26+ Kitchen Color Ideas & Inspiration to Elevate Your Kitchen

Bright, airy kitchen with center island and cliffside view, off-white painted walls, and a light blue-painted ceiling. Bright, airy kitchen with center island and cliffside view, off-white painted walls, and a light blue-painted ceiling.

If finding kitchen color ideas is on your to-do list, then you’ve come to the right place: The Color and Design team at Benjamin Moore have compiled popular paint colors for kitchen walls, cabinets, ceilings, trim, kitchen islands and more.

The kitchen is the busiest room in your house—and the heart of your home. Whether you want your kitchen wall colors to really pop with bold hues, or prefer the harmonious subtlety of neutrals, we’ve got you covered. We’ve even included some of the best kitchen paint products and finish recommendations to help streamline your decision-making process.

12 Best Kitchen Paint Colors

What are the most popular kitchen paint colors?

Off-whites, neutrals, blues, grays and greens are all timeless kitchen paint colors. The color palette below brings together 12 of the best kitchen paint colors—all tried-and-tested hues that homeowners love. If you embrace color, greens and blues are always on-trend in the kitchen, whether the lighter Fernwood Green and Woodlawn Blue, or bolder Lush and Oxford Gray. “One of my favorite neutrals is Pashmina,” says Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore Director of Color Marketing & Development, adding that sleek grays on walls and cabinets are also elegant and safe colors in the kitchen. Which one is your favorite?

26 Best Kitchen Color Ideas

Ready to put kitchen color ideas on the menu? Refresh the busiest room in your house with our most popular Benjamin Moore hues. Read on for favorite kitchen colors and winning color combinations that you, your family, and your friends will love. Whether you go for a touch of drama with deep blue, brown or black hues, or keep it airy in all-white, we’ve got paint color schemes to bring your kitchen paint ideas to life.

A bright, open kitchen with large windows and a glass door, a navy blue center island and lower cabinets with white countertops, a white upper glass cabinet, and white tile backsplash. A bright, open kitchen with large windows and a glass door, a navy blue center island and lower cabinets with white countertops, a white upper glass cabinet, and white tile backsplash.

1. Add Character to Your Kitchen Island

One of our favorite kitchen paint color ideas is to use dark, dynamic hues in small doses to breathe personality into your kitchen. Use color creatively to delineate different spaces in your kitchen—think work areas, inset shelving, and the kitchen’s central stopping point, the kitchen island.

Other wow-worthy kitchen island paint colors we love include:

A cozy, white-painted kitchen with beadboard walls and island with a marble countertop and farm sink, open shelves, a fireplace, and bright windows. A cozy, white-painted kitchen with beadboard walls and island with a marble countertop and farm sink, open shelves, a fireplace, and bright windows.

2. Embrace All-White Hues

For time-honored kitchen color schemes, white, gray, and neutrals provide a classic color palette.

If you opt for all-white hues, consider different finishes to add dimension. This kitchen features:

  • Walls in eggshell
  • Cabinets and shelving in satin
  • Fireplace mantel in semi-gloss
  • Ceiling in ultra-flat (in Waterborne Ceiling Paint) which not only hides common ceiling imperfections, but it also provides a flawless, ultra-flat finish.
A rustic style kitchen with cabinets painted in a muted sage, white-painted open shelving, a wooden floor, kitchen island, and a dog sitting on the floor. A rustic style kitchen with cabinets painted in a muted sage, white-painted open shelving, a wooden floor, kitchen island, and a dog sitting on the floor.

3. Go with Green and White

Muted, organic green hues are favorites in the kitchen. When paired with soft white walls, the look is always a win. More soft whites and adaptable greens we love for kitchens include:

A mostly white-painted kitchen with black countertops and orange accent behind shelving. A mostly white-painted kitchen with black countertops and orange accent behind shelving.

