New This Week: 6 Blue Paints for Stylish Kitchen Cabinets
See how undertones in blue cabinets create diverse styles and moods, from playful and fun to daring and dramatic
Blue is a reliable choice for kitchen cabinets. It’s a color that significantly departs from the typical white, gray or wood cabinet choices and yet is still versatile enough to work with the tones found in many common materials and finishes.
Blue is a complementary color to orange, which encompasses the warm orangey tones found in many metal finishes and wood tones. That means if you choose blue cabinets, you can be confident that things like brass and bronze plumbing and lighting accents, as well as wood floors, countertops and accents, will assimilate beautifully. Plus, depending on its undertones, blue can be serene and tranquil, fun and lively, or serious and dramatic. Here, six blue paint colors show a range of possibilities for kitchen cabinets.
Blue is a complementary color to orange, which encompasses the warm orangey tones found in many metal finishes and wood tones. That means if you choose blue cabinets, you can be confident that things like brass and bronze plumbing and lighting accents, as well as wood floors, countertops and accents, will assimilate beautifully. Plus, depending on its undertones, blue can be serene and tranquil, fun and lively, or serious and dramatic. Here, six blue paint colors show a range of possibilities for kitchen cabinets.
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Other special features. Unlacquered brass cabinet hardware, plumbing fixtures and hood detail. Sliding steel window. Calacatta Manhattan countertops and backsplash. “The marble has some golds and blues in it,” Holz says. “The Ocean Floor paint really made this stone material pop, and the brass accents drove it home.”
Designer tip. “The owner was a little scared of the dark color at first, but we knew it was the winner,” Holz says. “When we showed her the cabinet paint sample along with all of the materials selected for her kitchen, she saw it come to life and became as excited as we were. It’s really important to have all your materials selected and to get samples together before finalizing the paint. It’s the only way to make sure that everything connects and tells the same story.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When the kitchen cabinets were first designed, there were actually more upper cabinet doors than there are now,” Holz says. “It’s a large kitchen with an enormous amount of storage. When I saw how many doors were on the upper cabinet area, I felt dizzy.
“There were too many of them, and they were on the small side. I found it to be visually overwhelming. I also knew that the more cabinet doors we had, the more cabinet pulls we would need to buy. My biggest concern was really the size of the doors. You would have to open two small doors to get out one plate. Nothing about it felt good to me.
“We made a last-minute design change to all of the upper door cabinets in the kitchen. We cut the amount of doors in half and made them wider. This was a massive improvement both to the form and function of the space.”
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Designer tip. “The owner was a little scared of the dark color at first, but we knew it was the winner,” Holz says. “When we showed her the cabinet paint sample along with all of the materials selected for her kitchen, she saw it come to life and became as excited as we were. It’s really important to have all your materials selected and to get samples together before finalizing the paint. It’s the only way to make sure that everything connects and tells the same story.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When the kitchen cabinets were first designed, there were actually more upper cabinet doors than there are now,” Holz says. “It’s a large kitchen with an enormous amount of storage. When I saw how many doors were on the upper cabinet area, I felt dizzy.
“There were too many of them, and they were on the small side. I found it to be visually overwhelming. I also knew that the more cabinet doors we had, the more cabinet pulls we would need to buy. My biggest concern was really the size of the doors. You would have to open two small doors to get out one plate. Nothing about it felt good to me.
“We made a last-minute design change to all of the upper door cabinets in the kitchen. We cut the amount of doors in half and made them wider. This was a massive improvement both to the form and function of the space.”
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2. Dark Blue With Aqua-Green Undertone
Designers: Jordan and Annie Obermann of Forge + Bow
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Homeowners’ request. “The original architecture reminded us of classic Colonial farmhouses,” says designer Jordan Obermann, who used Houzz photos to share ideas with the homeowners. “So to honor that, we knew we needed to stay in that lane. But we wanted to take a different spin on today’s popular modern farmhouses. We landed on a luxe farmhouse — simple and basic to its core, but layered with classic details that both honored the age of the home and gave it a luxurious feel.”
