The colour of your cabinets is a crucial aspect in regard to your kitchen’s aesthetic. It greatly impacts the style and mood of the space, with the right colour adding to the atmosphere you want to create, whether by brightening the area or by adding depth. It also affects the resale value, as different colours can either attract or turn away potential buyers, which can make choosing the perfect colour a big decision.
In this article, we will discuss the different factors to consider when deciding on colours, timeless shades and the kitchen trends we’re seeing in 2025 such as two-tone cabinets, various finishes and what works best for a high traffic area, and how to test and finalize your colours. We hope that by the end of reading this, we have helped to make your decision easier.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Cabinet Colours
Kitchen Size & Lighting
Cabinet colour ideas for a small kitchen include shades of cream, white, powder blue, and sage green which can enhance the room’s openness, making the space seem larger than it actually is. On the other hand, for a large kitchen, darker colours, such as forest green and slate gray, work better in a bigger space, adding depth and providing a great balance between a clean and cozy atmosphere.
There are also different ways that your lighting can affect the perception of colour in your kitchen. For example, if your kitchen gets a lot of warm natural light, then light shades like white would work best to accentuate the space, whereas if the room gets cold natural light, you should choose warm-toned colours to counteract the chill. With a kitchen that is dimly lit with artificial light, lighter colours are beneficial for brightening the space. It would be best to avoid dark colours in a dimly lit kitchen because they will absorb more of the light, making the room even dimmer.
Kitchen Size & Lighting
Cabinet colour ideas for a small kitchen include shades of cream, white, powder blue, and sage green which can enhance the room’s openness, making the space seem larger than it actually is. On the other hand, for a large kitchen, darker colours, such as forest green and slate gray, work better in a bigger space, adding depth and providing a great balance between a clean and cozy atmosphere.
There are also different ways that your lighting can affect the perception of colour in your kitchen. For example, if your kitchen gets a lot of warm natural light, then light shades like white would work best to accentuate the space, whereas if the room gets cold natural light, you should choose warm-toned colours to counteract the chill. With a kitchen that is dimly lit with artificial light, lighter colours are beneficial for brightening the space. It would be best to avoid dark colours in a dimly lit kitchen because they will absorb more of the light, making the room even dimmer.
Existing Kitchen Elements
It is important to consider your existing kitchen elements, specifically your countertops, flooring, and backsplashes, when deciding on the colour for your cabinets so that they do not clash. The main way to ensure everything matches is by determining the undertone of the colours already in use. If your backsplashes and countertops have a cool tone, so should your cabinets, and it is the same if they have a warm tone.
In terms of pairing colours with different countertop materials, a couple of popular pairings in 2025 include navy cabinets with a marble countertop and sage green with warm wood.
Classic vs. Trendy Kitchen Cabinet Colours
Timeless Shades
A timeless kitchen design includes the use of colours like white, gray, espresso, and natural wood tones. These have been popular shades for kitchen cabinets for quite some time and for good reason as they pair well with any countertops and backsplashes and can be used for all kinds of design styles, including traditional or modern.
Trending Colours for 2025
Trending colours for kitchen cabinets include warm neutrals, deep greens, navy blue, and matte black. Two-tone cabinets, where the base cabinets are a different colour than the upper cabinets, are also trending at the moment.
When incorporating these trends into your kitchen, though, you still need to consider the size of your kitchen and what works best with your existing elements in order to avoid overwhelming the space. For example, in a small kitchen you could have two-tone cabinets, keeping the upper cabinets white to maintain a bright and spacious effect while painting the base cabinets a navy blue for a pop of colour that grounds the room.
Choosing the Right Finish & Material to Match Cabinet Colours
Matte vs. Glossy
When it comes to kitchen cabinet colours and finishes, it’s often a choice between matte and glossy finishes, so let’s examine the two more closely. A matte finish is great for a smooth and soft look as it hides imperfections and surface flaws on your cabinets. However, it is difficult to clean and quick to absorb dirt. On the contrary, a glossy finish, which is shiny and reflective, is quite easy to clean and resistant to dirt, but it does show imperfections on the surface of your cabinets more clearly.
Durability & Maintenance
For a high-traffic area like the kitchen, satin or semi-gloss finishes are the top options to go with for your paint colours. These two finishes bring together the best of both matte and glossy finishes; they show the least amount of dirt, are stain-resistant, and very easy to clean.
How to Test and Finalize Your Cabinet Colour
The best way to figure out if you have picked the right cabinet colours or to see what colours work best with your existing kitchen elements is by using paint swatches and peel-and-stick samples. Peel-and-stick samples are great because you can put them directly on your countertop or backsplash to see if the colours match well with one another. It also helps to check the colours in different lighting conditions – natural, artificial, light, and dark – to make sure they will look good throughout the day, whether the room is brightly or dimly lit.
If you are still having trouble deciding on the right colour for your kitchen cabinets, it may be time to go to a professional and get a custom colour consultation. A professional interior designer and contractor has the experience to know which colours will and will not work for your space. They can provide you with the most ideal colour options and help you make your final decision.
Final Thoughts
Throughout this article, we have discussed the factors to consider when choosing colours for your kitchen cabinets, timeless and modern kitchen colours, the various finishes you can choose from, and how to test and make a final decision on a colour. It is important to remember that the colour you choose should not just match your aesthetic; it really needs to be a balance of style, function, and longevity, ensuring that it both works for the space and is durable enough to last for as long as possible.
At Nicks Developments, as an experienced project management team, we are here to help you find the perfect colours for your kitchen cabinets and make sure that you are completely happy with your decision. Contact us today to get started!