4. Brighten Up with a Dash of Bold Color

We love the zing of playful energy that color can bring to any space. Lively hues homeowners love for a pop of color in a smaller kitchen include:

Favorite white paint colors for the kitchen include White Dove OC-17, Silver Satin OC-26, and seen here, Vanilla Ice Cream OC-90.

An airy white kitchen with lower cabinets painted in a light mint green, a large picture window over a black sink, white countertops, and upper cabinets with open shelving in light wood. An airy white kitchen with lower cabinets painted in a light mint green, a large picture window over a black sink, white countertops, and upper cabinets with open shelving in light wood.

5. Add Beachy Energy with Refreshing Kitchen Paint Colors

Bring island vibes to your kitchen with a rejuvenating hue on your cabinets. Luminous, island-inspired paint colors we love include St. John’s Bay 584, shown here, as well as:

A sunny kitchen with blue-painted cabinets, white ceiling and trim, floral wallpaper, white appliances and a bunch of sunflowers. A sunny kitchen with blue-painted cabinets, white ceiling and trim, floral wallpaper, white appliances and a bunch of sunflowers.

6. Make Cabinets the Star of Your Kitchen

Nothing says kitchen inspiration like dazzling sapphire blue cabinets. Blue Macaw 784 in a satin finish ups the ante, transforming a basic kitchen corner into a showcase. Advance® Interior, which provides a hard, furniture-quality finish that’s perfect for kitchen cabinets comes in:

  • Satin Slightly higher gloss than an eggshell finish reminiscent of lacquer (seen here).
  • Semi-gloss A subtle gloss, luminous and understated.
  • High-gloss An elegant shine with a mirror-like quality.
A narrow kitchen with a small round table and chairs, off-white cabinetry and walls, a large window, and an accent wall painted in a striking orange-red hue. A narrow kitchen with a small round table and chairs, off-white cabinetry and walls, a large window, and an accent wall painted in a striking orange-red hue.

7. Change Up Small Kitchens Easily with an Accent Wall

Have a narrow kitchen with basic, off-white kitchen cabinets? Creating a wow-worthy accent wall is a simple DIY hack to easily refresh a small kitchen. Check out these colors to enliven your kitchen accent wall:

A country kitchen with white-painted walls and forest green-painted lower cabinets under a farmhouse sink beneath a large paned window. A country kitchen with white-painted walls and forest green-painted lower cabinets under a farmhouse sink beneath a large paned window.

8. Best Kitchen Paint Colors for Masking Dirt

Dark paint colors add a dose of drama—with the added bonus of hiding dirt. Try a rich, deep green that combines a nod to nature with mess-hiding pragmatism.

A cheery small kitchen with lavender-gray walls, red-painted cabinet siding, white-painted lower cabinets, wooden floors and a sunny bright window above the sink. A cheery small kitchen with lavender-gray walls, red-painted cabinet siding, white-painted lower cabinets, wooden floors and a sunny bright window above the sink.

9. Add Fun to a Basic Kitchen

Unexpected color combinations transform plain-Jane kitchens into spotlight stars. Here, Caliente AF-290—a former Color of the Year—pops against Angelica AF-665, a lavender-touched pale gray. Other playful pairings we love include:

Kitchen painted in shades of blue, with tan and white accents on cabinets and counters. Kitchen painted in shades of blue, with tan and white accents on cabinets and counters.

10. Layer Blue & Green Paint Colors

In this midcentury modern kitchen, two distinct blue paint colors conjure blue skies—even on the rainiest of days. A dash of spring green pulls from the outdoor landscape.

Other blue paint colors we love for the kitchen include Smoke 2122-40, Caribbean Mist 2061-70, and from the Historical Collection, airy Woodlawn Blue HC-147.

A traditional kitchen with dark gray-painted cabinetry, off-white tile backsplash, a white-trimmed window, and a stainless-steel worktable set with gold candlesticks. A traditional kitchen with dark gray-painted cabinetry, off-white tile backsplash, a white-trimmed window, and a stainless-steel worktable set with gold candlesticks.

