Blue Kitchen Cabinets – 15 Paint Colors Worth Trying
Blue is a frequent topic on this blog because I love it. It’s my favorite color to decorate with, and to wear, even the dishware I buy tends to be a blue hue. What’s more, blue is a trending color for kitchens in 2023 and it makes sense to talk about it. According to Forbes Magazine, “we’re going to be seeing a lot more color in the kitchen in 2023. Think lots of rich colored hues, like dark greens, blacks, and blues…” I like the sound of that. Blue kitchen cabinets are a modern yet timeless way to add style and elegance to a kitchen. I’ve talked about blue kitchen islands and how lovely they are as a contrasting element in a kitchen. Today, I want to dive into true blue kitchens! We’ll take a look at blue kitchen cabinets and break down the best paint colors for them. If you are thinking about a kitchen remodel or just peeking around at general kitchen designs, grab a pen and take notes!
Blue Kitchens are Classic
Interior designers like to compare blue to your favorite pair of jeans. It goes with everything and never goes out of style. I think that’s true. Blue is here to stay because it’s timeless. If you’re interested in moving away from trendy white kitchens and into something slightly bolder, blue cabinets are a good place to land. Blue kitchens are classic.
15 Paint Colors for Blue Kitchen Cabinets
There are literally hundreds of blue shades to choose from and not every blue shade is meant to be on kitchen cabinets. So what colors work well for blue kitchen cabinets? I’m glad you asked. Here are 15 exceptional blue cabinet paint colors!
Benjamin Moore Blue Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
Benjamin Moore Mysterious
According to Benjamin Moore, Mysterious is, “a compelling denim blue that can read as a black paint color or a rich navy.” This stormy blue is rich and elegant and works wonderfully as a kitchen cabinet color.
One word to describe this kitchen is classic. The deep navy blue paint color paired with white subway tile and marble countertops is a timeless combination. All elements work together beautifully here from the white backsplash to the rich brown wood floors. All of this compliments the blue kitchen cabinets creating a very nice transitional kitchen.
Benjamin Moore Gray Pinstripe
Benjamin Moore Gray Pinstripe is a deep gray-blue that is supposed to bring to mind the classic suit. I don’t know if it’s the best analogy for the color because I think this is a fantastic color and from the name of it you might guess that the color is rather dull. It’s anything but. Gray Pinstripe is a dark horse in my opinion. It’s not on everyone’s radar but it’s a really eyecatching color worthy of consideration.
See what I mean? Gray Pinstripe is working! The cool gray-blue goes beautifully in this contemporary kitchen. The airy blue shade really pops among all the white in this space which really makes the case for bold cabinets. While the color itself is pretty mild, it’s a gorgeous injection of color to an otherwise monochrome space.
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
Probably the most well-known navy blue color in Benjamin Moore’s catalog is this ever-popular color, Hale Navy. Reminiscent of nautical blue, Hale Navy is a classic navy blue. It’s fair to say that Hale Navy is neutral. It pairs beautifully with wood tones, white, and other blue accents. It blends both cool and warm tones together making it really reliable as a navy blue. You don’t have to worry about undertones pulling too cool or too warm. As a cabinet color, it works well in a variety of home styles from coastal to modern.
Here’s some inspiration if you are thinking about Hale Navy as a kitchen cabinet paint color. The light wood floors and white backsplash complement the dark color nicely. The granite island really ties everything together with the grayish-blue veining. The concern sometimes is that navy blue is too dark of a color for cabinetry and I think this space proves that it’s not.
Benjamin Moore Wedgewood Gray
If you asked a paint color generator to create the perfect combination of green, blue, and gray, Benjamin Moore Wedgewood Gray might pop out. This gorgeous color is a perfect balance. It’s calming, it’s happy, and it’s a fantastic light blue (could look slightly green) for kitchen cabinets!
Here’s the thing about these gorgeous blue/green/gray paint colors. They are usually chameleons. Which means sometimes they may look bluer or greener or grayer. You’ll find that to be true with Wedgewood Gray. In the kitchen above it’s a brilliant blue that is soft yet vibrant. I really enjoy the playfulness of this color especially paired with the Morrocan tiled backsplash.
