40 Kitchen Cabinet Ideas To Revamp Your Space

Good-looking storage solutions galore.

Don’t take your kitchen cabinets for granted. A source for both practical storage and decorative charm, cabinets do much of the heavy lifting in the kitchen, but may often go overlooked in favor of hard-working appliances. The truth is that without cabinets, our kitchens would be thrown into chaos. Make the most of critical kitchen cabinetry by paying special attention to effective and efficient storage, as well as their appearance.

If the look of your cabinets isn’t up to par with their prominent role in the kitchen, it may be time to consider an update by reimagining cabinet doors and hardware. “And of course, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way,” adds interior designer Libby Smith. Fortunately, we’ve got kitchen cabinetry ideas aplenty. Here’s inspiration to maximize your kitchen cabinets, accounting for paint, wood, style, hardware, and flair.

Meet the Expert

Libby Smith is the founder of LIbby Smith interiors in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bright White

"I think white cabinetry in a kitchen is timeless. It’s fresh, clean, and versatile. It allows for fabric, art, and light fixtures to really pop and become focal points in a room," says Smith. "I love pairing a crisp white paint color, such as Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace (OC-65), with a creamy paint to warm up an interior."

Black

As Smith said, white kitchens are a classic. On the other end of the color gradient however, black offers a striking neutral, especially when alongside other white details.

Camouflage

Slather your cabinets in the same paint color as the walls to make them blend right in. Here, deep black walls and cabinets open up the kitchen paired with vibrant details.

Light Blue

Not a neutral but still not too bold a color, light blue is a splendid choice for cabinet colors. You won't see this hue going out of style any time soon.

Navy Blue

Like light blue, very deep blue is a stellar choice for a subtle inclusion of color. Choose a navy with green undertones for borderline-turquoise cabinets, or a blue with a gray tinge to match a steely color palette.

Slate Gray

Sophisticated and timeless, you can't steer wrong with a nice and clean gray. They are a reliable foundation kitchens with a neutral color palette or for spaces with brightly colored walls and furniture.

Two-Tone

Why paint your cabinets all one color when you can choose two? Start by switching the shade of island cabinets to differ from built-in cabinets on the wall.

Go Green

Green kitchen cabinets are the hight of home fashion these days—and it's not just one shade of green that's shining so brightly. Deep, moody green is just as lovely as hunter green, sage green, and beyond.

Wood-Forward

Don't feel like you need to go straight for the paint swatches to upgrade your cabinets. Letting wood shine is a stellar way to embrace their natural beauty. For an upgrade, consider trying a new wood stain to change the look of wood-front cabinets.

Keep It Low

Depending on your layout and storage needs, cabinets going only so high as the counter top may be all you need. Augment your kitchen with a pantry to make up for spare stuff and decorate the empty space above the countertops with charming open shelving.

Get Inspired By Wallpaper

For wallpapered kitchens, choose your pattern first before picking a paint to coordinate. In our 2023 Idea House, cabinets are painted a dainty green to match adjacent wallpaper perfectly.

Glass-Front

Glass-front cabinets are a classic kitchen design move, especially when contained to the top cabinets. Beware however, that you'll need to keep the contents inside glass-front cabinets orderly for a neat look.

Curtains

If tidy cabinet interiors is too big an ask, or just for some extra flair, decorate glass-front cabinets with a cute curtain. Choose a color or pattern that complements other hues in the room or for more continuity, choose the same fabric to adorn a skirted kitchen sink.

Shaker Style

"Go for something simple and sleek," advises Smith. "A Shaker style cabinet paired with beautiful hardware can make your kitchen feel updated and modern."

Match To Appliances

Coordinate the shade of your cabinets with the color of kitchen appliances. Here, the oven doesn't contrast from the cabinets so sharply, but instead blends right in.

Wood Paneling

In this kitchen, panels of white oak form stunning cabinets when stained honey-blond. As an added bonus, the cabinets match the floors wonderfully.

Earth Tones

Green can be a neutral too, and we can prove it. Create a grounded, earthy kitchen by pairing earth tones like green and brown with nature-inspired textures and a houseplant or two.

