Want to make a beautiful and bold change to your kitchen? Blue kitchen cabinets may be exactly what you’re looking for! They are surprisingly chic while also remaining timeless (just think of your favorite pair of denim as an example!). Here are the BEST shades of blue to consider.
The kitchen is called the heart of the home—and for good reason. Sure, it’s the place where food is prepared, but it’s also where some of the best conversations take place, and the sweetest memories get made.
It’s safe to say that people tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. And because of that, it’s important to have a space that reflects your personality and sense of design!
Blue kitchen cabinets are trending, and many say it’s soon to be one of the top paint colors for cabinetry!
It makes sense why. Blue is both energizing and calming. It conveys a sense of peace and tranquility and is timeless, so it will never go out of style. And it’s different enough to stand out without feeling jarring or out of place.
In other words, it’s a great neutral shade that adds bold color without making the room feel too heavy or look too dark.
But what are the best shades for blue cabinets in kitchens? That’s where I come in. I have narrowed down the list of dozens of possibilities to 17 incredible options to help make your color selection process easier. Let’s dive in!
Tips for Blue Paint with Cabinets
If you’ve been pondering a kitchen with blue cabinets, I have some essential tips to help you get it right.
- Light colors make a tight space feel more spacious.
- Dark shades are ideal for larger kitchens.
- That being said, undertones are crucial. The last thing you want is a kitchen that looks like a baby boy’s nursery. Look for gray or green undertones for a more sophisticated look…and swatch before you commit!
- Nothing says you need to paint all of your cabinets blue! Consider painting on your island or bottom row of cabinets blue to add a stunning pop of color.
- Blue cabinets can anchor the room, especially in a large kitchen or one with lots of natural light.
- Wood elements (ex: counter, wood ceiling beams, or shelves) can balance out the bold color and lends a cozy, rustic element.
- Subtle blue patterns in the backsplash or flooring can help tie the entire kitchen design together and add a fun visual element. Marble, for example, often has blue veining which can make your cabinets pop.
And to move you quickly from paint zero to hero, I have a great, free resource for you. Grab a copy of 5 Massive Paint Mistakes to Avoid…because when all else fails, as long as you stay away from these 5 cardinal painting sins, you’re probably doing A-OK!
FAQs
Are blue kitchen cabinets in style in 2023?
Absolutely! It’s hard to flip through a design magazine and not see blue cabinetry. And the even better news is that despite the somewhat bold hue, these babies are timeless, so you don’t need to worry about changing your cabinet color in 5 years because the trend is shifting.
Are blue kitchen cabinets a good idea?
Definitely! Blue will effortlessly pair well with many colors. It may feel as though choosing blue paint colors for your kitchen cabinets is a daring or risky move, but once you see the examples I have for you down below, you’ll be ready to take the “plunge.” 😉
What color appliances go with blue kitchen cabinets?
Any color works with blue cabinetry. White appliances are classic and crisp against blue cabinets, while black appliances let the cabinets take center stage. Prefer sleek and modern? Go with stainless steel.
What color goes with blue kitchen cabinets?
Nearly any neutral (white, off-white, gray, beige, or greige) looks incredible with blue cabinets in the kitchen. A couple of my personal favorites include Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White and Sherwin Williams Greek Villa.
What kitchen styles work with dark cabinets?
You may be surprised to hear it, but almost any kitchen looks terrific with blue kitchen cabinets. A few top pics include mid-century modern, coastal, traditional, and even modern farmhouse style.
What finish is best for kitchen cabinets?
No matter what color you select for your kitchen cabinetry, the shade is only one half of the paint equation. You have to pick the proper finish, too.
We have a whole article about paint sheen, but in short, go with a higher sheen for cabinets as they tend to take a beating. Satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss will all extend the life of your color and cabinetry.
Do you want to be happy with your paint color picks, instead of living in a house of paint color regrets? Grab your free copy of “5 Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint Color” so you can avoid these all too common pitfalls! Click here , or on the picture below, and I’ll email your copy right now!
Wall Paint Color Options
Part of what makes blue cabinets look so good is what the background color behind them are. But the good news is that many neutral shades look incredible and contribute to a timeless look.
Choosing paint colors can be tough, and unfortunately, there’s much more to it than pointing to a computer screen and saying, “I want that one!” So, I have a series of paint posts that provide must-have information about individual colors to give you everything you need to make an informed decision.
Note: I provide links to several paint color suggestions in this post. Click through the link to learn more!
