Cabinets with color are having a moment right now. A shade of gray is a great alternative to the all-white kitchen while maintaining a neutral space. Here are some of the best colors for gray kitchen cabinets!
When we first moved into our current home, we didn’t have the budget to completely overhaul the kitchen, (looking back – I wish we would have found a way) so we opted to paint the existing cabinetry to update the space. At the time, it felt sort of bold to paint the cabinets gray. White kitchens were all the rage. I had experience with white cabinetry previously and felt like a darker neutral would work better for our needs. Gray kitchen cabinets are not only very on trend but because gray is accepted as a neutral, they have a very timeless look.
The six best paint colors for gray kitchen cabinets
Once you’ve made the decision to paint your kitchen cabinets gray, the hardest part begins, deciding on a paint color. In general, selecting a neutral paint color can be challenging. Grays especially have many different undertones that can appear prominent in different lighting situations. Since cabinet painting is labor intensive you want to get the color right the first time. I’ve scoured the interwebs and found six of the very best paint colors for gray kitchen cabinets. These paint colors vary in shades from dark to light as well as warm and cool. Check out each color below including a link to see the paint color in an actual kitchen.
Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray is a beautiful deep gray that has blue/green undertones. In a space with a lot of natural light you will see a subtle hint of blue. In spaces with less natural light, the color is much warmer and neutral. Of the six (including the color i selected for my own kitchen), this may very well be my favorite shade of gray because I love the cooler undertones.
See Coventry Gray in the kitchen here.
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl is another beautiful gray paint color. It’s one of the most popular selling gray paint colors on the market. It’s a light warm gray that can go cool with more natural light. This color looks best in spaces with less natural light.
See Gray Owl in the kitchen here.
Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray is a rich warm gray that looks very beautiful contrasted with white. I love seeing this color on kitchen cabinets paired with white walls and brass hardware – very chic. This color is on the bolder side since it’s a deep color but it’s still a true gray that is gorgeous on cabinetry.
See Chelsea Gray in the kitchen here.
Sherwin Williams Repose Gray is better known as a “greige” it’s not a true gray as it has some brown undertones give it a more greige appearance. It looks great in spaces with lots of natural light and in spaces that have minimal or no natural light. Repose Gray is a great go to color because it’s easy. It looks great in many different spaces and lighting situations.
See Repose Gray in the kitchen here.
Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray is another popular greige that can appear rich in some spaces and like the perfect neutral in others. It’s just a shade darker than Repose Gray and a little richer. It’s recommended for cabinetry because it’s the perfect contrast color to a cooler wall color.
See Mindful Gray in the kitchen here.
Behr Still Gray is a true medium gray. It is warmer a gray that works really well with low natural light. I used it in for my kitchen cabinets in a space with very little natural light. In spaces with more natural light the color can cool slightly with a slightly blue undertone but overall it stays a true medium gray. The color is dark enough for a great contrast to the white walls without being dramatic.
See Still Gray in the kitchen here.
Have you painted your cabinets? What shade did you go with?
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AIDA ORTIZ says
July 21, 2018 at 5:03 pmI RECEIVED AN EMAIL WITH A LINK TO FREE PRINTABLES, HOWEVER, I DELETED IT ACCIDENTALLY AND MISSED THE PASSWORD. I WOULD GREATLY appreciate IF YOU CAN RE-SEND THE LING ALONG WITH PASSWORD TO ACCESS OTS CONTENTS.
CORDIALLY,
A.ORTIZ
Chelsea says
July 21, 2018 at 5:48 pmHi Aida, I emailed you!
Elizabeth Martinez says
August 5, 2019 at 5:57 pmHi!!! Love all the information you provided. I painted my kitchen cabinets BM super white and have carrara marble countertops. I am looking for a beautiful greige wall color. Can you please make a few suggestions. I have gone through at least 10 gray paints. My kitchen is east facing and everything looks too blue or too green or purple. Any help would be so greatly appreciated.
Lisa says
July 22, 2018 at 10:43 pmI have old flat front cabinets. No detail . I did so much research and ended painting them Benjamin Moore Dolphin Gray. I’m really not happy with the color. I feel like they need a stain or antique or distressed . I can’t decide on a wall color. The color they say “go with” Dolphin Gray are Hint of Mint and dark brown. I don’t want that on my walls. It is a small old kitchen I would love to freshen up. Frustrated?