Just know that it may appear with a little more green or gray in your space depending on your lighting. That being said, it’s a really beautiful color that deserves a sample!
Sherwin Williams Blue Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
Sherwin Williams Copen Blue
A soft light blue that has beach vibes, that’s what Sherwin Williams Copen Blue is giving. You should know that Copen Blue is another chameleon. It’s not a super popular color perhaps because it’s compared to a cult favorite, SW Sea Salt. It is pretty close in color to Sea Salt but Copen Blue definitely has more blue. On cabinets, it’s a soft light blue, not baby blue though, think soft beach house blue.
See what I mean? It’s soft, it’s smooth, it’s polished. Here’s what I love about this kitchen, the white subway tile backsplash, the big apron sink, the gray quartz counters, and the big windows over the sink. All of that light really lets the blue shaker style cabinets shine. While the space really has a lot of traditional elements, it’s not dull because the cabinet color is eye-catching. I think that is a great takeaway here. Blue cabinets can really elevate an otherwise ordinary kitchen.
Sherwin Williams Naval
Say hello to Sherwin Williams Naval! It’s Sherwin Williams’s best navy blue paint color and is super popular among designers and homeowners. It’s neutral but not bland. It’s rich in color and feel moody at times. On cabinetry, it feels very sophisticated and stately.
Paired with white, Sherwin Williams Naval steps up the drama just enough to make a space feel warm. With less traditional accents, Naval can feel bold and moody. In this kitchen, Naval feels like a hug. It’s warm but it’s not overpowering the space. It balances all of the white really nicely. I really like the pairing of navy blue cabinets and brass cabinet and drawer pulls. The blue and gold go together beautifully.
Sherwin Williams Tidewater
Sherwin Williams Tidewater is a bright and fresh aqua paint color that looks amazing in a variety of spaces but it really shines as a brilliant splash of color on kitchen cabinets. Not every space can pull it off but if you have a home yearning for coastal vibes then I think Tidewater would be a nice color to try out.
There’s a little bit of everything in this guide to blue cabinets and if bright, colorful, and coastal is on your list of needs in a paint color then Tidewater is surely for you. I like this choice because Tidewater looks great with white trim and other accents but it also goes really well with other blues like navy blue. One more thing I have to mention that I think is really working in this space is something you don’t see a lot of which is carrying the paint color from the cabinetry to the surrounding walls. It’s super smart and looks great!
Sherwin Williams Foggy Day
Check out this neutral dark blue-gray paint color which has tons of depth and richness. Sherwin Williams Foggy Day doesn’t get a lot of attention but I definitely wouldn’t sleep on this color. Foggy Day is at its best in the kitchen below. It’s got plenty of color but the blue really shines through. In some (mainly low lighting situations) Foggy Day appears much darker almost with a teal or gray undertone.
There is so much to love about this kitchen but I have to point out a few things that I think are working really well with the paint color, Foggy Day. The rich wood tones for starters, look amazing in this space. The butcher block counter, the open shelving, and the tone of the floors all coordinate beautifully with the blue cabinets. I already mentioned that I think Foggy Day is at its best in this space. The color is sophisticated without feeling stuffy. It’s fresh and inviting especially paired with the white subway tile backsplash. It’s a 10/10 for me.
Sherwin Williams Stillwater
Sherwin Williams Stillwater is another deep blue that has some gray undertones. Similar in a way to Foggy Day but Stillwater has more green undertones and it’s a darker shade of blue. Paired against white Stillwater is a really bold deep green-blue. When paired with something a little less stark like an off-white or a beige or even greige it appears like a muddy blue/green. I hope that makes sense. Let’s just take a look at it.
Check it out – look at the top of the upper cabinets. I think that’s the best version of this paint color. When we get down to the lower cabinets – you can see those are getting more light – the paint color appears bluer and we lose some of that muddy gray-green. If you have less natural light you’ll get a muddier look. If you have more natural light then you can count on Stillwater being bluer. It’s gorgeous both ways and looks exceptional paired with white marble countertops.