11. Experience the Easygoing Elegance of Brown

With its brownish-violet undertones, Chelsea Gray HC-168—shown here—elevates these kitchen cabinets even further. Other rich brown paint colors we love include:

Dark blue-painted walls and a cheerful green ceiling in a sleek galley kitchen with stainless appliances and a green-blue area rug. Dark blue-painted walls and a cheerful green ceiling in a sleek galley kitchen with stainless appliances and a green-blue area rug.

12. Pair Deep Blue Walls with a Green Ceiling

We love a deep blue paint color that effortlessly bridges traditional and modern kitchen styles. Lucerne AF-530 hits that mark, especially when paired with cheerful green Seedling AF-450 on the ceiling. Other takes on this look include:

A close-up of tall kitchen cabinets painted in a soft beige with green undertones, off-white subway tile backsplash, and a white countertop strewn with oranges. A close-up of tall kitchen cabinets painted in a soft beige with green undertones, off-white subway tile backsplash, and a white countertop strewn with oranges.

13. Reimagine Beige with Green Undertones

A monochromatic color scheme uses a single hue to create an elegant interior envelope in any space.

This homeowner’s neutral monochromatic look taps into Flowering Herbs 514, a distinct beige with strong green undertones. Love the look? Consider:

A large, open kitchen with white-painted walls, a wood vaulted ceiling, and gorgeous lower cabinetry painted in a striking denim blue color. A large, open kitchen with white-painted walls, a wood vaulted ceiling, and gorgeous lower cabinetry painted in a striking denim blue color.

14. Add Opulence with Deep Hued Paint Color

White paint hues and wooden floors and ceilings are classic kitchen elements. Consider a deeper hue on lower cabinets for an elegant twist.

While Mysterious AF-565 scores low on this paint color’s LRV (Light Reflecting Value—the percentage of light reflected by a paint color), the use of semi-gloss elevates the look of this navy-black hue for a dose of elegance and drama. Similar hues include:

A charming kitchen with white-painted cabinets, light blue upper walls, a pale blue ceiling with white beams, and red striped valance over the windows. A charming kitchen with white-painted cabinets, light blue upper walls, a pale blue ceiling with white beams, and red striped valance over the windows.

15. Create Shore Vibes

One of the best things about paint color is using it to create a very specific look.

Here, breezy beach energy comes to life thanks to a soft blue-painted ceiling, light blue walls with misty gray undertones, and go-to Chantilly Lace 2121-70 on trim. Recreate the look with these options:

A section of a pretty kitchen with dark gray painted cabinets, granite countertops strewn with fresh produce, wood shiplap walls, and paper grocery bags on the wood floor. A section of a pretty kitchen with dark gray painted cabinets, granite countertops strewn with fresh produce, wood shiplap walls, and paper grocery bags on the wood floor.

16. Enliven Wood Surfaces with Charcoal Grays

Using dark gray paint colors adds an elegant, industrial twist to contemporary cabin styling.

The warmth of Gray 2121-10, the rich charcoal seen here, is a softer alternative to black. Similar hues include:

A large sunny kitchen with off-white-painted walls and cabinets, a print area rug, and a window above the sink with black-painted window trim. A large sunny kitchen with off-white-painted walls and cabinets, a print area rug, and a window above the sink with black-painted window trim.

17. Frame Kitchen Windows with Dark Paint Colors

Use charcoal, black, brown or any deep version of your favorite color family to frame your view to the outside.

Here, Black HC-190 on window mullions really pops in this all-neutral kitchen. Consider:

A small section of an open plan kitchen showcases cabinets and drawers in black and white paint with decorative shelving and a high director’s chair beyond. A small section of an open plan kitchen showcases cabinets and drawers in black and white paint with decorative shelving and a high director’s chair beyond.

18. Color Block with Black & White Kitchen Paint Colors

A sleek black and white color combination is always powerful. Use it to create interest in a small kitchen as seen in this Brooklyn loft. Try these classic pairings:

A corner of a white-painted kitchen with open shelving, a crystal and gold chandelier, printed red rug, and dark teal blue lower kitchen cabinets. A corner of a white-painted kitchen with open shelving, a crystal and gold chandelier, printed red rug, and dark teal blue lower kitchen cabinets.

