White kitchens have been a popular choice among homeowners in recent years. Their clean, simple, and organized appearance is appealing. However, implementing color in your kitchen cabinets can transform the space, highlight details, and bring life to dated cabinetry. Color can change the atmosphere of a room, creating a personalized and inviting space to reflect your style.
In this article, we’ll examine 12 kitchen cabinet color combinations that go beyond the traditional white-and-wood palette. From bold and vibrant to subtle and sophisticated, these color pairings will help you create a kitchen that’s both functional and personalized.
Use Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinet Colors To Brighten Up Your Room
Two-tone kitchen cabinets are a great way to add visual interest and depth to your space. By combining different colors, you create a focal point, define specific areas, or add personality to your kitchen. This allows you to implement color without overwhelming the entire room.
When choosing a two-tone color scheme, consider the style of your home and the design you want to create in your kitchen. Depending on how bold you want your space to be, you can decide between complementary colors or different shades of the same color. Remember to factor in your countertops, backsplash, and flooring when choosing cabinet colors so you still have a cohesive space.
1. Sea and Sky
One approach to creating a two-tone kitchen is using two shades of the same color. In the photo above, the deep-blue island is a focal point, while the sky-blue cabinets define the perimited. This color combination, designed by architect Stuart Disston and interior designer Sherrill Canet, was chosen to complement the stainless-steel appliances with the island’s dark wood accents while having a cohesive look.
For a similar look, try: Sea Ridge (deep blue) and Tropical Pool (sky blue), Behr
2. Barn Red and Sage Green
For a warmer and more inviting kitchen, consider painting your cabinets barn red and sage green shades. Kitchen designer Carlie Korinek chose soft, muted tones of these complementary colors to create a balanced space. The wood finishes on the island, ceiling, and floor add warmth and texture.
For a similar look, try: Lady Bug Red (red) and Grasslands (green), Benjamin Moore
Design: Carlie Korinek; arizonadesigns.net
3. Leaf Green and White
For a fresh kitchen design, consider pairing leaf green with crisp white. Interior designer Gideon Mendelson created a focal point with the green island for a bright space with white perimeter cabinets. To tie the room together, Mendelson covered the ceiling with a custom-painted canvas in a matching green-and-white scheme. The white cabinets provide a neutral backdrop and reflect light to brighten up your kitchen.
For a similar look, try: Alabaster (white) and Paradise (green), Sherwin-Williams
Design: Gideon Mendelson; mendelsongroupinc.com
4. Bold Blue and Soft Blue
To add visual interest to simple cabinets, architect Adolfo Perex used a two-tone blue color scheme. The cabinet boxes are pale blue, while the doors and drawer fronts are a deeper shade. This contrast creates depth and dimension.
This combination can work well in both traditional and contemporary spaces, depending on the other design elements and accessories in your kitchen. This color pairing also allows for easy updates to your kitchen’s look by changing out hardware or decorative items.
For a similar look, try: Romantic Blue (deep blue) and Smooth Blue (pale blue)
Design: Adolfo Perez; adolfoperez.com
5. Bright Red and Midnight Black
For a more dramatic look, consider pairing bright red with a deep black. This bold combination, as seen in the image above, creates a balanced look. The black cabinets recede into the background, allowing the red island to become the focal point. Light countertops and backsplash help to brighten up the space and prevent the dark paint from feeling too heavy. This color scheme works well in modern or contemporary kitchens.
For a similar look, try: Red Gumball (red) and Phantom Mist (black), Olympic
6. Cool Gray and Hot Orange
For a sleek and energetic kitchen, consider pairing cool gray with hot orange. Interior designer Andra Birkerts chose a changeable gray for the main cabinets—a hue that shifts between blue and gray depending on the light. The orange island brightens this base, creating a centerpiece in your kitchen. To add depth, Birkerts painted the back of the open shelves a lighter tint of the same gray, tying the color scheme together.
For a similar look, try: Ultra Orange (orange) and Ice Rink Blue (gray blue), Valspar
Design: Andra Birkerts; andrabdesign.com
7. Lemon and Lime
A bold combination of lemon yellow and lime green can create a cheerful and vibrant kitchen space. In homeowner Nancy Traversy’s kitchen, bright green perimeter cabinets are paired with a sunny yellow island, creating an energetic space. The multicolor tile backsplash ties these shades together, while the dark granite and light wood counters help neutralize the space.
The color combination is perfect for homeowners who want to fill their kitchen with personality and light. It works well in spaces with a lot of natural light, as bright colors can amplify the sunny atmosphere.
For a similar look, try: Cornmeal (yellow) and Carolina Parakeet (green), Behr
8. Deep Aqua and White
To highlight architectural details and add depth to an all-white kitchen, consider painting deep aqua accents. Interior designer Kelly LaPlante used a mid-tone blue to ground the floor and define ceiling trusswork in the space. The same color was painted on cabinet doors and built-ins to bring out these features. This color creates a fresher feel while adding visual interest to the room.
For a similar look, try: Ultra White (white) and Bayville Blue (blue), Benjamin Moore
Design: Kelly LaPlante; kellylaplante.com
9. Pale Gray and Greenish Blue
For a subtle kitchen color scheme, consider pairing pale gray with a greenish-blue hue. Interior designer Liz Caan created this look in the image above using neutral gray cabinets around the room’s perimeter and painting the island a dusty green-blue shade. The gray-veined marble on the island countertop and backsplash help to tie these two areas together.
This combination is excellent for homeowners who want to add color to their kitchen without overwhelming the space. The soft, muted tones create a calming atmosphere and provide depth to the room. It’s a great choice for an elegant kitchen with a personal touch.
For a similar look, try: Lamp Room Gray (gray) and Dix Blue (blue), Farrow & Ball
Design: Liz Caan; lizcaan.com
10. Flame Red and Soft Yellow
Interior designer Liz Mitchell chose a combination of flame red and soft yellow to create a vibrant corner bar area. This light yellow on the panels adds dimension to the bright cabinets, creating a dynamic look. The green wallpaper in the kitchen makes the colors pop even more, while the mahogany countertop helps to ground the space. This color pairing is best if you want to make a statement in your kitchen, bar area, or butler’s pantry.
For a similar look, try: Butter Up (yellow) and Fireworks (red), Sherwin-Williams
Design: Liz Mitchell; 781-631-2280
11. Cornflower and Yellow
For a cheerful kitchen, pairing cornflower blue with sunny yellow can create a welcoming and vibrant space. In the image above from Morse Constructions, you’ll see golden cabinets set against a deep-blue backdrop and on the backs of open shelves. This combination adds depth and visual interest to the space.
For a similar look, try: Bellflower Blue (blue) and Goldfinch (yellow)
Design: morseconstructions.com
12. Jadeite and Buttermilk
To achieve a style similar to farmhouse kitchens, architect John Tittmann used soft colors to highlight distinct cabinet sections. The cooktop area is painted with pale buttermilk yellow, while beadboard panels and a vintage green distinguish the home’s refrigerator unit. Accent tiles in the backsplash marry the colors used throughout the room to create an inviting space.
For a similar look, try: Banana Pudding (yellow) and Sprite Twist (green), Pittsburgh Paints
Design: John Tittmann, Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects Inc.; alriti.com