Cabinet paint. Dark blue with an aqua-green undertone (Gale Force by Sherwin-Williams). “Though we have done a lot of monochrome painting before, we hadn’t attempted such a dark, moody kitchen and wall color, especially without direct natural light,” Obermann says. “After installing the cabinets and completing our final paint walk, we definitely had a gut check to see if we’d continue with the dark blue paint on all the walls and trim. We had the painters literally paint wall by wall. It pushed us, but great design stretches you. The outcome was dramatically beautiful. The light passed through the space exactly as we hoped, and it gave the kitchen a perfect blend of moody elegance.”
Designers: Jordan and Annie Obermann of Forge + Bow
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Homeowners’ request. “The original architecture reminded us of classic Colonial farmhouses,” says designer Jordan Obermann, who used Houzz photos to share ideas with the homeowners. “So to honor that, we knew we needed to stay in that lane. But we wanted to take a different spin on today’s popular modern farmhouses. We landed on a luxe farmhouse — simple and basic to its core, but layered with classic details that both honored the age of the home and gave it a luxurious feel.”
Cabinet paint. Dark blue with an aqua-green undertone (Gale Force by Sherwin-Williams). “Though we have done a lot of monochrome painting before, we hadn’t attempted such a dark, moody kitchen and wall color, especially without direct natural light,” Obermann says. “After installing the cabinets and completing our final paint walk, we definitely had a gut check to see if we’d continue with the dark blue paint on all the walls and trim. We had the painters literally paint wall by wall. It pushed us, but great design stretches you. The outcome was dramatically beautiful. The light passed through the space exactly as we hoped, and it gave the kitchen a perfect blend of moody elegance.”
Other special features. Bianco Carrara marble countertops. Oak flooring. Warm brass pendants (Alden by Savoy House). Antique brass cup pulls.
Designer tip. “Early on, we determined how the architectural style, farmhouse, and the interior design, luxe, would speak to each other,” Obermann says. “Once this personality was created, all design and construction decisions needed to honor these two elements. Essentially, we crafted a vision for the house, and every decision was run through the test of whether or not it enhanced that vision or distracted from it. There are so many options and awesome products out there that you can quickly get lost in trendy decision-making. So create a personality and make sure your decisions honor it.”
Designer tip. “Early on, we determined how the architectural style, farmhouse, and the interior design, luxe, would speak to each other,” Obermann says. “Once this personality was created, all design and construction decisions needed to honor these two elements. Essentially, we crafted a vision for the house, and every decision was run through the test of whether or not it enhanced that vision or distracted from it. There are so many options and awesome products out there that you can quickly get lost in trendy decision-making. So create a personality and make sure your decisions honor it.”
3. Dark Blue-Green
Designers: Jessica Milburn and Robin Flaherty of North & Madison
Location: Oak Park, Illinois
Homeowners’ request. A bonus space above the garage to serve as a fun family hangout.
Cabinet paint. Dark blue-green (Dark Teal by Benjamin Moore). “We contrasted the beautiful moody teal with black beams and yellow sconces,” designer Jessica Milburn says.
Designers: Jessica Milburn and Robin Flaherty of North & Madison
Location: Oak Park, Illinois
Homeowners’ request. A bonus space above the garage to serve as a fun family hangout.
Cabinet paint. Dark blue-green (Dark Teal by Benjamin Moore). “We contrasted the beautiful moody teal with black beams and yellow sconces,” designer Jessica Milburn says.
Other special features. White painted shiplap ceiling. White quartz countertops. The backsplash is composed of white tiles in different sizes.
Designer tip. “We learned to have fun and that it’s fun to go a little ‘out there’ and unexpected with the design, as long as it all feels balanced and inviting,” Milburn says.
Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore
Designer tip. “We learned to have fun and that it’s fun to go a little ‘out there’ and unexpected with the design, as long as it all feels balanced and inviting,” Milburn says.
Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore
4. Aged Blue-Gray
Designer: Kelsey Haywood of haywoodmade interiors
Location: Chicago
Size: 151 square feet (14 square meters); 10 feet, 4 inches by 14 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The kitchen was original to the home, which was built in the early 2000s, and the clients wanted a big change but one that didn’t take their entire budget,” designer Kelsey Haywood says. “The solution for that was, since the footprint was perfect, to replace the cabinet fronts with a simple Shaker panel, paint the existing cabinet bases and add a quartz countertop that continues as the backsplash to draw your eye up. The result was spending a fraction of what gutting the kitchen would have entailed.”