19. Consider a Satin Paint Finish

A satin finish on your kitchen cabinets is both elegant and practical. Seen here in cool-toned Providence Blue 1636, satin sheen delivers a bit of gloss while also offering more stain resistance and durability than lower sheens.

Advance Interior, a premium Benjamin Moore paint ideal for doors, trim and cabinetry, comes in satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss.

A welcoming small kitchen with charcoal gray-painted cabinets, pearl gray tile backsplash, a pink accent wall and blue striped area rug. A welcoming small kitchen with charcoal gray-painted cabinets, pearl gray tile backsplash, a pink accent wall and blue striped area rug.

20. Use Pale Pink as a Neutral

“Soft pinks are surprisingly versatile,” says Arianna Cesa, Color Expert at Benjamin Moore. “In fact, pink has more range than you may think.”

Delicate pink paint colors offer a refreshing alternative to white, beige or any neutral. Pink also enlivens darker hues and surfaces like wood, granite and stone in the kitchen. Consider...

A bright, beige-painted kitchen with floor-to-ceiling and glass cabinets, an island with a marble countertop, an open pantry door, and white balloons on the floor and island. A bright, beige-painted kitchen with floor-to-ceiling and glass cabinets, an island with a marble countertop, an open pantry door, and white balloons on the floor and island.

21. Create Dimension with Different Finishes

Eggshell. Satin. Ultra-Flat. The sheen you choose (also known as finish) contributes to the final look of your space.

This kitchen is a study in monochromatic neutral in Lambskin OC-3, a peachy beige. Satin finish on the trim and cabinetry and eggshell on the walls adds depth to one singular paint color. Glass-doored cabinetry with glass shelving adds translucence.

An airy, welcoming kitchen with light blue-green painted cabinets and island, white walls and a white shiplap ceiling, and a red area rug on the sunlit wood floor. An airy, welcoming kitchen with light blue-green painted cabinets and island, white walls and a white shiplap ceiling, and a red area rug on the sunlit wood floor.

22. Play with Color Flow

Pull various shades of the same color from room to room for cohesive color flow.

In this country kitchen, light blue-green Wythe Blue HC-143 is prominent on the cabinetry and kitchen island. A delightful pop of dark Aegean Teal 2136-40 cabinetry pops from the mudroom beyond. Consider these green pairings to recreate the look:

A warm, inviting kitchen with blue-painted cabinets, a black shiplap wall and black backsplash, a white ceiling, blue stove, and wood table and chairs. A warm, inviting kitchen with blue-painted cabinets, a black shiplap wall and black backsplash, a white ceiling, blue stove, and wood table and chairs.

23. Lean into Surprising Kitchen Color Ideas

Mix modern and rustic by pairing freshly painted cabinets with copper accents.

Choose black and blue hues with the same undertone for a cohesive look. Here, the hint of blue undertone in Deep Space 2125-20 synchs with elegant Van Courtland Blue HC-145. Other blackish-blue pairings we love:

Rich, brown-painted kitchen cabinets, a brown marble backsplash and stainless-steel stove next to a white wall with a window and bamboo shade. Rich, brown-painted kitchen cabinets, a brown marble backsplash and stainless-steel stove next to a white wall with a window and bamboo shade.

24. Power up Small Spaces with Deep Hues

A more saturated color on your cabinets in any level of glossy sheen maximizes shine, forging a look that's all dark glamour.

Take color cues from countertops, the backsplash, fixtures and flooring to inspire new color for your cabinets. We love the drama of:


Explore Kitchen Cabinet Colors
A sleek kitchen corner with a coral painted wall, a white tiled backsplash wall and floor, white upper wall and exposed pipes, and three sets of drawers: one painted white, the second black, and the third woodgrain. A sleek kitchen corner with a coral painted wall, a white tiled backsplash wall and floor, white upper wall and exposed pipes, and three sets of drawers: one painted white, the second black, and the third woodgrain.

