If you want to revamp your kitchen without gutting or moving, painting your kitchen cabinets is one of the best ways to go. A fresh coat of paint can completely transform the space, but how do you choose the right color? It’s easy to flip through a home decor magazine or search Pinterest for the latest trends, but that can be a mistake, says Erika Dale, interior designer at House Digest and founder of Erika Dale Interior Design. Going for the trendy color can make your kitchen look dated later. “Interior design trends, such as kitchen cabinet colors, tend to change every few years, which is much more frequently than the average homeowner remodels their kitchen,” Dale said in an exclusive conversation with House Digest. “Trendy kitchen cabinet colors sometimes lack the timelessness that gives them enough staying power to remain relevant over the life of a kitchen remodel.”
Advertising
Just look at modern home decor trends that are already out of style, like millennial pink and speckled granite countertops. “Choosing a cabinet color based on trends can be a little risky, as you don’t want someone to walk into your kitchen in a few years and think, ‘Oops, I see they chose that color in 2024,'” Dale noted, adding, “If you choose something too contemporary, your design will age faster.”
Painting cabinets costs time and money
So what’s the problem, it’s all about color, right? Not the way Dale sees it. “If you choose to change the color of your cabinets every few years to match changing trends, you’ll be spending thousands of dollars each time to outsource the work,” Dale told House Digest exclusively. “If you prefer to do it yourself, the cost of materials will probably only be a few hundred dollars, but the generous amount of time you’ll have to spend to do the job right (while leaving your kitchen in shambles) is definitely a factor to consider.” So even if you’re tackling the project yourself, consider how many labor hours you’ll have to put in and how many evenings you’ll have to spend eating takeout.
Advertising
Plus, choosing cabinet color is rarely an isolated decision. “Changing cabinet color may seem like a standalone project, but it can easily have a snowball effect and trigger other kitchen renovations,” Dale said. “Freshly painted cabinets suddenly make the walls look like they need a coat of paint too, and what good are new cabinets without a fun hardware upgrade? Or maybe the new cabinet color means you have to change your entire kitchen color scheme, meaning things like furniture, curtains or even appliances suddenly need to be updated to look cohesive with the new palette. These changes can really add up and blow the budget.”
How to choose the right cabinet colors for you
“It’s important to design your home with colors and finishes you love because ultimately, you’re the one living with your choices every day, even if trends change,” Dale explained exclusively to House Digest. That’s why it’s important to take the time to choose the perfect design style for your space and create a cohesive color palette that you really like. “If you choose a trendy color because it looks cool on HGTV, you’ll probably get tired of it eventually,” Dale said, which brings us back to the topic of time and money. “On the other hand, if you choose a color that you’ve loved for years, you can finally enjoy it every day.”
Advertising
For those who don’t want to keep their kitchen cabinets the same neutral paint or wood stain but aren’t sure where to start, Dale has some suggestions. “If you love bold colors but want to make sure they stand the test of time in your kitchen, consider using dramatic, colorful earth tones like dark green, sage, navy blue, or royal blue-gray to bring in some grounded color with roots in nature,” Dale suggested. However, if you’re more of a minimalist who’s cautious about color, Dale recommends you “opt to paint the kitchen cabinets a neutral color, but introduce color in a way that requires less effort, like with a fun peel-and-stick wallpaper, artwork, furniture, or decor.”
