What is the Best Cream Color for Kitchen Cabinets?

Choosing the perfect cream color for your kitchen cabinets can transform the entire look and feel of your kitchen. But with so many cream paint colors to pick from, how do you decide on the right shade? The key is finding a cream tone that balances warmth and versatility, suits your lighting, and complements the other finishes in your kitchen - like countertops, backsplash, and flooring.

With the right information, you can confidently select a creamy white paint color for your kitchen cabinets.

Popular Cream Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

When searching for the ideal cream color, it helps to understand the spectrum of creamy whites. Here are some of today's most popular options:

Crisp Off-Whites

On the lighter end, crisp off-whites like Benjamin Moore Cloud White (LRV 86) or Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa (LRV 83) offer a clean, bright cream shade. These colors have only the subtlest warm undertones. Off-whites like these prevent cabinets from feeling too grimy or dingy, especially in low natural light. But some find them slightly clinical. Warmer creams often feel more inviting.

Soft Whites

Slightly richer than true off-whites, soft whites like Benjamin Moore White Dove offer a hint of warmth. At an LRV of 80, White Dove is crisp enough for plenty of brightness yet carrying a subtle creamy undertone. For those seeking an uncomplicated, flexible soft white, it's hard to go wrong.

Warm Ivories

Venturing into tones with more complexity, ivory hues like Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige (LRV 57) possess notable yellow undertones while avoiding feeling too buttery. The richness of ivory whites balances well against cool counter materials like marble or quartz. Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (LRV 69) offers similar warm ivory tones too.

Peachy Creams

Amping up the peach just a bit more than ivories, cream colors with a hint of orange like Behr Cappuccino Cream (LRV 69) bring additional warmth. The subtle peach in these hues adds a welcoming glow. But tread lightly with peach undertones, as too much orange can feel dated.

Earthy Beiges

Venturing further into beige territory, options like Behr Blanched Almond (LRV 67) offer a soothing, grounded cream palette. These colors verge away from bright white without becoming too saturated. Pair creamy beiges with warm wood accents.

Calming Taupes

With noticeable gray undertones, taupes like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (LRV 49) provide a more relaxed, casual cream option. These colors beautifully complement stained wood cabinetry. But some find taupes too muddy for an airy kitchen.

Sunny Pale Yellows

For a cheery, optimistic ambiance, pale yellows like Behr Creamy (LRV 79) or Sherwin-Williams Shoji White (LRV 76) can brighten up any kitchen. Though trending, pale yellows risk appearing dated if taken too neon or buttery. Restraint is key.

Contemporary Greiges

On the coolest end of the cream spectrum, greige colors like Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (LRV 70) offer a contemporary, stylish blend of gray and cream. Benjamin Moore White Opulence (LRV 72) provides similar vibe. Just beware greiges feeling too stark and cold.

How Lighting Affects Cream Cabinet Colors

With the wide range of cream tones available, it's essential to consider how your kitchen's lighting impacts the cabinet color. Light interacts differently with creamy paint colors depending on the finish's depth and undertones.

North Facing Rooms

North-facing rooms receive very little direct sunlight, creating darker, cooler conditions. In these spaces, lighter cream colors help brighten up cabinets and prevent a dingy or gloomy feel. Crisp whites and off-whites work especially well. Deeper, more saturated creams can appear dirty and muddy.

South Facing Rooms

In south-facing rooms, cabinets sit awash in warm sunlight much of the day. Here, deeper cream tones hold up better, avoiding a washed out look. Warmer ivories and beiges complement all the natural light without appearing glaring or blinding.

Artificial Overhead Lighting

The temperature of bulbs above kitchen cabinets also impacts cream tones. Warm incandescent and halogen lights bring out peachy undertones in creams. Cool fluorescent or LED lights emphasize any subtle blues or grays. Mixing bulb color temperatures helps balance out lighting color distortions.

Window Treatments

Kitchen window treatments also modify the sunlight touching cabinets. Sheer curtains diffuse direct light nicely without sacrificing brightness. Bamboo shades also filter sunlight well. Consider darker curtains or tinted window film if cabinets endure excessive sunlight and heat.

Choosing Undertones for Cream Kitchen Cabinets

A cream color's undertones blend with other kitchen materials to create a unified, organic look. Choosing undertones that complement surrounding finishes avoids a disjointed, mismatching aesthetic.

Warm Undertones

Creams with warm yellow, peach, orange, or red undertones have an inviting, cozy feel. They pair beautifully with wood cabinetry, beige and brown countertops, terra cotta backsplash tile, and wood flooring. Warm cream cabinets also suit vintage, farmhouse, or traditional kitchen aesthetics nicely.

Cool Undertones

Creams with subtle hints of blue, green, or gray take on a more sleek, contemporary personality. They elegantly complement surfaces like marble, quartz, and stainless steel. Cool cream cabinets suit modern and transitional kitchen styles.

Neutral Undertones

Some creamy whites have barely any undertones, like Benjamin Moore Linen White (LRV 79) or Sherwin-Williams Pure White (LRV 86). Their neutrality enhances surrounding materials without skewing warm or cool. They especially allow white countertops like Carrara marble or white quartz to take center stage.

Complementing Undertones

Choosing a cream paint color with similar undertones to key kitchen elements creates a smoothly unified color flow. For example, creams with peach suit terra cotta backsplashes. Creams with gray undertones complement soapstone counters nicely. For another unifying approach, add cabinet glazing in the dominant undertone of nearby materials.

Cream Color Combinations for Kitchens

Beyond cabinets, several other key kitchen elements impact how your selected cream color looks and feels.

Pairing Creams with Crisp White

The quintessential combo, creamy white cabinets with bright white kitchen elements creates a fresh, light ambiance. White marble, quartz or granite counters, high-gloss subway backsplashes, shiplap accents, and coffered white ceilings play beautifully off creamy cabinets.

Combining with Gray

On-trend gray kitchen components bring out the subtle sophistication in cream cabinets. Gray marble or quartz counters, whether honed or high-gloss, add sleek contrast. Light wood floors and silvery grays blend seamlessly. Stainless appliances fit right in too.

Accenting with Blue

Vibrant navy or cobalt blue provides an energetic pop against subdued cream cabinets. Blue lower cabinetry, kitchen islands, furniture accents andbacksplashes make creams feel happily uplifted. But stick to accent doses to avoid overwhelming the space.