mirrors by Benjamin Moore Ceiling and Wall Paint Color: Vanilla Milkshake by Benjamin Moore Trim Paint Color: Moonshine by Benjamin Moore RELATED: Tour the rest of Brent and Josh's beautiful farmhouse.
In this Massachusetts beach house, the Wood-Mode kitchen cabinetry is painted a pretty celadon green that is crisply set off by a white subway tile backsplash. Cape Cod artist Tim Dibble custom-carved the kitchen's slate apron-front sink to incorporate local icons: a windmill, a whale, a lighthouse, and the word "riptide."
Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: For similar, Coastal Crush by PPG
If you love a rustic look for your cabin or cottage, but don't want the kitchen to feel too rustic, consider pairing natural wood finishes with a soft, dusty blue. It's the perfect complement that won't overpower all that pretty wood grain. Get the Look: Cabinetry Paint Color: Philipsburg Blue by Benjamin Moore
Jennifer Kopf is the Executive Editor of Country Living. She also covers antiques and collecting.
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Red Granite Stone Jennifer Kopf is the Executive Editor of Country Living. She also covers antiques and collecting.