The Best Paint Colors to Pair With Dark Kitchen Cabinets

If you have beautiful dark cabinetry in your kitchen, choosing the right paint colors to pair with it can really make the space sing. The rich, dramatic tones of espresso, black, charcoal and navy cabinets deserve colors that enhance their sophistication. Strategic use of color on the walls, backsplash, and counters can also prevent dark cabinetry from feeling too somber or closed-in.

The key is finding paint colors that inject brightness and contrast, without clashing with the dark woods and stains. Soft whites, warm neutrals, and even bold, lively hues can feel fresh next to deep cabinet colors. Use these expert tips to find your perfect paint pairings and create a kitchen that feels as good as it looks.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Paint Colors

Type of Dark Cabinets

The specific shade and tone of your kitchen's dark cabinets will impact the colors that compliment them best. For instance:

• Pure black cabinets tend to look sharpest with bright whites and bold pops of color.
• The warm, coffee-colored tones of dark brown cabinets pair well with creams, tans, and lighter wood tones.
• Deep navy blue cabinets create drama against lighter blues, grays, and eclectic accent colors.
• Charcoal gray cabinetry looks sleek with contrasting shades of blue, green, purple, and black.
• Rich green cabinets take on an organic vibe with sages, light greens, tans, and wood tones.

Desired Style and Mood

The colors you choose for your dark kitchen cabinets can convey very different styles and feelings. Consider if you want your palette to create a:

• Sleek, modern vibe with blacks, whites, and glossy accent colors.
• Warm, inviting farmhouse kitchen with antique whites, wood tones, and terra cottas.
• Bright, cheerful space with light grays, sky blues, and sunshine yellows.
• Sophisticated palette with charcoal cabinets, emerald walls, and brass accents.

Amount of Natural Light

The natural lighting in your kitchen should also guide your color selections. Darker cabinetry in a low-light space may require brighter paint colors to keep things feeling airy. Well-lit kitchens can handle deeper, dramatic colors without feeling too somber.

Best Paint Colors for Dark Kitchen Cabinets

Ready to find that perfect palette? Here are some of the best paint colors to pair with dark kitchen cabinets.

Bright White

Nothing contrasts more beautifully with dark cabinetry than clean, bright white paint. Crisp white helps reflect light around the kitchen, makes small spaces feel more expansive, and creates an irresistible combo with black cabinets.

Keep white kitchen islands, walls, backsplashes, and trim fresh and vivid by pairing them with dark wood or black stained cabinets and metallic hardware accents.

Soft Neutrals

For a warmer, more subtle look, soft beiges, taupes, and greys make excellent paint colors to lighten up dark cabinets. Try a creamy off-white backsplash against espresso cabinets or light tan walls with black cabinetry for a unified yet balanced effect.

Buttery yellows, warm grays, and vintage whites like linen and antique also look beautiful with dark brown and wood cabinets, lending an elegant farmhouse vibe.

Crisp Color Contrast

Contrasting colors that complement (rather than match) dark cabinet tones can add nice visual interest. Deep navy or inky black cabinets really pop when accented with lively shades of emerald, sapphire, and plum.

Charcoal gray cabinets make a sharp, modern statement against vibrant sky blue or pumpkin orange walls and backsplashes. Even pale sage can perk up black cabinetry nicely.

Soft Pastels

Soft, muted pastel hues like powder blue, lavender gray, and blush pink provide gentler contrast with dramatic dark cabinets. These airy tones keep the space looking light and bright.

Try pale blue-gray walls with navy cabinets, soft fern green with deep brown cabinetry, or dreamy violet backsplashes against black stained wood.

Maximizing the Use of Color

Painting more than just the walls is the key to making bold cabinet colors sing. Here’s how to incorporate color throughout the kitchen:

Cabinets and Walls

Don’t be afraid to mix and match cabinet and wall paint colors to create drama. Navy lower cabinets, bright white uppers, and pale blue-green walls make a gorgeous combo. Or go for black stained cabinets, charcoal walls, and glossy white islands.

Tone-on-tone looks are peaceful as well. Pair midnight blue cabinets with walls and backsplashes just a few shades lighter to cultivate an elegant, cohesive look.

Backsplashes

The backsplash presents a prime opportunity to inject light, brightness, and color next to dark cabinetry. White, off-white, light gray, or even metallic backsplashes reflect light beautifully.

If you want a hint of color, blue and green glass, marble, or ceramic tile adds nice contrast and accent to dark cabinetry.

Countertops

Countertops shouldn’t disappear next to dramatic cabinets. Light-colored solid surface or quartz countertops in white, cream, or gray help maintain balance. But don’t be afraid to match your counters and cabinets for a streamlined dark palette.

Dark wood, black quartz, or black granite countertops paired with black or espresso cabinets create a sophisticated, seamless look. Just be sure to brighten the walls and backsplash.

Enhancing the Space with Other Elements

You can amplify the light and color in your kitchen full of dark cabinets using other strategic design elements:

Ceiling Treatment

Painting the ceiling bright white or off-white reflects light downward, opening up darker spaces. For a wood-filled kitchen, tongue-in-groove wood plank ceilings complement dark cabinetry while adding warmth.

Flooring

Medium to darker wood floors showcase beautiful variation against dark lower cabinets. For lighter contrast, use natural stone or ceramic tile flooring in neutral shades of gray, beige, tan, or ivory.

Lighting

Thoughtful lighting brightens up any kitchen. Overhead cans, pendant lights, and accent lighting under cabinets or inside glass-front displays ensure the space stays bright and inviting, even with dramatic dark cabinetry.

Dark, moody kitchen cabinets offer a sophisticated, eye-catching look. But great paint color choices are key to keeping the space feeling fresh and livable. Crisp whites, warm neutrals in the beige and gray family, and even strategic pops of color can create the perfect complementary palette.

Keep these expert tips in mind as you test out paint swatches and find colors that highlight your beautiful dark cabinetry in the best possible light.