Sherwin Williams Rainstorm
Sherwin Williams calls its color, Rainstorm, a “serene, dark blue.” I think that’s a pretty concise description. It’s good. It’s quite a dark color with an LRV of only 5 meaning it absorbs a lot of light. If you don’t have a lot of light in your space it’ll appear even darker. It’s got some gray undertones but also a tiny bit of green too.
Okay, let’s take a look at Rainstorm on these kitchen cabinets. First, notice the brightest point in this photo, the lower left. We can see that with more light the color is much more confident blue, almost like cobalt blue. In lower light, looking away from that spot – all the way to the right of the photo – this color appears a lot darker. You’ll want to keep that in mind! On to the details, the blue looks great with the brass pulls, the white countertops, and even the mosaic behind the range. Lovely!
Farrow and Ball Blue Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
Farrow & Ball Hague Blue No. 30
Once one of the most instagrammable paint colors, Farrow & Ball Hague Blue is a popular deep dark blue that has some green undertones allowing it to appear teal-ish blue. Its popularity is due to its ability to appear soothing yet dramatic.
See what I mean? The drama. This is one gorgeous kitchen. Using dark shades on cabinets can feel risky or too bold. Here, the risk paid off. I really appreciate the glossy finish and the glass front cabinetry. The rich teal blue shines in this space. It’s balanced nicely by the movement of the countertops, the brass hardware, and the warm floors.
Farrow & Ball Stone Blue No. 85
Farrow & Ball Stone Blue isn’t your average blue paint color. It’s unique in that it feels moody but also totally warm and inviting. It works beautifully with warm accents like golds, yellows, and oranges. It’s softened beautifully by natural light making it a really gorgeous kitchen cabinet paint color.
It sort of feels like this color was made for this kitchen. Stone Blue shaker cabinets, big windows, white subway tile, and hints of yellow and green in this kitchen bring it all together. The richness of the floors and bright counters allow for the blue cabinets to really soften the whole room. It’s a perfect color combination if you ask me.
Farrow & Ball Parma Gray No. 27
Another huge favorite by Farrow & Ball is Parma Gray. Parma Gray has a really dreamy coastal vibe to it. It makes me think of a modern beach house. A little bright yet soft. It’s definitely used in traditional design as well. I think it’s a great choice for kitchen cabinets.
This kitchen easily could have white cabinets and look like every other trendy kitchen right now but the Parma Gray cabinets bring this kitchen to life. These blue cabinets are a breath of fresh air. They are so light and airy yet they bring a burst of colorful freshness to this room. I love brass hardware, the wood island is stunning, and all the windows let in gorgeous light.
Farrow & Ball Pale Powder No. 204
As the name suggests, Pale Powder is a very pale green blue. I love it. It’s whimsical, it’s cozy, it’s good. It’s really good. Pale Powder may not be a first pick for kitchen cabinets but I think it can really work. When used alongside a brighter white the blue/green color really pops.
The cutest cottage kitchen with the palest of blue cabinets. It’s giving movie set vibes and I’m here for it. I love this kitchen and decided to showcase it because it shows you that bigger and grander isn’t always better. Small and quaint are beautiful and something as simple as paint color can really make a room stand out. That’s what Pale Powder is doing for me here. The subtle blue shade on the cabinets really gives the kitchen a little pop.
Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue No. 85
Farrow & Ball’s Oval Room Blue is “the most blackened of the blues. Giving it a subtle aged feel.” This is a color that will give your kitchen some depth if that’s what you are looking for. While most blue paint colors are cool, Oval Room Blue is a greenish blue paint color that feels warm.
Because this is a warm blue it goes really well with other warm tones like the red brick flooring and brass hardware. Oval Room Blue also pairs beautifully with grays so I love the selection of the marble backsplash. This color can feel dramatic in closed off spaces and lightens slightly with natural light. If you want something that will bring depth to your space, this color is worth a look.
Even more blue gray paint colors here.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, the blue kitchen cabinet trend may not be a trend after all! Blue cabinets are still going strong because they are a classic choice. Whether you are looking for a moody and instagrammable dark color like Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, a more subtle and airy option like Benjamin Moore’s Gray Pinstripe or something with warmth such as Oval Room Blue – there’s an option to fit any kitchen style. Don’t be afraid to take risks when designing your kitchen, as the right blue cabinet color can bring a room to life!