How do I choose a paint for my cabinets?

Carol Walsh
by Carol Walsh

I would like to brighten my kitchen and paint cabinets and change cabinet pulls. Cannot decide on color. Can you help??

  22 answers
  • Gk Gk on May 08, 2020

    A pretty cream color would work well with your counter top. Or if there is any gray in the counter top a light gray. Even a yellow if you like yellow and then change your wall color! I just repainted my kitchen cabinets with a charcoal gray on the bottom and a white on the top so you could consider a two color look.

  • Go to your local home improvement store and pick some colors that you like. Bring home the paint chips or ask for a sample jar of the paint to try at home.

  • Trangler2 Trangler2 on May 08, 2020

    I used paint esp. for cabinets from Lowes - i think a soft white would look good for your space (but personally I think the cabinets look fine now, but would improve with a creamy wall color

  • Nan W. Nan W. on May 08, 2020

    Carol: You cannot go wrong with a neutral color! ...grey, cream, tan... (Maybe even the color of your tile backsplash grout!)

  • Carol Walsh Carol Walsh on May 08, 2020

    My 1st thought was a cream color or a very light grey as well. I think stainless knobs would work on grey, but I’m leaning toward the cream. What color pulls would work on the cabinets??

  • Em Em on May 08, 2020

    No one knows your taste. What color are your appliances, towels etc? What is your favorite color? Take some sample pieces of color pallets home from the paint store and clip to the cabinet and see what you like.

    • PK PK on May 09, 2020

      If you plain to stay in your house, choose YOUR favorite color. If you plan to move before too long, keep that in mind and stay fairly neutral. We went with a warmish white and the cupboards turned out fantastic and helped sell our house. Get a good instruction site or book and follow it just as it tells you to do!!! Good Luck!!!!

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on May 08, 2020

    Perhaps consider getting one of those sample size jars of paint and trying it out.


    Sometimes it happens —that a room lighting can change the perception of paint color choice. We’ve had experiences of a beige looking peach or a gray looking purple depending upon the windows and light exposure.

  • Judy in Canton. Judy in Canton. on May 08, 2020

    You have beautiful unique cabinets and would not paint them. I would consider changing the hardware to a darker finish and change your wall color to a softer color .

  • Kay Spangler Kay Spangler on May 08, 2020

    Those cabinets are beautiful! I wouldn't paint them. It's your backsplash and wall color that competes poorly with those cabinets. I agree with previous comments about changing the wall color. I think a grey with brown undertones would look good and help pull together the countertop and cabinets. If you can, change the backsplash to something more plain that won't compete with your beautiful countertops. Just a good washable paint would look good.

    You've got too many competing lines in your kitchen. The horizontal and vertical lines on the cabinets and diagonal of the tile say "busy" and "dizzy" to me! Then the nice, clean, sleek look of your stainless stove, fridge and countertop says "calm" and modern.

    Door and drawer pulls: it would be tempting to go with brushed nickel to match the stainless, but I wouldn't. I think that would compete with the cabinets too much and everyone would be looking at your handles instead of the big picture. I'd go with antiqued silver or maybe a charcoal color that matches the black accents in the space.

    My opinion. Good luck and hope you enjoy whatever you decide! (And send us some before and after pics!)


  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 08, 2020

    You have a lot of the brown, beige color range going on from the floor, cabinets, counter top, & backsplash.

    Your cabinets are beautiful and I would suggest NOT painting them. Rather change the color of your backsplash or walls. Get some color patches and see what you like...I am thinking a subtle teal or something in that range.

    Best to you.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 08, 2020

    Painting cabinets is a great deal of work requiring proper preparation, time, and patience, for results that do not always meet with expectations.


    I agree with others who have said that if you want to lighten up the kitchen, first paint the walls a very light neutral color.

  • 17335038 17335038 on May 08, 2020

    One of the fastest and easiest ways to update a kitchen is to first replace the lights with either new fixtures that take LED lightbulbs, or with integrated LED light fixtures. LED light, being clear and clean looking compared with the old yellowy incandescent, can in itself instantly add new life to any room.

  • William William on May 08, 2020

    A lot of people go with white, off white, creams, light grays to brighten up the space.

    https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=paint%20cabinets

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on May 08, 2020

    If you’re keeping the countertops, I’d pull a color out of there. Maybe a modern tan color like SW Loggia. I used it on my back hall built ins and it’s gorgeous! https://www.frugalfamilytimes.com/2020/03/built-in-mudroom.html?m=1

  • Your cabinets are beautiful! Honestly, I would paint the walls first to see if that is the update the cabinets need. You could paint the walls a soft white so the cabinets are the focal point. I feel that the yellow walls are taking away from these gorgeous cabinets. A soft white, like the color of sour cream is what comes to mind. If you really want to paint them, consider leaving the bottom cabinets as they are--use some mineral spirits or Murphy's oil on them to really bring the pretty wood color to life (test on a hidden area first). For the top cabinets, you could go with a soft white as I mentioned earlier. Either way, a fresh wall color will make the cabinets pop. From the pictures, it appears the cabinets are absorbing the color of the walls, making them look yellow-y and tired. Good luck! Looking forward to your updates!

  • Janice Janice on May 08, 2020

    Hi Carol, I think your cabinets are unique and quite beautiful as they are. I'd suggest you paint the walls a very creamy white or pale aqua and keep the counters you have. If you can somehow downplay the diagonal tile in either your backsplash or floor, that would be a large improvement as well.

    As someone else suggested, changing to LED lighting can make a huge difference and could accent your cabinets.

  • Melanie Czoka Melanie Czoka on May 08, 2020

    I love the structure of those! So pretty! I would choose anything with a warmer undertone, to match the countertops. a light gray with a warm undertone, or a light cream would look so pretty.

  • Dee Dee on May 08, 2020

    Hi Carol:

    Those cabinets with the slats are going to be very hard to paint. They are absolutely beautiful. I would go to Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore and look at their greige colors. Gray paint with brown base. I would use that on the walls. Agreeable gray would look fantastic. You could also change the color of your backsplash grout with Grout refresh. It is easy to use and a nice gray would bring out the gray on the walls. Then change the hardware to brushed silver. Easier to paint the walls than to paint those beautiful cabinets.

  • I dont have an answer to your question. i want to know what color yellow that is on the wall


  • Sarajane Porter Willson Sarajane Porter Willson on May 09, 2020

    Beautiful cabinets! Since I am not a grey person, I suggest an army beige or sand color on the walls. Enjoy!

  • Rymea Rymea on May 10, 2020

    Paint the cabinets a slightly off white and the walls the color of the grout in back splash floor but just a little lighter. Ignore the counter top. It will just be an accent. You might be able to pick up those colors in art or other accessories.