Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colours
New cabinet colour is the quickest way to transform a kitchen without replacing it. Start with what is staying, such as the worktop, flooring and splashback, then choose a colour that suits your light. Greens and navies are enduring favourites, stones and greiges sit with any worktop, and a contrasting island adds depth. Every shade below comes in our self-priming Kitchen Cabinet Paint and as a 60ml sample.
The best kitchen cabinet colour depends on what's staying put. Kitchen designers advise starting with the worktop, floor and splashback, then the light: warmer neutrals and soft greens suit north-facing kitchens, while blues, greens and crisp whites balance a sunny one. Greens and navies are enduring cabinet favourites, and two-tone schemes, with a deeper island or lower run, add depth. Our Kitchen Cabinet Paint is self-priming and comes in Matt and Satin.
At a glance
- Start here
- Work around what stays. Hold samples against the worktop, flooring and splashback first. The cabinet colour has to suit them every day.
- North light
- Warm stones and soft greens. Cool north light suits warm neutrals and earthy greens. Very cool greys and blues can look flat.
- South light
- Blues, greens and crisp stones. Warm, bright light balances cooler cabinet colours well. It is the easiest kitchen for blues and fresh greens.
- East light
- Bright breakfasts, cooler evenings. Morning sun flatters most cabinet colours. Check your choice in the evening too, when the kitchen is lit by spotlights.
- West light
- Cool mornings, warm evenings. Morning light is flatter and cooler, then turns golden. Mid-tone greens and stones look good at both ends of the day.
- Two-tone
- Deeper island, lighter run. A deeper colour on the island or lower cabinets grounds the kitchen. Choose the two colours together so their undertones match.
- Finish
- Self-priming Matt or Satin. Kitchen Cabinet Paint is self-priming and comes in Matt and Satin. Matt feels softer and more contemporary; Satin has a gentle sheen.
- Sample tip
- Test on a cabinet door. Stick your sample on a door, not the wall, and look at it beside the worktop in morning light and under your evening lights.
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Green kitchen cabinets
Greens from soft sage to deep forest.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Green has become the kitchen cabinet colour of the moment, and it looks set to last: it suits timber, stone and brass and brings the garden indoors. These range from soft sages to deep, inky forest greens.
Best in any direction with Cameron Green™, north-facing kitchens with Workhouse Green™, south-facing kitchens with Lincolne™, Caunton Green™, Ronnie™ or Clumber™, and east- or west-facing kitchens with Theatre Green™, Mushies™ or any of the south-facing shades.
Navy, charcoal and soft black
Deep units that make plain doors look tailored.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Deep navy, charcoal and soft black cabinets look tailored and timeless, especially with marble, quartz or oak. They also hide everyday marks well.
Best in north-facing kitchens with Albion™ or Beret™, south-facing kitchens with Bobber™, Shinney™ or Framebreaker™, and east- or west-facing kitchens with Ashfield™, Colliery™, Lottie’s Heart™, Bobber™, Framebreaker™, Albion™ or Beret™.
Stones, greiges and soft whites
Quiet cabinet colours that suit any worktop.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
A soft stone, greige or warm white is the safest choice beside a patterned worktop or a busy splashback, and it keeps a small kitchen light. These have enough warmth to avoid looking stark.
Best in any direction with Erewash™, Chissy™, Plough™ or Coco™, north-facing kitchens with Fletching™, and south-, east- or west-facing kitchens with Peverel™, Wise White™ or Pierrepont™.
Colour for an island or a second tone
Contrast shades to pair with your main run.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
An island or lower run in a stronger colour adds depth and character. Choose it alongside the main cabinet colour so the undertones agree: an earthy brown or red beside warm stones, a deep green beside sage.
Best in north-facing kitchens with Rally™, Navigation™, Recreation™, Chopped™ or Gruit™, south-facing kitchens with Arboretum™ or Medlar™, and east- or west-facing kitchens with Arboretum™, Medlar™, Gruit™ or Derry™.
Sample it the way we would
Step 1
Paint your peel-and-sticks
Each £5.99 sample comes with three paintable peel-and-sticks. Give them two coats and let them dry fully.
Step 2
Stick them around the room
Put them on two or three walls, including the wall opposite the window, at eye level and lower down.
Step 3
Live with them for a day or two
Look in the morning, the afternoon and under your evening lamps. Move them around until you are sure.
Your questions, answered
What colour kitchen cabinets are timeless?
Deep greens, navies, soft blacks and warm stones have stayed popular for years because they suit timber, stone and brass. Choose the one that sits best with your worktop and floor.
Can I paint my kitchen cabinets?
Yes. Our Kitchen Cabinet Paint is self-priming and made for cabinet doors. Clean, degrease and lightly sand the doors first; our project guide walks you through every step.
How to paint kitchen cabinetsShould the kitchen island be a different colour?
It doesn't have to be, but a deeper island is a simple way to add depth. Choose the two colours together so their undertones match.
Matt or Satin for kitchen cabinets?
Matt gives a soft, contemporary look; Satin has a gentle sheen. Kitchen Cabinet Paint comes in both, so choose the finish you prefer.
Kitchen Cabinet Paint