25. Celebrate Vivacious Kitchen Inspiration

Doing dishes is a lot more fun beside a vibrant accent wall that puts a smile on anyone's face.

Raspberry Blush 2008-30, the Color of the Year 2023, elevates and energizes this small kitchen. Make this look yours with:

A rustic kitchen with a light blue-painted accent wall, dark mossy green-painted lower cabinets, open wooden shelving piled with bowls and plates, and a black countertop. A rustic kitchen with a light blue-painted accent wall, dark mossy green-painted lower cabinets, open wooden shelving piled with bowls and plates, and a black countertop.

26. Reimagine Light with the Color Stories® Collection

Ready for a color story? Color Stories, an exclusive Benjamin Moore collection of 240 paint colors tells a colorful tale.

Crafted to take on different appearances as the light changes, these sophisticated hues upgrade any kitchen. In addition to the Color Stories colors shown in this rustic kitchen, we love:

How to Choose the Best Kitchen Paint Colors to Create a Stunning Color Scheme

Kitchen with yellow-painted accent wall, white counters and cabinets, stand-alone oven, stove top, and sink. Kitchen with yellow-painted accent wall, white counters and cabinets, stand-alone oven, stove top, and sink.

Brighten Up with Bold Kitchen Wall Colors

With typically less wall space in the kitchen, it’s a great room to play with brighter, stronger colors.

We love the zing of playful energy that Banana Yellow 2022-40 adds to this small kitchen with predominant white cabinetry. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see this same kitchen accented with Ravishing Red 2008-10 and Patriot Blue 2064-20.

Other lively hues homeowners love for a smaller kitchen wall color include Smoldering Red 2007-10, Venezuelan Sea 2054-30 and Blue Danube 2062-30.

Classic white kitchen cabinets pair perfectly with any pop of color you choose in a kitchen. Some of our favorite white paint colors for the kitchen include White Dove OC-17, Silver Satin OC-26, and seen here, Paper White OC-55.

Gray-painted kitchen with sink, dishwasher, and window. Gray-painted kitchen with sink, dishwasher, and window.

Curated Color for Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinets tend to be the visual centerpiece in the kitchen, so choosing the just-right color is important.

Blues, greens, and pale or muted grays are very popular in today’s kitchens. Here, pale gray Titanium OC-49 on both walls and cabinets opens up this small kitchen space. This sleek, monochromatic look uses sheen to differentiate the surfaces: matte on walls, satin on cabinets, and semi-gloss on trim.

A bright, open white-painted kitchen with white cabinets, vaulted ceiling and beams, a beautiful dark blue painted island and gray countertops. A bright, open white-painted kitchen with white cabinets, vaulted ceiling and beams, a beautiful dark blue painted island and gray countertops.

Kitchen Island Colors Add Spice

Not quite ready for a full kitchen cabinet re-paint? Use dynamic hues to breathe a bit of your personality into your kitchen in small doses.

Consider a fresh coat of paint color for your lower cabinets only. Or highlight a central kitchen island with a bold hue.

Here, a deep blue kitchen island offers high impact style in Oxford Gray 2128-40. The choice of a rich, semi-gloss sheen elevates it from practical to posh.

Other kitchen island paint colors that offer a major wow-factor include Regent Green 2136-20, Tarrytown Green HC-134, Kendall Charcoal HC-166.

Kitchen Color Ideas for the Backsplash

Tile Backsplash

While a DIY-er can paint a tile backsplash, we recommend hiring a professional. Your locally owned Benjamin Moore store can help you find a reliable painter in your neighborhood.


A white-painted kitchen with a black tile backsplash, black-painted island with a white countertop and pendant lights. A white-painted kitchen with a black tile backsplash, black-painted island with a white countertop and pendant lights.

