There’s no denying that sage kitchen cabinets are all the rage (and have been for a while). From Anne Hathaway’s country-style kitchen to Reese Witherspoon’s farmhouse-style kitchen, it seems like everyone is opting for light green cabinets. While we’re also fans of on-trend hues, we can’t help but wonder: What will be the next “it” kitchen cabinet color?
To find out, we asked four interior designers to predict the kitchen cabinet paint colors we’ll be seeing everywhere. From subtle neutrals to bold hues, the pros’ selection covers a range of shades. Whether you’re looking to give your space a quick refresh or undergo a major overhaul, keep scrolling to see which kitchen cabinet paint colors are replacing sage as the next big thing.
Soft, grey-green
Neutral colors are here to stay, but designers aren’t turning to traditional white and gray tones. “While white kitchen cabinets have been out of favor for some time, many people aren’t ready to embrace bold or saturated hues,” explains Los Angeles interior designer Stefani Stein. Instead, she says it’s all about subtle tones with a hint of color.
She predicts that muted colors, especially sage green, will become popular alternatives to classic neutrals. “I’ve always gravitated toward tones that introduce a hint of color but still evoke a calm, classic vibe,” Stein reveals. “My favorite is Farrow & Ball’s Mizzle,” she told us. “It’s a lovely, soft gray-green that’s reminiscent of celadon-glazed pottery.”
cool color, foggy gray
Likewise, interior designer Katie Winnington of C&E Furniture and Design in Delaware is keen on replacing classic neutrals with cool grays. She told us her “current obsession is the Sherwin Williams gauze veil.” “This hue brings a slight earth-toned element from a traditional gray or beige and beautifully accents the brass hardware,” she says.
It’s also a hue with potential staying power, says Wennington. “This shade is also timeless, so it lasts a long time and is less trend-driven, giving you room to accentuate other hardware types or countertop finishes,” she explains. “Avoid Gossamer Veil to create too much contrast with light colors, or the cabinets will be lost,” she advises.
White Oak
Goodbye, dark stains. A lighter, more minimalist material is becoming the new favorite among interior designers. Leanne Ford says she prefers white oak, but only if it’s done right. “Historically, the problem with white oak cabinets is that they are most beautiful in their natural, untouched state, but when sealed they can turn yellow and orange,” the designer explains.
Ford recently partnered with Semihandmade to launch a line of cabinets that she says have successfully solved this yellow-orange dilemma. “I would say we’ve figured out the perfect ‘recipe’ for sealing white oak cabinets in a way that doesn’t alter but preserves all of its natural beauty,” she explains. They can be paired with IKEA cabinets, making them an affordable alternative to custom-made wood cabinets.
Bold, rich green
Los Angeles interior designer Kerry Vasquez predicts that “color is going to come back in a big way and is here to stay,” bucking the minimalist trend. She told us her next “it” kitchen cabinet color choice is “a rich green like Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green.” “This green is bold yet grounded, sophisticated yet fun,” she says. It’s “bold enough to feel colorful, but subtle enough not to overwhelm you,” she explains.
“If you’re going bold with the color of your kitchen cabinets, my tip for styling is to keep everything else relatively neutral,” she says. “But, you can still use color and keep it neutral! Think light pinks, wood tones, and terracotta.
