19 Kitchen Color Combinations to Inspire Your Next Renovation or Refresh

Mint Green and Wood

A subtle mint green is reminiscent of a cool ice cream cone, and when combined with rich wood cabinetry and slate floors, the result is the perfect play on crisp and natural. "I lean heavily on natural materials in my kitchen designs," says Calle Cone, founder of Niche Home Studio. "I balance them with pops of color on cabinets or in accessories, which keeps the space feeling fresh and bespoke."

Sage and Beige

"In this beach community home, we combined earthy organic tones in Sherwin-Williams Sage Green Light with neutral perfection in Sherwin-Williams Wool Skein," says Meredith Huck, owner and principal designer at House of Huck. Paired with light wood floors and beams on the ceiling, the result is a kitchen that feels warm and cozy but still light.

Blue and Maroon

Unexpected and dramatic, a blue and maroon color palette bridges old and new. "We wanted to achieve a new-old house, alongside a patina to make it feel as if the home had been here for many years," says Benjamin Johnston, partner and creative director of Benjamin Johnston Design, who used details like unlacquered brass, a Lacanche range, and a gorgeous marble countertop and backsplash. By three-toning the cabinets in maroon, dark blue, and light blue, the result is a kitchen that feels like it can’t be pinpointed to any one era.

Teal and Gold

"Bright teal millwork makes a statement anywhere but becomes a more neutral backdrop for in this kitchen!" says Courtnay Tartt Elias, principal and creative director of Creative Tonic Design. Paired with gold accents and grounded with a crisp white, the color palette reads bright and cheerful, but it also has a sleek, modern edge that isn’t overwhelming.

Spearmint and Black

Refreshing spearmint cabinets could read very Florida or incredibly playful, but not when they’re tempered with black to ground them. "Lacquered black barstools and matte black cabinet pulls juxtapose bright, playful spearmint cabinets to keep the vibrant space feeling whimsical rather than too youthful," says Tartt Elias.

Yellow and Light Blue

"Lemon yellow and light blue bring sunshine and cheer to a kitchen—even when doing the dishes,” says Tartt Elias. By using these two whimsical colors together and pairing them with sophisticated upholstery, lighting, and wallpaper, the result is a bright and happy room that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Lavender and Black

Lavender might not be the first color that comes to mind when you think of moody rooms, but when paired with black, the result is mysterious and sultry. "Lavender accents and upholstery contrast beautifully with rich, black cabinetry keeping the overall feel of the kitchen light, open, but also moody," says Tartt Elias. Light wood and gold accents help add to the not-too-dark feeling throughout the space.

White Oak and Black

If a classic white kitchen is still calling your name, you can make it feel more modern and welcoming by adding two simple neutrals to the palette. "White oak cabinetry adds warmth to the classic black and white combination," says Charlotte Staton of Charlotte Staton Design. The result is a kitchen that feels inviting and warm, while still maintaining its light look.

Navy Blue and White

"Navy blue kitchens are both fun and neutral, in my opinion," says Monica Breese, founder of The Designed Domicilio. When a rich navy is paired with exposed brick and a Carrara marble counter and backsplash, it serves as a dark backdrop that’s warmer and more approachable than black or dark gray.

Orange and White

If you’re not afraid to go bold, then energetic orange and white make for an exciting kitchen color palette—the Sherwin-Williams color of this kitchen is even called Energetic Orange. 

Matthew Boland of MMB Studio designed the entire project around the Raynaud vase sitting on the countertop. "I love that although the red-orange of the vase is strong, with the white ground, it feels grounded and almost neutral, so I decided that we should paint the whole kitchen a version of that and do the countertops in stark white," says Boland. Plus, this shows you can make an impact, no matter the size or layout of your kitchen.