Let’s quickly cover a few great ideas that look terrific with blue cabinets.
White Walls
White walls help highlight blue cabinets in the kitchen and simultaneously keep small spaces feeling airy and larger than they actually are.
Consider these color options:
Neutral Walls
Gray is as versatile and timeless as white. Light shades of gray provide a little color while keeping the room feeling spacious and not detracting from the star of the show—blue cabinets.
Greige behaves in a similar way because the gray undertones keep it looking neutral and prevent it from looking too creamy.
If you want neutral-colored walls for your kitchen with blue cabinets, consider:
- Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
- Benjamin Moore Ballet White
- Sherwin Williams Eider White
- Benjamin Moore Light Pewter
- Benjamin Moore Sea Pearl
- Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (what I use in my own kitchen with blue cabinets)
Colors to Avoid with Blue Kitchen Cabinets
I recommend avoiding dark shades of paint on the walls because, more often than not, it will be too much and make the room too heavy or dark. With blue cabinets specifically, I recommend you avoid deep neutrals and blacks.
Despite blue being a neutral color, it still IS a color. To avoid a space feeling jarring, avoid other primary shades (yellow and red).
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
Best Hardware Colors for Blue Cabinetry
Hardware is often only considered as an afterthought rather than the cabinet jewelry it actually is. Match your hardware to the look you want to achieve.
Silver hardware is timeless and stands out against the blue of the cabinets, while black blends in more and avoids standing out. Gold and brass offer a contrasting pop of color as well as some warmth against the cool tones of blue.
If you want a modern farmhouse or traditional vibe in your kitchen, use pulls or knobs, while bars (especially long ones) offer sleek elegance.
The Best Colors for Blue Kitchen Cabinets
Okay, let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s my list of 17 must-have shades I recommend when people want blue kitchen cabinets.
Remember, these are just a starting point. Before you commit to painting your cabinets, pleeeeease make sure to swatch the shade and choose carefully!
As far as sampling goes, I highly recommend these mess-free, re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples ⤵
1. Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray (AKA BM Washington Blue)
Gentleman’s Gray and Washington Blue are both the same shade, marketed with two different names (sneaky, eh?). This dark blue shade is covered in our article about favorite blue-gray hues.
And it’s truly a personal favorite of mine. Above, I shared a couple of pictures of a space with a pinstriped navy blue kitchen island. That’s my very own dream kitchen, with Portrush Cambria qaurtz counters, faux wood beams, and Gentleman’s Gray (or Washington Blue) is the color of that island.
This dark hue couples in a great way with the brass fixtures and cabinet hardware we chose. But it also and works with stainless steel appliances as well for that mixed metal look. Blue cabinets can also work very well with a variety of wooden floors (ours are quite dark, as you can see).
2. Behr Durango Blue
With an LRV of 13, you would expect the cabinets in this kitchen from Houseful of Handmade to appear so much darker than they do in this photo.
That’s the power of light exposure, my friends! Behr Durango Blue (S510-6) has everything you love in a dark classic denim blue.
3. HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams Beachcomber
With an LRV of 55, HGTV’S SW Beachcomber (HGSW 2333) is a fun and playful aqua-blue and one of the brighter colors on this list.
The light wood counters bring to mind driftwood on the sand as the warm white backsplash and walls balance out the cool tones of the blue in this kitchen from The Color of Our Home.
4. Sherwin Williams Blustery Sky
Sherwin Williams Blustery Sky SW (9140) has strong gray and green undertones and appears as a muted, stormy blue.
With an LRV of 22, this deep teal is beautiful and looks incredible with brown tones and beige. It’s perfect for a pop of color, like in this kitchen from Duke Manor Farm.
5. Benjamin Moore Blue Ice
Benjamin Moore Blue Ice (821) is a charming, cheery, periwinkle blue with purple undertones.
It adds a playful vibe to this kitchen from At Home with Ashley while keeping the small area feeling spacious, thanks to its LRV of 58.96 making it one of the lighter shades we’ve seen so far.
6. Sherwin Wiliams Tradewind
This stormy shade has gray and slightly green undertones. With an LRV of 61, it’s a Goldilocks shade…not too light, not too dark – it has just the right amount of saturation. It’s a popular choice in kitchens and bathrooms for a spa-like feel.
This kitchen from Crown Point Cabinetry does a fabulous job of pairing the new (Tradewind-painted shaker cabinets and stainless steel fixtures) with rustic (the wooden island).