Angela says
January 4, 2019 at 1:16 amHi Chelsea! Thank you so much for sharing this! I am in the process of updating our kitchen cabinets and went with the Behr paint you listed here-the grey is perfect for our kitchen too! Greys can be SO difficult-I have personal experience with testing over 10 different greys on my walls. ? Anyway. I just wanted to say THANK YOU for sharing! I also read your original post with your kitchen update. Love it! Your description of the “warm grey” sold me! We’ve got about half more to go but I’m already thrilled with the color outcome! Plus the paint is drying smoothly and brush stroke free (for an affordable price too!)!! So again-thank you!
Chelsea says
January 4, 2019 at 11:11 amAngela – this makes me so happy! I’m glad the color is working as well for you as it does for us! 3 years later we are still loving it!
Tricia Chandler says
December 29, 2019 at 1:19 pmHi, This sounds exactly like the problem Im having. Im so frustrated. Can you tell we the color of the gray she finally decided on. Thank you!
Angela says
December 29, 2019 at 4:24 pmHiya! I ended up using the Behr Still Gray color for my Kitchen cabinets. Chelsea talks about using this color and the specific type of paint to get in another post I believe. Good luck to you! Almost a year later and the paint is holding up phenomenally and I still love the color just as much as I did then!
Chelsea says
January 2, 2020 at 5:38 pmHi Tricia – I used the color STILL GRAY by BEHR. I had them mix it into the Behr Marquee paint at Home Depot. Hope that’s helpful. You can see more photos and tips of our kitchen cabinets on this post: https://www.makinghomebase.com/kitchen-updates-painted-cabinets/
Lisa says
January 6, 2019 at 1:02 pmI painted my cabinets BM Dolphin Gray . I’m having a lot of trouble choosing a wall color. Any suggestions?
Tyler says
January 12, 2019 at 3:06 pmHi,
We are painting our kitchen cabinets and we like Coventry Gray. We currently have White Dove on the trim of our doorways and windows, and would like your opinion of what color to paint the walls? The cabinets and the white trim will be adjacent to the walls.
We do have Horizon in other rooms in our house (hallway, dining and living rooms).
Any ideas for wall color in the kitchen would be helpful! Thank you!
Rox stewart says
May 8, 2019 at 10:02 pmWe are buying an older manufactured home that I want the gray you used for your kitchen. My only problem is that the counter tops have a true green tile around edges and backsplash. I won’t be able to afford new counter tops yet. Walls will be white with stainless appliances. Any suggestions?
Suzanne Byrd says
December 10, 2019 at 8:25 amHelp!!! We are building a barndominium and I need help with my kitchen cabinets and built ins. We are going to have a lot of natural light… I’m painting my walls SW Pure White throughout. My kitchen cabinets and all built ins will be gray. I’m wanting a true gray but have been going back and forth with shades. My ceiling fan is a brushed nickel and my lighting is all a brushed nickel. The guy building my cabinets suggested SW gray clouds and I have been leaning towards March Wind. Help!!! If there is another color that you think would look better, please tell me. I definitely don’t want Any blue or green. Help and Thanks!
Chelsea says
December 10, 2019 at 8:23 pmHi Suzanne, I’m not familiar with either of those colors so I can’t say for sure which direction I’d go. The best advice I can give is to grab samples of 3-5 colors slap them on one of the cabinets and observe it throughout the day so if any of them are giving you those blue tones you’re trying to stay away from.
Kara says
July 12, 2019 at 8:21 pmI’ve been reading and researching about gray paint for cabinets for weeks and this has been the most helpful post I’ve come across. Thank you so much! Especially love being able to check out the links to see the color used in an actual kitchen : ).
Marlyn says
July 17, 2019 at 11:24 amI just painted my walls repose gray and I love it!! Now I have to choose a cabinet color for my kitchen and dont know what to go with. I was looking for a little darker gray. I’m open to suggestions 🙂
Thank you!
Roseann says
July 27, 2019 at 3:13 pmThis is a great article! Very helpful. What do you think of BM Stonington Grey for kitchen cabinets?