What color should I paint my cabinets ?

I hate how the tile & cabinets blend to tone on tone? My husband wants to just wait til we do a full remodel who knows how long that will be! I want it to look better now...
Also would like some staging tips for the tops of cabinets have 3 windows above there have a few plants but is a pain in the butt to water icon
Was also thinking about painting the tiles maybe leave accent tile what do u guys think painting the tiles or cabinets or both advice please!!
  20 answers
  • Sharon Sharon on Feb 07, 2018

    There was probably some contrast before the clear finish thats on them ambered out.... I would take off a door, and strip off the finish and maybe it will be a nice pale wood..... then finish it with a non-yellowing top coat. If you don't like the wood.... paint them.

  • Cindy Cindy on Feb 07, 2018

    I would go with a light stain. Not paint. I would also suggest installing under-cabinet lighting. It adds so much drama. Your kitchen is already beautiful. I like the idea of plants on top, but not real. Artificial plants would not require you to climb up there to water. Besides the plants, I suggest using a few big items. Right now you have too many small things up there. Remember . . drama. When you shop for these items, take a walk thru the lawn and garden dept. You'll find a lot of inspiration there. Don't forget to take measurements before you leave home. Best of luck to you.

  • Tami Tami on Feb 07, 2018

    I think you should paint the cabinets white or a light grey, put new hardware on the doors and drawers. Maybe change the color of grout on your backsplash. For the top of your upper cabinets, I would frame the windows and only place items between them. You mentioned your plants were a pain to water. However, if you like them and do not have another spot for them, try hanging one in front of each window. Good luck with your project.

  • Questar Questar on Feb 08, 2018

    That focal point tile design in the photo - is there a color in it that is overlooked? that could be the new color for the doors. Or, if you could duplicate the design, or a part of it, put that on the doors inside the moulding. That would duplicate the edge around the design in the tile piece.


    • Michelle Sohlberg Michelle Sohlberg on Feb 10, 2018

      I love the color green I have a cool coffee maker kinda a apple green & most of my cooking utensils r green wouldn't mind to having more of the color but couldn't do cabinets that color not that brave lol 😜

  • Michelle Sohlberg Michelle Sohlberg on Feb 08, 2018

    That's the brightest place I was going to use faux plants when they die I kinda fill in as they go. What color grout do u think would make it look better? Do u think the expresso color would be to dark in there?

  • Brandi Lynn Brandi Lynn on Feb 09, 2018

    I love expresso colored cabinets (I have white and expresso kitchens and I prefer the classy to the beach) any way do the expresso and paint the tile whitle except the accent tile, leave and pull a color out of it and do the accessories in that color - like the green. Place pops of green all around and all can vart in shade. For watering get a few of those slow watering systems (the bulb looking things) that way you can keep the live plants up top. I agree it’s to busy up there now and you need some large pieces make sure to not over decorateabove the cabinets - it will take away from the light and airy feeling if the kitchen. Remember more then three like items up there results in an over done look. I wouldn’t cover the windows with anything but if you wanted to jazz them up - use a stencil and paint a design on them - easy to change when you need a change.

  • Rab24499064 Rab24499064 on Feb 09, 2018

    I painted my cabinets dark red with dark wax finish. Everybody had loved the color. I did my laundry room cabinets too. It takes a while but worth it.

  • Holly Kinchlea-Brown Holly Kinchlea-Brown on Feb 09, 2018

    I would start by painting the cabinets...white for preference (at least on the uppers)

  • Itsmemic Itsmemic on Feb 09, 2018

    fake plants are nothing but dust catchers and in a kitchen they get gross way too fast. I go for light gray or white washed cabinets..maybe some new hardware?


  • Bev11927245 Bev11927245 on Feb 09, 2018

    I personally love gray cabinets and gray walls. One light and other dark either wall or cabinets. A marble look gray and black floor. Doesn't show up dirt. I can go on and on so I better stop now.

  • Livvismom Livvismom on Feb 10, 2018

    I personally would paint them white, which will add more light to a dark kitchen. I would add new hardware as suggested in previous posts.

    Just remember painting them white will probably open up another can of worms you may not be ready for. I am pretty sure once the cabinets are white you will want to redo the back splash as well as the counters.

    Rust-Oleum sells a counter top transformation kit or you can find many redo counter top ideas and back splash ideas here on Hometalk.

    Please post after photos. ( make sure you take before and after photos )

    Good Luck!!!

