Popular Kitchen Paint Colors with White Cabinets

Most Popular Kitchen Paint Colors with White Cabinets // White Kitchen with Butcher Block Countertop, Medium Wood Floors, and Black, Gold, Stainless Steel Accents

Choosing the Best Kitchen Paint Colors with White Cabinets

Are you searching for popular kitchen paint colors with white cabinets? This article has the most popular colors. Find out here the perfect choice that matches your personal style. 

White cabinets are a classic look and timeless addition to your kitchen. Now you need to decide what color to put on the walls. Because if you choose wrong, you could end up with white cabinets that actually look yellow. 

You may be looking for the perfect neutral to complement your cabinets. Or, you want to add flair to your space with a pop of color. The right paint colors can do just that.

From subtle neutrals to vibrant hues, plenty of paint colors will go beautifully with white cabinets. Read on to learn about the most popular options to determine which is best for you.


Just a friendly reminder: This tutorial and any opinions or recommendations are genuinely mine, but this is not a substitute for consulting a professional. I also use affiliate links to earn a commission.


What Wall Color Goes with White Cabinets in a Kitchen?

Popular Kitchen Paint Colors with White Cabinets // Modern Farmhouse Style Kitchen Remodel // White Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Before we dive into the best colors for white kitchen cabinets, we should review a few basics about paint. Selecting a paint color is more complicated than it sounds. You’ve been through this when choosing white paint colors for your cabinets.

So, let’s review. First, paint colors change based on light. Paint in a room with a lot of natural light will look completely different than a room with artificial light.

Also, the type of artificial light changes the color. The room’s direction also plays into this, but let’s not complicate things.

Next, undertones are more prominent based on their surroundings. The intensity of a paint color’s undertones is affected by the room’s decor, wall color, and external factors such as a lot of grass or a body of water.

You’ll need to remember these basics when picking the best wall color for your white kitchen cabinets. Choosing the best color scheme for your kitchen design boils down to understanding undertones.

Paint Color Undertones

So why should you care about any of this? Well, say you paint your kitchen cabinets Sherwin Williams Simply White and pair this with a cool white wall color. The results will make my cabinets look yellow because Simply White is a warm-tone color, and when paired with cool undertones, they contradict each other.

The proximity of something very white next to something with subtle yellow undertones magnifies the yellow undertones.

If that has your head spinning, just remember this. Understanding undertones is particularly important when working with white cabinetry because selecting a contradictory undertone will completely change the look of your cabinets. It’s that simple.

Neutral Kitchen Paint Colors with White Cabinets

If you love neutral colors and a clean look, the combination of white cabinets and white walls are perfect for you. It’s easy to think this combination will look stark and sterile, but white paint is a warm color if you select the right one.

Sherwin Williams Chantilly Lace is a popular wall color choice that pairs well with white cabinets. A warm white, creamy beige, or off-white will give your kitchen an inviting, homey feel while still looking crisp and clean with the white cabinets. 

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The Do’s and Don’ts of White Kitchens // Marisa Anderson

Warm Whites

Consider white paint with warmer tones if you want a subtle color to pair with your white cabinets. It adds richness to the space without being overpowering. 

When looking for the perfect warmer tones, stick to ones that have yellow undertones. Remember, the best white paint color will depend on the undertones of your cabinets.

A great place to start is by checking out these best white paint color samples:

Beige Wall Color

Beige, also called taupe or tan, is another ideal option if you want something that pops a little more than white and you like earthy colors. These wall colors are great because they are still a neutral shade but give more contrast than white on white. 

There are plenty of great options that range from super light to saturated. 

Grey Kitchen Paint Colors

Another popular paint color that goes well with white kitchen cabinets is gray and blue. These are a good choice if you like a neutral palette but are not totally afraid of color. 

Although these are two very different shades, they are grouped together here because they both add airy spaciousness to the space. Also, there is a lot of overlap between these two colors since many blues have gray hues, and many grays have blue hues.

Grays

Gray paint colors offer a modern urban vibe, and gray color is trendy among lovers of the modern farmhouse style. If you’re considering gray walls, check out Benjamin Moore Gray Owl because it’s beautiful.

Blues

Pale blues are becoming more popular for pairing with white kitchen cabinets. A cool shade with muted tones will add just enough contrast against white kitchen cabinets. 