7. Benjamin Moore Province Blue
Lemon Thistle made a smart choice of adding blue kitchen cabinets to a room with a black-and-white color scheme.
With an LRV of 31.57, Benjamin Moore Province Blue (2135-40) is the perfect medium-tone, muted blue-green to add a pop of color without being too bright.
8. Sherwin Williams Cooled Blue
While not in bounds for everyone’s comfort zone, Sherwin Williams Cooled Blue (SW-6759) is an energizing medium teal (LRV of 41) that adds a playful touch of color.
Isn’t this kitchen from The Sweet Escape fun? I love the mix of white and black with wood tones and those brass pendant lights. The teal is an excellent choice that pulls it all together.
9. Sherwin Williams Indigo Batik
Sherwin Williams Indigo Batik (SW 7602) is a dark, saturated denim blue with an LRV of 8. It’s rich and gorgeous.
We’ve used SW Indigo Batik in several small kitchens…VERY small kitchens in campers, actually!
This blue color coupled with white cabinetry above (painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace) isn’t one of those RV cookie-cutter kitchens, that’s for sure!
We loved this color palette so much that we’ve used it in TWO rv kitchens! Here you can see the blue pairs wonderfully with the faux marble countertops and the white subway tile backsplash.
And the dark color on the lower cabinets allows fun design elements like our DIY nautical rope drawer pulls to really stand out.
10. Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue
Here’s an elegant kitchen from Half Classic Six. Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue (281) is an ink navy inspired by Norfolk beach.
This moody blue has an LRV of 10 and could be too dark in many kitchens, but the glass panels in some of the cabinets open up the space and make it feel elegant.
11. Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
Sherwin Williams Cyberspace (SW 7076) is a deep navy with an LRV of 6 that often appears as a soft charcoal black.
However, the light in this kitchen from Hey There Toots is just right to show off its gorgeous navy side!
12. Behr Shipwreck
Behr Shipwreck (S470-6) is a medium to dark shade of cyan with an LRV of 13.
Its strong green undertones pair well with the wood floors and counters to balance the cool tones in this kitchen from The Frugal Farm Girl.
2 Cabinet Girls went with Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (HC-154) in this kitchen. This true navy has blue undertones so that its classic navy qualities take center stage.
And with an LRV of 8.36, it’s dark. In fact, these navy blue kitchen cabinets almost look black with just a hint of blue.
14. Sherwin Williams Silver Lake
I love these farmhouse blue kitchen cabinets from Life Full and Frugal! Sherwin Williams Silver Lake (SW 9633) is a lighter version of slate blue similar to Sherwin Williams Krypton.
And with its LRV of 53, it creates a tranquil kitchen with a lovely, traditional style.
The Grit and Polish highlight one of my personal favorite shades of navy. Sherwin Williams Naval (SW 6244) is also a deep blue.
It has purple undertones that make it seem brighter than Hale Navy at times, even though it has a lower LRV (LRV of 4).
SW Naval certainly creates a stylish look as a focal point, contrasting beautifully with the upper white kitchen cabinets, and that clean, bright subway tile backsplash.
16. Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue
As part of the Benjamin Moore Historical Collection of paint colors, Palladian Blue has heavy green undertones and a very livable LRV of 61.17.
In this pretty kitchen, Palladian Blue is a star. The hue feels serene, yet fresh when paired with the stainless steel appliances.
17. Benjamin Moore Beach Glass
Similarly to Palladian Blue, Beach Glass leans heavy on green undertones, and has a touch more gray. This shade is a good bit darker, however, with an LRV of 50.3.
I love how this shade contrasts with gold accents, as this example from Lisette Voute Design shows. (Photo credit: @nicksmithphoto). The gold warms it up and really brings out the pretty blue-green hue.
I hope these gorgeous blue kitchen cabinet ideas inspires you to go bold! If a kitchen refresh is on your to-do list, consider painting your cabinets blue to add a fun but neutral pop of color.
The color blue works beautifully with a variety of accent colors, from very neutral and light to very saturated and bright colors as well.
And remember, if you’re considering any of these shades, it’s always better to SAMPLE than be sorry!! Grab some peel and stick samples so you know which colors will work best in your own home 👇
Pin these different shades of blue cabinet options for later, to help change up the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank! Use one of these shades? Leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide whether they’d like to try one, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! And before you’re on your way, make sure you grab your free copy of the 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint, so you can avoid the heartache (and hole in your wallet) when your paint choices don’t quite work out! Click here, and I’ll send your free copy right now!
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