  • Krista Carroll Krista Carroll on Feb 10, 2018

    Don't paint the wood! In my house everything was already painted and we are now replacing things to go back to wood. I would clean your cabinets real good take off old poly and make sure cabinets are real wood. Look into unicorn spit the stuff is so awesome and colorful and fun and easy to work with. It's a Great way to Keep wood and add color.

    It was so hard in our home to strip Just one bathroom cabinet down. It took lots of muscle (hubbies), Sanders, stripper, and time. Unfortunately our house was done in a very very dark stain originally. I do kinda see why they painted it. It was so dark and deep in the wood it would not come out. But to stain a light stain on top kinda looks like tiger wood! So basically what I am saying is once u paint wood it's super hard to go back. Especially if ur hubby is Like mine and refuses to do more after the headache of the bathroom cabinet.

    Painting the tile might be a great option for u tho. I have never done this. I don't know if it would be reversible if u regret it or change ur mind later. Might Google that first. Look at backslashes in the home talk search thing also. Lots of easy temporary fixes.

    I love the idea of Windows up there. I would keep real plants there myself. Fake plants already get gross and dusty. I take mine to the shower and spray them off a couple times a year. It would get to nasty after time in a kitchen i would think.

    As for what to decorate with.... anything that u love! It's ur kitchen ur house. If u like it use it. Makes u happy.... keep it! If not take it down.

    Have fun and happy decorating!

  • The26936186 The26936186 on Feb 10, 2018

    Paint them white gives your kitchen a nice fresh clean look

  • Diana Diana on Feb 10, 2018

    Not really an answer, but I have the same problem. I want to paint but afraid I'll be sorry.. wish there was a way to see what it would look like first

    • Michelle Sohlberg Michelle Sohlberg on Feb 10, 2018

      I was thinking the same thing I have the same color downstairs in a bar area I might try down there first to see how it works out before trying the kitchen

  • Gae Zeigler Gae Zeigler on Feb 10, 2018

    Love your floor which coordinates nicely with your granite. How about painting those cupboards a beautiful sage color. Pull the green out of your center tile design. Look for the darker gray-green tones rather than the yellow-green tones. You say you like green. Go with what you love! Then head to Lowe’s/Home Depot and pick out some crown to replace the small crown of the existing cupboards It will definitely update your cupboarde and give them additional height. (When you carefully remove the old crown, label and save them as it will make cutting the angles of your new crown so much easier.). Those upper windows are fabulous! let them speak for themselves! Hit Goodwill/savers/Salvation Army and pick up some architectural looking picture frames. each frame different. Take them home and frame the windows after you have given them a whitewash. They will add light and beauty to your kitchen. And don’t forget to paint the wall above those cabinets....Around those windows!

    Good luck! Whatever you do, it will be great. Keep us posted!


    • Michelle Sohlberg Michelle Sohlberg on Feb 10, 2018

      Omg! those r some great ideas was just look on Pinterest for colors lol thanks for the tips & guess what the counters aren't granite it's laminate lol ty for your tips when I decide what I'm doing I'll update 😀

  • Christierei Christierei on Feb 11, 2018

    Have you considered using removeable wall paper on the cabinets ? You can buy online, Target, JoAnn etc. Your backsplash and counters have a lot of warm gold tones. Your new color should be a warm white ( i.e. not a bright blue white ) or some other warm color so there is flow. If you go with a cool color your laminate counter will really jump out in a weird way.

  • Carole Snyder Carole Snyder on Feb 11, 2018

    I actually have cabinets that look similar and neutral counters. If you want to pain them, I think the style would be good with white and then some in a pale grey, but a lot of that depends on the rest of your house. I'd also like to suggest that if you don't want to paint them, consider painting your walls. When I bought this house the walls were white and black and I hated the cupboards and tile. But once I got the walls painted I think they now look great. (and changed cabinet hardware). I agree about the plants...let them go and maybe leave it undecorated on top?

  • Darcie Darcie on Feb 11, 2018

    Use Chalk paint, you are usually safe with a white, then use a dark wax to seal them. No stripping just a quick wash then paint. Look at Youtube for Chalk Paint ideas.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Feb 11, 2018

    Take one of the colors out of the ceramic tile as the base color for your cabinets (like the sage green). Then take everything down from the tops of the cabinets, and replace only up to 1/3 of what you have - selecting items that are also contained in the ceramic tile. Keep the kitchen uncluttered and the newly painted cabinets become the focal point. I would also make sure that you don't block those beautiful windows - the new simplicity will make your renovated kitchen really stand out.

  • Margarite Margarite on Feb 11, 2018

    I would clear off the top of the cabinets. It would be easier to dust. Also have you consider painting the top cabinets white and the bottoms a sage green.