Cabinet paint. Aged blue-gray (Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball). “My clients wanted to use a bold color on the cabinetry,” Haywood says. “We went back and forth on whether to do it with a combination of white upper cabinetry or take it to the next level on both uppers and lowers. I was all for going bold, but the clients needed a bit more time to digest that. When we landed on Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue, they loved it so much, they wanted it on all of the kitchen cabinetry, including the butler’s pantry around the corner.
“Inchyra Blue is incredibly unique and has the ability to transform in different types of light. At night the deepness of the hue is almost unrecognizable from the brightness it has in the daytime. It was the perfect choice.”
Designer: Kelsey Haywood of haywoodmade interiors
Location: Chicago
Size: 151 square feet (14 square meters); 10 feet, 4 inches by 14 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The kitchen was original to the home, which was built in the early 2000s, and the clients wanted a big change but one that didn’t take their entire budget,” designer Kelsey Haywood says. “The solution for that was, since the footprint was perfect, to replace the cabinet fronts with a simple Shaker panel, paint the existing cabinet bases and add a quartz countertop that continues as the backsplash to draw your eye up. The result was spending a fraction of what gutting the kitchen would have entailed.”
Cabinet paint. Aged blue-gray (Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball). “My clients wanted to use a bold color on the cabinetry,” Haywood says. “We went back and forth on whether to do it with a combination of white upper cabinetry or take it to the next level on both uppers and lowers. I was all for going bold, but the clients needed a bit more time to digest that. When we landed on Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue, they loved it so much, they wanted it on all of the kitchen cabinetry, including the butler’s pantry around the corner.
“Inchyra Blue is incredibly unique and has the ability to transform in different types of light. At night the deepness of the hue is almost unrecognizable from the brightness it has in the daytime. It was the perfect choice.”
Designer tip. “As in a lot of projects, lighting brought this kitchen home,” Haywood says. “The simple globe pendants above the island were exactly what the space needed to create a soft glow.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This kitchen was renovated in the heat of a Chicago summer,” Haywood says. “We had a lot of rain and some really nasty storms that knocked out power to the carpenter’s shop where the painted panels were drying. The heat and humidity kept the paint from hardening and drying the way that it should have. What resulted was a delayed install, which had strategically been planned for when the clients were out of town and the need to replace panels due to chipping. The moral of the story is that you can plan for everything, but there will always be something unexpected.”
Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore
“Uh-oh” moment. “This kitchen was renovated in the heat of a Chicago summer,” Haywood says. “We had a lot of rain and some really nasty storms that knocked out power to the carpenter’s shop where the painted panels were drying. The heat and humidity kept the paint from hardening and drying the way that it should have. What resulted was a delayed install, which had strategically been planned for when the clients were out of town and the need to replace panels due to chipping. The moral of the story is that you can plan for everything, but there will always be something unexpected.”
Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore
5. Subtle Navy With Green Undertone
Designer: Yancy Dearinger Bonner of Yancy Interiors + Home
Location: Cody, Wyoming
Size: 196 square feet (18 square meters); 14 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The young homeowners wanted a kitchen that was light and airy, and that took advantage of the views of the surrounding landscape,” designer Yancy Dearinger Bonner says. “New windows show off the amazing mountain vistas, and the complete kitchen remodel features stylish cabinetry and countertops, new flooring and light fixtures.”
Cabinet paint. Subtle navy blue with hints of green (Mount Etna by Sherwin-Williams). “We chose a Sherwin-Williams paint for the cabinetry because they are able to mix any of their colors in an emulsion lacquer finish that looks great and provides much more durability than other paints,” Bonner says. “Mount Etna is a subtle blue that adds color but doesn’t overpower the space.”
