Kitchen Paint Inspiration with White Cabinets
Transforming your kitchen with a fresh coat of paint can completely change the look and feel of the space. When paired with white cabinets, choosing the perfect wall color is crucial for achieving a seamless and stunning makeover.
We also provide expert tips on determining undertones and creating a cohesive color scheme.
Benefits of White Kitchen Cabinets
White cabinetry offers many advantages in kitchen design:
- Brightens up the space with clean, crisp aesthetic
- Creates an airy, open atmosphere
- Reflects light beautifully off countertops and backsplashes
- Provides flexibility in design through endless color pairings
- Feels clean, fresh, and easy to maintain
However, choosing the right wall color is essential for bringing out the best in your white cabinets. The wrong tone can make the space feel disjointed or dull.
Choosing Paint Colors Based on Cabinet Undertones
All whites contain subtle undertones that lean slightly warm or cool. Most cabinetry has a hint of cream or gray that impacts the overall look.
Cool white cabinets have blue, green, or gray undertones. They look best with other cool paint shades in the same color family. Warm white cabinets contain yellow, peach, or red undertones. Pairing them with warm wall colors creates harmony.
To determine undertones, compare your cabinets to a white piece of paper. If they look more gray, blue, or green, they are likely cool-toned. Warmer cabinets will have hints of cream, yellow, or peach.
You can also check the brand website for details on the finish. Names like "Dove White" or "Cream" indicate warm undertones, while "Glacier White" or "Frost" suggest cool tones.
Cool White Kitchen Cabinets
For cool white cabinets, stick to wall colors with blue, gray, or greenish undertones. Cool grays, greige shades, light blues, and even deep blues or greens work beautifully.
Avoid warm beiges and tans, as they may clash with the cabinets. However, warm metals like brass hardware can add nice contrast against the cool backdrop.
Warm White Kitchen Cabinets
With warm white cabinets, choose wall colors in complementing warm neutrals. Softer beiges, warm grays with tan or peach undertones, light terra cottas, and subdued yellows are perfect pairings.
Stray away from cool grays or blues, as they will likely compete with cabinets rather than coordinate.
Most Popular Paint Colors for White Cabinets
Now that you understand the impact of undertones, explore some of the best wall colors for white kitchen cabinets:
Soft White
An off-white wall color, such as Swiss Coffee or Classic Gray by Behr, provides subtle contrast against true white cabinets. The barely-there hue prevents clashing while allowing the beautiful cabinetry to shine.
Light Grey
On-trend light greys like Behr's Silver Drop or Sherwin Williams' Repose Gray offer a modern, stylish look. Depending on the undertones, they pair nicely with white cabinets of all shades.
Navy Blue
From deep ocean blues to airy periwinkle hues, blue offers a pop of color that works with light or dark hardware finishes. Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore is a popular choice.
Sage Green
Earthy sage greens embody cottage charm, looking especially serene against bright white cabinetry. Try Valspar's Heirloom Herb Green or Benjamin Moore's Kendall Charcoal.
Choosing the Right Sheen and Finish
Beyond color selection, sheen makes a major impact on kitchen paint. Finish options like flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss vary in light reflection, durability, and ease of cleaning.
For most kitchens, satin or semi-gloss offer the best blend of aesthetics and wipe-clean practicality. However, personal preference reigns - test samples to decide what works best with your cabinets and lifestyle.
Application Techniques for Painting Cabinets
Proper painting technique ensures even coverage and a smooth, lasting finish. First, thoroughly clean and lightly sand cabinets to help the paint adhere. Then apply primer formulated specifically for wood cabinetry.
Next, discuss spraying versus brushing and rolling with your contractor:
- Spraying requires masking and drop cloths but creates a professional, seamless look.
- Brushing allows superior control for cutting in tight edges but risks visible brush strokes in wide areas.
- Rolling works nicely across broad cabinet faces but falls short for nooks and crannies.
Combining methods helps capitalize on their strengths while mitigating weaknesses from any single technique.
Design Ideas for White Kitchens
Beyond wall color selection, several design elements impact the cohesiveness of a white kitchen. Carefully weigh choices like backsplashes, countertops, floors, lighting and decor accents.
Backsplash
Natural stone, metal and glass tile provide dimension. Warm backsplash materials like travertine soften cool white finishes, while cool options like marble pop against warm cabinets.
Countertops
Quartz and marble offer upscale appeal that allows white cabinetry to take center stage. But concrete, butcher block and other materials supply texture and visual balance.
Flooring
Hardwood's warmth grounds a white kitchen beautifully. But options like tile, vinyl plank and polished concrete suit certain design aesthetics. Combining flooring types adds eclectic flair.
Lighting and Decor
Pendant lights introduce eye-catching style over islands and eating areas. Under cabinet lighting creates ideal task illumination. Then punctuate the space with metal accents, ceramic pieces, live plants and other accessories that match the wall color.
White kitchen cabinets offer a gorgeous, light-filled backdrop amenable to all types of paint colors and materials. However, cohesion stems from carefully balancing undertones and finishes.
Choosing wall hues in the same tonal family prevents discord between cool whites and warm paint colors. And unifying cabinetry with complementary surfaces and decor prevents the space from feeling disjointed.
White kitchen images are stunning. Then test colors, textures and accessories until landing on your perfect combination.