Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color Suggestions Little Kitchens

Looking to give your small kitchen a fresh new look but aren't sure where to begin? The right kitchen cabinet paint colors can completely transform even the tiniest of kitchen spaces. From creating the illusion of a larger, airier room to boosting your mood while prepping meals, thoughtful color choices make all the difference.

Read on for useful tips, popular paint color suggestions, and creative ways to implement color in a small kitchen. With a carefully curated palette and dash of color psychology know-how, you'll be well on your way to a kitchen makeover that maximizes every square inch.

Benefits of Proper Kitchen Cabinet Color Selections

For cramped kitchen quarters, a strategic splash of color or neutral tone can work magic. Beyond just looking pretty, mindful paint choices affect how functional and spacious a petite kitchen feels. The right hues can:

• Enhance visual appeal of modest kitchen areas
• Make small kitchens appear more spacious
• Boost functionality and workflow
• Create illusion of dimensions with color

Lighter white and neutral cabinet colors tend to open up smaller kitchens. The reflective properties make the space feel more expansive and airy. Darker paint choices come with some caveats in a smaller room. While deep hues can create a cozy, enveloping atmosphere, too much dark color could make things feel claustrophobic fast.

To strike the right balance, consider mixing lighter wall paint or backsplash tiles with richer cabinet colors. This way lighter and darker elements play off each other. Wood floors introduce natural warmth without closing things in like dark wall paint might.

Consider Kitchen Natural Lighting Conditions

Before grabbing those paint swatches, take stock of how much natural light your kitchen gets. North and south-facing rooms tend to have consistent indirect sunlight. East-west facing kitchens deal with more intense morning and afternoon sun.

Why does this matter for color? Different exposures mean some paint colors will function more effectively than others. Here's how lighting affects color perception:

• North/South facing kitchen lighting
• East/West facing kitchen sun exposure
• Enhanced lighting with white & light colors
• Darker kitchens illuminated with lighter tones

Deep blues, greens, and reds turn black in dim lighting. Without sufficient brightness, the colors lose vibrancy quickly and just look dark. For low natural light kitchens, lighter whites and soft neutrals better illuminate the space.

On the flipside, intense east or west sunbeams bouncing off an all-white kitchen could feel harsh. Pale cool colors risk looking clinical and sterile. In these high contrast setups, deeper greens, blues, and browns hold their own better while creating warmth.

Kitchen Natural Light Assessment Tips

When evaluating kitchen lighting and planning paint choices:

• Note times of days with best & worst light. East facing? Morning sun may be intense. West exposure? Brace for dramatic afternoon rays.
• Check if small gaps exist letting additional light sneak in unexpected corners.
• Mind sun reflection angles based on latitude location and kitchen siting within house.
• Watch out for shadowy nooks from architectural elements like ceiling beams.

Evaluate Current Kitchen Cabinets & Floors

Most kitchen cabinet paint consultations focus solely on the boxes. But for a cohesive makeover, factor countertop and flooring colors too. Aim for an integrated look. Consider how current finishes play with new cabinet colors using these tips:

• Match, contrast, or complement existing elements
• Continuity between cabinetry, floors and walls
• Avoid matching cabinet and floor colors
• Brighten dark floors with lighter cabinet colors

For a seamless, blended aesthetic, select cabinet colors sharing undertones with counters or floors. Cream cabinets coordinate with beige and brown speckled granite. Ash gray stained cabinets match tones in gray wood plank tile.

Matching floor and cabinet colors risks looking monotonous. To liven boring brown cabinets over brown floors, opt for contrast with a lighter, complementary color instead.

Impact of Natural Wood Tones

Don't overlook the influence of wood elements like floors and open shelving either. Depending on stain or seal, organic wood textures introduce reddish, yellowish or neutral brownish undertones.

Paint colors echoing these warm wood notes tie everything together. Greenish-gray hues emphasize reddish oak grains. Buttery yellowish cabinets play up yellow tints in pine.Soft overcast white lets weathered barn board shine.

The Gloss Factor

Gloss levels also alter color perception. Matte finishes absorb light, appearing slightly darker and muted. The same blue paint registers more vibrant and saturated in lacquer, semi-gloss or high-gloss.

For small spaces seeking an illusion of roominess, steer towards reflective finishes. Glossy surfaces enhance brightness. Just take care high-sheen surfaces don't cause excessive glare.

Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends

Beyond classic white kitchens, what stylish cabinet color options work especially well for petite kitchen plans? Here are four of-the-moment palette ideas to inspire your tiny kitchen refresh:

• Two-tone kitchen cabinet schemes
• Shades of white kitchen cabinets
• Navy blue & green colored cabinets
• Use of black and darker colors

Many compact kitchens lean towards lighter wall colors and cabinetry to avoid a cramped look. But as seen on the pages of design magazines lately, touches of richness can pack a stylish punch too.

Magazine-Worthy Color Combo Ideas

Flip through kitchen design publications and you'll spot these smart, of-the-moment color formulas to imitate:

• Deepest navy bottom cabinets & bright white uppers
• Moody forest green island & light oak base cabinets
• Glossy lacquered black built-ins & brass accents
• Dark charcoal lower cabinets & sunny yellow uppers

Two-tone combos keep small kitchens visually intriguing through color blocking. Darker base cabinets ground a scheme, while bright upper cabinets expand the room.

Best Paint Colors Tiny Kitchen Areas

Hunting for cute kitchen cabinet color ideas fitting for compact kitchens? Look for paint colors avoiding anything too intense or reddish-dark. Instead focus on lighter brights and easygoing neutrals such as:

• Soft white and light grey colors
• Navy blue, sage green, & yellow
• Gloss or semi-gloss sheens
• Avoid dark or intense colors

Whites, creams, lighter blues and greens give tiny kitchens a spacious, breezy feel. Sage green and navy blue inject personality without closing things in.

Low-contrast neutral grays beautifully blend with stainless steel appliances too. Richer shades like charcoal or black read dramatically against clean white backsplashes as well.

Beyond opening up small kitchens, did you know paint colors also impact mood? Bright kitchen cabinet colors catering to appetites include:

• Red - stimulates appetite and adds a pop of color
• Yellow - creates a calming and soothing effect
• Green - gives a jolt of energy

These spirited paint colors for kitchen cabinets inject liveliness into humdrum kitchens. They introduce an element of fun when mixing cookie batter or chopping vegetables.