Designer: Yancy Dearinger Bonner of Yancy Interiors + Home
Location: Cody, Wyoming
Size: 196 square feet (18 square meters); 14 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The young homeowners wanted a kitchen that was light and airy, and that took advantage of the views of the surrounding landscape,” designer Yancy Dearinger Bonner says. “New windows show off the amazing mountain vistas, and the complete kitchen remodel features stylish cabinetry and countertops, new flooring and light fixtures.”
Cabinet paint. Subtle navy blue with hints of green (Mount Etna by Sherwin-Williams). “We chose a Sherwin-Williams paint for the cabinetry because they are able to mix any of their colors in an emulsion lacquer finish that looks great and provides much more durability than other paints,” Bonner says. “Mount Etna is a subtle blue that adds color but doesn’t overpower the space.”
Other special features. Marble-look quartz countertops. Walnut open shelves and accents, including on the face of the island. White appliances with brushed brass handles (GE Cafe series in white). Brass hardware and lighting.
Designer tips. “Blue and white is a classic combination that stands the test of time,” Bonner says. “Tweaking the shade of blue so that it’s somewhat unexpected really makes the space personal to these clients. The addition of new solid wood flooring and walnut accents helps make the space warm and inviting.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When the solid wood flooring arrived, it was much more yellow than the samples we had looked at,” Bonner says. “We decided to sort out the ones that had the most yellow and lay the floor without using them. The end product, while definitely less gray-toned than expected, has mellowed in the few months it’s been in and is the perfect complement to other elements in the space.”
Cabinets: custom, Trent Blanksma of Pinnacle Custom Interiors; wall paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams; project photography: Megan Jolley
Designer tips. “Blue and white is a classic combination that stands the test of time,” Bonner says. “Tweaking the shade of blue so that it’s somewhat unexpected really makes the space personal to these clients. The addition of new solid wood flooring and walnut accents helps make the space warm and inviting.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “When the solid wood flooring arrived, it was much more yellow than the samples we had looked at,” Bonner says. “We decided to sort out the ones that had the most yellow and lay the floor without using them. The end product, while definitely less gray-toned than expected, has mellowed in the few months it’s been in and is the perfect complement to other elements in the space.”
Cabinets: custom, Trent Blanksma of Pinnacle Custom Interiors; wall paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams; project photography: Megan Jolley
6. Deep Royal
Designer: Rhona Griffin-McShane of Milieu Interior Design
General contractor: Amber-Tru Construction
Location: San Francisco
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “We wanted to create an elegant traditional kitchen while also making a statement with colors and materials,” designer Rhona Griffin-McShane says.
Cabinet paint. Deep Royal by Benjamin Moore.
Designer: Rhona Griffin-McShane of Milieu Interior Design
General contractor: Amber-Tru Construction
Location: San Francisco
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “We wanted to create an elegant traditional kitchen while also making a statement with colors and materials,” designer Rhona Griffin-McShane says.
Cabinet paint. Deep Royal by Benjamin Moore.
Other special features. Calacatta Oro marble countertops and tile backsplash in a honed finish. Custom metal range hood with brass detailing. Brass light fixtures and counter stools. Black cabinet pulls.
More on Houzz
Pros and Cons: Painted vs. Stained Kitchen Cabinets
Designer Picks: 9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen products
More on Houzz
Pros and Cons: Painted vs. Stained Kitchen Cabinets
Designer Picks: 9 Beautiful Saturated Blue Paints
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen products
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Designer: Gina Holz Designs
General contractor: Shain Development
Location: Los Angeles
Homeowners’ request. This kitchen is part of a custom home for a couple with three young children. The wife, who’s the main cook in the household, wanted the room to be functional and practical but also a place in which she’d enjoy spending time.
Cabinet paint. Deep blue-gray (Ocean Floor by Benjamin Moore). “Paint is one of the last things I pick out when designing a space,” designer Gina Holz says. “It’s the final component that brings everything together. When choosing paint for kitchen cabinets, you have to consider the floors, tile and stone materials, plumbing fixtures finishes, the color of the appliances and the amount of natural light in the space. Since the wood floors were a light golden white oak color, we really wanted to have a punch with the cabinet color. We also have 10-foot ceilings and knew the room could handle a dark color.”