If your kitchen's looking a bit dated lately and you're searching for an impactful (and ideally, straightforward) upgrade, take a second look at the cabinets. A significant part of any kitchen design scheme, the cabinets can make or break the entire room's style in an instant. And while completely redoing the cabinetry can make quite a dent in your design budget, giving your cabinets a fresh coat of paint is an affordable fast track to a stylish scheme.
Choosing the right shade for your kitchen can prove challenging, though. Finding a hue that complements the rest of the room while still making a stylish statement takes some serious thought.
If you find yourself facing decision paralysis, you're in luck – celebrated interior designer Shea McGee just shared her favorite kitchen cabinet colors, with images of the shades in action. And with picks from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and beyond, there's truly something for every kitchen. These are Shea's tried-and-true selections.
Shea McGee's favorite kitchen cabinet colors
Shea's designed quite a few stunning kitchens in her day, so it's safe to say she's gathered a trustworthy list of standout paint shades fit to bring cabinetry back to life. There are 13 of her tried-and-true hues.
1. Baby Fawn by Benjamin Moore
Shea's first selection is Baby Fawn, a soothing warm neutral shade from Benjamin Moore. Used in the designer's Hilltop Estate project, the inviting hue complements an organic modern kitchen that screams Shea's signature style.
Paired with house plants, wicker-detailed barstools and plenty of natural light, Baby Fawn is a perfect (and timeless) choice for the kitchen cabinets.
2. Midnight Oil by Benjamin Moore
The second selection is quite a bit moodier: Midnight Oil by Benjamin Moore. This shade can be found in the butler's pantry of one of Shea's newest projects, The Houston Estate.
A mix of dark gray, dark blue and black, midnight oil isn't as stark as a dark matte black, but still brings a healthy dose of decorating with a moody color palette. In this pantry, the cabinets are balanced with bright, white walls, a light-colored vintage rug and shiny brass accessories.
3. Fawn Brindle by Sherwin-Williams
According to Sherwin-Williams, Fawn Brindle is a 'velvety hue' with 'green-gray undertones' that 'give it a cool, natural feeling.' And in this kitchen, designed by Shea as part of Studio McGee's Water's Edge project, it brings a warm, organic look to an earthy and eclectic kitchen design.
A statement range hood complete with a rustic take on pan storage steals the show in this room, but the soft, welcoming hue of the cabinetry grounds the entire design scheme.
4. Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams
Beige doesn't have to be boring, and this kitchen design proves the point. In Shea's Spec Home, the cabinetry is decked out with Sherwin-Williams' Accessible Beige. With gray undertones and inviting charm, this shade brings a sun-washed and welcoming look to a neutral, pared-back design scheme.
Shea paired this shade with dark countertops on one side of the kitchen and a bright kitchen island on the other, proving this shade's versatility and timeless appeal. Fresh flowers and an all-natural backsplash bring the look one step further still.
5. Creamy White by Benjamin Moore
White kitchens are classic, so it's no surprise that Benjamin Moore's Creamy White made it onto Shea's longlist – and into the designer's own kitchen. Used to paint her very own kitchen cabinets, this creamy white shade breathes life and energy into the clean, minimalist space that still packs a design punch.
The shade pairs well with Swiss Coffee, another well-loved Benjamin Moore shade that makes up the majority of Shea's home. With a dark kitchen island, natural wooden door to the pantry and plenty of metallic accents, the finished look is a perfect example of Shea's modern charm style.
6. Natural Cream by Benjamin Moore
In Shea's Mountainside Retreat project, she chose Benjamin Moore's Natural Cream, a 'light greige' the brand says is fit for both light and dim lighting schemes. The shade defines the sleek, stunning, minimalistic design scheme that's awash in natural light. It displays the power a simple, clean hue can bring in a cream kitchen design.
7. Natural Tan by Sherwin-Williams
In Shea's Cottonwood Kitchen Remodel, the upper cabinets are painted with Sherwin-Williams' Natural Tan, a warm neutral with green-gray undertones. Paired with lower cabinets in a dark blue-gray hue, the shade makes for a perfect mix of fresh and cozy. Also used on the outdoor shutters on Shea's forever home, it's clear why this is a designer-favored shade.
8. Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee, one of designers' favorite warm white paints, favorite beige paints, and favorite Benjamin Moore shades – as well as one of the brand's best-selling colors – has also made its way onto Shea's list.
It's used to decorate the designer's Cove Remodel project, complemented by natural wood tones and bright metallic accents. A marble backsplash and a rattan rug complete the look.
9. Off Black by Farrow & Ball
It's not very often that Shea strays into dark cabinet colors, but her Crestview Home project is a standout exception. With the cabinetry painted in Farrow & Ball's Off Black, one of the best dark paints loved by interior designers, this kitchen is the perfect mix of breezy and moody. The soft, blue-gray black works best with light accents and natural wood tones.
10. White Dove by Benjamin Moore
One of the best white paints according to interior designers, Benjamin Moore's White Dove decorates the cabinetry in Shea's Home on the Bay project. This sun-filled, fresh kitchen benefits from the clean white shade paired with earthy wood details. Decorating with White Dove has never looked so good.
11. On Point by Clare
On Point by Clare was used in Shea's Coastal California Kitchen to master the breezy, cool look of California modern charm. With Shea's signature style and an extra touch of rustic allure, this design scheme proves that On Point is the perfect choice for a neutral space.
12. Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams is one of the brand's best-selling paints and one of designers' favorites, and now it's made it into Shea's selections, too. A warm neutral with beige undertones, Agreeable Gray brings quite a bit of warmth into this modern organic kitchen.
13. Grays Harbor by Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams' Grays Harbor, a 'cool, slate blue,' is a calming, soothing hue that designers love. In this kitchen, part of Shea's Ranch Home project, Grays Harbor brings a homey, welcoming look to the kitchen island and cabinetry. Perfect for those looking for a slightly rustic yet deep and moody look, Grays Harbor is a stunning choice that goes beyond the neutrals.
With a vast range of neutral shades, from light and airy to dark and moody, you'll be set for success next time your kitchen cabinets need a refresh. Take inspiration from Shea's extensive kitchen archive and give your cabinets the facelift they need for a timeless design scheme.