Bordeaux and Gold

For this unusual kitchen color idea, Lauren Robbins, owner and lead designer at Lauren Robbins Interiors, was inspired by a collector and a world traveler client who had pieces from all over the world, each with their own story. "As we were going through her collections, we recognized this rich Bordeaux color was in almost every piece of art she owned. We went out on a limb and suggested that we pull in that same Bordeaux color for her cabinetry and she jumped at the idea," says Robbins. The kitchen itself was a small space, and Robbins explains that the rich color made a stunning and dramatic impact, especially when coupled with gold hardware.

White and Sky Blue

This timeless white and sky blue kitchen was designed to flow with the decor throughout the rest of the house. "We loved the subtle pattern and movement of the Schumacher fabric in the kitchen windows and used the colors within that fabric as our inspiration for the blue kitchen island and the blue diamond flooring," says Robbins. The blue was used as a common thread, reappearing in every room.

Red and Pink

"We knew we wanted red cabinets in this kitchen, which is in a pink Queen Anne Victorian home from the 1910s," says Sarah Stacey, lead interior designer of Sarah Stacey Interior Design, who didn’t shy away from color in this old home. When using bold color on cabinets, she suggests going darker than you imagined. "For cabinets, we suggest going darker than you might initially think. Deep reds read classy and warm up a space," she says.

Gray and White

Warm gray and white neutrals give this kitchen both a classic and modern feel. Lisa Schwert of Innate Studio was inspired by the existing terracotta floor tile and used that warmth to inspire the neutrals within the space. "We selected Imperial Danby marble for the countertops, backsplash, and hood, which had subtle copper and brown veining throughout a creamy white and taupe background. The warm-toned, light gray color of the shaker-style cabinets complemented the tones in the stone and served as a classically neutral counterpoint to the warm terracotta floors," says Schwert.

Taupe, Green, and Brown

"For this kitchen, I had a vision of doing a brown-toned kitchen cabinet with beautiful white marble on the island. The end result created something that felt warm, timeless, different and inviting," says Brittany Hakimfar, lead designer at Far Studio. The cabinets are Farrow and Ball Broccoli Brown, and Hakimfar explains that light elements, including the white marble counter and the white ceiling and window trim, are critical to keep the space from feeling too moody and dark. "I also think that mixing in the brass metal in the faucet, hardware and barstools added a special pop that gave it a bit of glam and funky feel," says Hakimfar.

Black and White

"A black and white palette can work within a range of design styles—contemporary or traditional—to create a timeless look," says Alexis Pew, partner and interior designer at Kaminski + Pew. For this kitchen, her clients wanted something crisp, bright, and sophisticated. And, despite the look, she actually went a touch lighter than black, choosing a charcoal gray that appears black, but with a bit more dimension. 

"Black paints can have a variety of undertones that change the look and feel of a space. For example, rather than a true black, a black paint with a touch of green, navy, or brown in it can have a bit more softness and feel less severe," says Pew.

Dark Green and White

"We love incorporating a rich green color in areas that experience high traffic and are frequented by people. This choice adds character and makes a statement in any space,” says Daniella Villamil, principal designer at Daniella Villamil Interiors, who chose Benjamin Moore Forest Green for these cabinets. She added a lighter quartzite with subtle hints of green and blue in its veining to lighten the space, while echoing the cabinet color. Villamil says she encourages embracing color fearlessly, even in the kitchen. "Don't shy away from bold and vibrant color choices. Opting for a palette full of character and personality can have a big impact," she says.

Minimalist Neutrals

“As a design firm we love working with clean and cool color tones with shades of white and grays when mixing in natural woods. Natural marble countertops were selected with subtle hints of gray and more linear veining to keep things crisp and streamlined,” says  Jodi Berger, President of JLA Designs. The look is neutral, classic, and minimalist with a palette that feels clean and Scandinavian-inspired.

Light Green and Black and White

Breese created the ultimate sophisticated city kitchen with this crisp light green kitchen that’s grounded by an always timeless black and white checkerboard floor. “A green kitchen coupled with a classic black and white floor tile is absolutely enchanting,” says Breese. Brass accents and an ivory range add neutral details so the color and pattern don’t become overwhelming.