The Best Color to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets in 2021, According to Experts

Abigail Abesamis Demarest
Abigail Abesamis Demarest
Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a freelance contributor for Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn. When she’s not writing she’s reading up on the latest wellness trends, teaching Zumba classes, or reading a book on the beach.
published Nov 4, 2020
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Small changes can make a big difference in your kitchen — especially this year, when many of us are spending more time at home (and cooking way more as a result). Instead of planning a complete overhaul kitchen, try switching up the color of your kitchen cabinets — it’s an easy(ish) way to make your whole space feel more refreshing and inviting! To help you pick the right hue, Nicole Gibbons, founder of Clare Paint, gives her top kitchen cabinet color predictions for 2021.

Gibbons spoke with Semihandmade, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand known for pairing stylish doors with IKEA cabinets, to spread the knowledge of the best paint colors for kitchen cabinets. She shared a total of six options, ranging from warm whites to hues of blue, the all-time favorite color. But one suggestion stuck out to us for being pretty controversial: classic greige.

“It’s a warm neutral that’s pretty much foolproof,” she told Semihandmade. “It looks exceptionally beautiful on cabinetry and will always be super popular.” Regardless of what your thoughts are on greige, that’s Gibbon’s take on the color (and she is a paint expert).

In addition to classic greige, Gibbons also highlighted five other colors that are worth considering for your kitchen cabinet paint job.

Credit: Minette Hand

Warm Whites: Classic white cabinetry is an enduring classic, and for 2021, Gibbons predicts a trend towards more delicate whites. “I think the world is craving comfort in these unprecedented times,” she said. Warmer tones like Clare’s Whipped are a great choice for a minimalist yet cozy and inviting look.

Moody Greens: Moody greens and deep blues lend a dramatic, editorial feel to a kitchen. Gibbons noted that Clare’s Current Mood (a saturated mysterious green) is a top seller. “We’ve been seeing a lot of customers use it on their cabinets,” she said. 

Shades of Blue: Gibbons says that blue hues look great in every room, no matter the decor style. “It almost functions as a neutral,” she said. For 2021, she predicts muted, gray-blue shades like Good Jeans and deeper shades like Goodnight Moon will be popular.

Sage and Seafoam: Green kitchens took over our Insta feeds in 2020, and Gibbons sees that trend continuing into 2021. Clare’s OMGreen, a sage-y, seafoam-y green, is her top pick for a cheery, vibrant shade.

Punchy Pinks: Make a statement by painting your kitchen cabinets a soft, pale pink like Clare’s bestselling shade Wing It (a sophisticated, barely there pink) or Baby Soft (a classic soft pink). “An even bolder shade like Pink Sky really makes a statement in small doses too, like on a kitchen island, window frames, or even trim,” Gibbons said.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: This Is the Color You Should Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets, According to Experts