If you are going to do-it-yourself, here’s some topline tips:

  • Grout lines will be covered up and the individual tiles will be less defined. If you don’t want to “lose” those grout lines, repainting may not be a great option.
  • Painted tile may not last as long as unpainted ceramic tile.
  • Frequent exposure to water will likely cause the paint on the tile to blister and peel.

Product recommendations for painting tile include:


White Subway Tile Backsplash

Any bold color works with the popular, hip look of white subway tile, including Caliente AF-290, Hale Navy HC-154 and Mallard Green 2053-10. Choosing big, splashy color contrast to use alongside white tile is easy, given our 3,500 colors: Find a paint color family you like, then start browsing.


Terracotta Tile Backsplash

Use the muted, earthy tones of a terracotta backsplash as a base for happy kitchen colors like cerulean blue Yarmouth Blue HC-150 and Schooner AF-520, and teal greens like Casco Bay 2051-30 and Aegean Teal 2136-40.


Artisanal, Textured Backsplash

A matte-painted wall is a great finish to ensure kitchen walls don’t “compete” with an opulent backsplash. Select a similar color from the backsplash and explore paint colors in a lighter shade to find the right color pairing.


A bright, open kitchen with an off-white painted vaulted ceiling, white subway tile backsplash, open shelving, a large island with a black-painted base and white countertop, and fun black-and-white wooden bar stools. A bright, open kitchen with an off-white painted vaulted ceiling, white subway tile backsplash, open shelving, a large island with a black-painted base and white countertop, and fun black-and-white wooden bar stools.

DIY or Professional Painter?

Painting kitchen cabinets is more affordable than replacing them. While doing it yourself may hold appeal, refinishing your cabinets can be challenging for even the most ambitious DIY-er. For example: Cabinets must fully dry between steps, making it a multi-day job.

We recommend hiring a professional painter for the best outcome. It’s also worth noting that professional painters prefer Benjamin Moore’s Advance Interior on kitchen cabinetry for its hard, furniture-quality finish. Be sure to put Advance on your shopping list, whether doing it yourself or hiring a painting pro!

“As with every room in your house, choosing kitchen paint colors is personal. The best way to be sure you’ll love the color you ultimately choose is to 'try them on' with color samples.”

Molly Hannelly, Color & Design Expert

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. What are some popular kitchen color ideas?

A. In addition to classic white and off-white hues, green paint colors always rank high among homeowners as a popular choice. Check out gentle Guilford Green HC-116, medium-toned Louisburg Green HC-113, and sage October Mist 1495 for starters. Other paint colors that make a statement include dark blue, charcoal grays and rich black hues.



Q. What is a good neutral color for a kitchen?

A. Neutral paint colors, including white and gray, exude calm—something to strive for in the busy kitchen. Consider warm, organic Muslin OC-12, greige Collingwood OC-28, and sophisticated Pashmina AF-100.



Q. Can you suggest some modern kitchen colors?

A. If you are looking for a modern, contemporary kitchen color scheme, consider:



Q. What are the top kitchen wall colors for a bright and airy look?

A. A bright and airy look for your kitchen is effortless with the winning combination of light blue and white. We love Cumulus Cotton 2063-70 paired with Chantilly Lace 2121-70, and blue-green Wythe Blue HC-143 paired with White Dove OC-17 for starters.



Q. What are the best kitchen paint colors for a classic and timeless look?

A. For a classic, timeless kitchen that is both clean and refreshing, you can’t go wrong with white and off-white paint colors. Benjamin Moore’s most versatile white paint colors include crisp Simply White OC-117, Chantilly Lace OC-65 and the cozy greige, White Down OC-131.



Q. What colors make a kitchen look bigger?

A. If you want to make your small kitchen feel a bit larger, add charm to the mix and embrace your small space with creative color choice. One kitchen look we love? Two blue walls—one in medium blue-green Covington Blue HC-138 and the other in airy Palladian Blue HC-144. Use Moonlight White OC-125 as white trim—with its silvery green undertones, it’s a statement-making final touch.



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