Blue walls work particularly well in coastal-styled, modern coastal farmhouses or country-styled homes. Sherwin Williams Tradewind is a popular blue wall color.

Kitchen Accent Wall Color Ideas

Adding an accent wall is a great way to bring drama and character into the kitchen. And a bold color on kitchen walls is an easy and affordable way to create this focal point. These colors are great for Victorian style, cottages, bungalows, and even neutral homes looking to mix things up a bit.

Yellow and Light Green

If you aim for a cheery, sunny atmosphere in your kitchen with white cabinets, yellow and green can be great accent colors. 

  • Bright colors like mustard yellow create warmth and excitement.
  • Pale lemon shades can evoke a sense of nostalgia and calm.
  • Greens, from apple to sage, offer subtle contrast while keeping the room spacious and inviting. 

Darker Green and Blue

Darker colors with a deeper hue add drama and sophistication to any kitchen featuring white cabinets. Consider a navy paint accent wall or even a cobalt blue island for a touch of contrast. 

Deep jade greens also add depth, creating a serene atmosphere with an unexpected touch of boldness.

These color choices will really make your cabinets pop. But since they can overwhelm the space, stick with one area and keep the rest of your palette light to avoid overwhelming the room.

Reds and Burgundies

Reds and burgundies were once a trendy choice for a kitchen featuring white cabinets. But these colors are currently out; using them would date your kitchen. 

If you’re less worried about trends and still want to use a shade of red, then stick to deeper shades. While bright reds are eye-catching, they can be too intense in an all-white space. 

The Best Way to Sample Wall Color

What is even more frustrating than narrowing down the perfect paint color options? It’s having to try all the different colors in real life on the wall! 

If you’ve never sampled paint, this may not seem so bad. But let me remind you of something about sampling paint colors:

  • Each sample requires at least two coats (with drying time between each one).
  • You’ll need to wash your paintbrush between each color sample.
  • Each white looks different throughout a single room, so be prepared to repeat this process on several walls.
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How Samplize Works

Paint Sampling Solution

Skip the paint store, at least for now, because the best way to trial paint is Samplize. They have the most genius product that helps you choose the right color without all the fuss.

Here’s why I use Samplize for all my paint sampling needs:

  • Less waste with no jars of leftover paint.
  • No trips to the sink to wash out a paintbrush. 
  • These peel-and-stick squares are easy to move, which gives me the most accurate idea of how the color will look throughout the room.
  • The sample size is large enough for me to feel confident in my color choice.
  • Instant gratification since you don’t have to wait for the paint to dry.

If you’re struggling to decide which paint color is best for you, my best advice is to stop researching and start sampling! Keep your project moving by heading to Samplize’s website and ordering samples today. 

Small Kitchen Paint Colors

If you have a small kitchen, you will want a paint color that makes the space feel larger yet still coordinates with your white cabinets.

So, what color does this? The most popular choice is to go lighter and brighter. But not to confuse you, vibrant or darker shades also work in a small kitchen!

Sticking with neutrals is an obvious place to start. This could be a bright white like Sherwin Williams Pure White, light beige, gray, or pale blue. Choosing something from a neutral color palette helps the light bounce off the walls, making the space seem more open.

Or, contrary to what you may think, darker colors actually work well in a small kitchen with white cabinets. If you love a little drama, consider jewel tones and earthy colors. These will make your white cabinets pop and result in warmth and an almost cocooning effect.

Choosing a semi-sheen or satin paint finish will help bounce light around a small kitchen regardless of which color suits your style. More so than a matte finish will.

A higher gloss paint is also easier to wipe clean. Easy clean-up is important when talking about the kitchen because of all the crumbs and splashes.

Time to Take Action and Choose a Paint Color

Finding the perfect paint color is seemingly daunting whenever I need to paint a space. And unfortunately, there is no one size fits all option because there are just too many factors that affect how the paint looks on the wall. 

The best way to narrow options is by looking at trends and the most popular colors. There is a reason these colors make the best-sellers list, so start here. 

I shared the most popular kitchen paint colors with white cabinets, and by now, you should have decided what general color is best for you.

It’s time to take action; you should head to Samplize and order the best sellers in this color group.

Oh, and one last thing. If you don’t get it right the first time, it’s okay! Don’t be so hard on yourself or so all or nothing. In the grand scheme of things, paint is cheap. 


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