Funky Fronts

An alternative to glass-fronts, opt for an unexpected cabinet cover like a wire or woven material. This kitchen features gorgeous custom laser-cut metal cabinet fronts that add texture and intrigue.

Elevated Neutrals

The world of neutral kitchens expands far beyond all-whites and all-grays. Instead, designers love combining warm, welcoming neutrals that are dynamic but timeless.

Shabby Sheek

These reclaimed wood kitchen cabinets are distressed in an absolutely stunning way. The wood is from an old barn on the same property and has been dried in a kiln to kill bugs before being converted into cabinets.

High Contrast Hardware

Opt for soft handles and finishings, or choose bold ones made to standout. Rather than just the medium for opening and closing cabinets, hardware can be a decorative element all on its own.

Living Finishes

These days, designers are flocking towards living finishes for all their metal accents, including kitchen cabinet hardware. Unlacquered brass and polished nickel are standouts that look pretty and will last a long time.

Greige

Not quite beige and not quite grey, greige is a paint color that's yet to do us wrong in the home. This warm color is a great foundation for a welcoming kitchen full of timeless neutrals.

Pop Of Color

If you're working with an all-white kitchen, liven it up by splashing vibrant paint on the cabinets. As the solo source of flashy color in the room, bright cabinets are sure to make a great impression.

Moody

Light and airy is often the go-to ambience for kitchens across the South, but don't be tricked into the thinking it's the only option. A moodier kitchen with dark cabinets complemented by dynamic textures can be a cozy change of pace.

Decorative Flair

Incorporate subtle style through details. These cabinets feature glass-front doors with criss-crossing panels on smaller, square cabinets way up top towards the ceiling.

High Gloss

Sleek, shiny cabinets can be either retro or modern depending on how you go about them. To achieve this look, opt for a paint with a super glossy finish.

Stripped Paint

The polar opposite from supremely clean, high-gloss cabinets is the equally alluring option of stripped paint. Here, light blue cabinets are intentionally distressed.

Warm Ivory

Whit paint's creamy cousin, ivory, is a handsome choice for any kitchen. In this case, it adorns demure cabinets and complements bright bursts of color around the kitchen.

Corner Cabinets

Don't let a corner stop you from optimizing your cabinets' storage potential. Lazy Susans and other clever accessories can help make the most of these spaces.

The Trim Treatment

Give your cabinets the same treatment as your trim. This means standardizing the color with foundational details like the wall trim and window pane.

Modern Edge

Homeowners with a soft spot for modern design can take comfort in the fact that contemporary cabinet options abound, as well. For a modern look, try high contrast colors are sleek finishes with an industrial edge.

Try Bright

Neither neutral nor moody, these almost neon cabinets don't shy away from bold color. This tropical color is an exciting and bold addition to the kitchen.

Unexpected Silhouettes

Unlike traditional shaker-style cabinets with a rectangular shape, these cabinets feature a rounded top. It's a simple design element that makes a big impact for the whole room.

Light Wood

"Cherry wood and dark stained wood cabinets are a thing of the past," says Smith. "People tend to gravitate towards colors that make their kitchen feel brighter."

Match The Hood

Paint the hood of your oven the same hue as your cabinets to help it blend in. This coastal kitchen with a matching hood and cabinets is subtly beautiful.

Handle-Free

Can't decide on cabinet hardware? Skip it all together.

Embellishments

Upgrade your cabinets with built-in style like these embellished ones. If going the geometric route, choose details or shapes that complement other motifs in the room.

Island's Time To Shine

Us Southerners love our kitchen islands. To really make it pop, concentrate your cabinet painting efforts on the island.

Sky-High

"Not installing kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling [is a mistake]. My client recently asked if she should install her new kitchen cabinets to the ceiling or leave a gap between the upper cabinets and ceiling. A gap used to be standard while designing a kitchen, but ultimately you are sacrificing storage and there is nothing worse than inadequate storage in a kitchen," reveals Smith. "Not to mention it is also a dust collector!"

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Read the original article on Southern Living.