These Are the Best Paint Colors for Your Kitchen in 2019

Alexandra Lim-Chua Wee
Behr's 2019 Color of the Year, Blueprint | Courtesy of Behr
Behr's 2019 Color of the Year, Blueprint | Courtesy of Behr

While neutral-colored kitchens may never truly leave the spotlight, 2019 might just be the year darker hues truly take over. While our kitchen mood boards started seeing more black accents, from fixtures to cabinets, in 2018, this year, experts are predicting we get a little more playful with colors (hurrah!). Here are the shades you can expect to see more of in kitchens everywhere—perhaps even yours.

[HOW: To Know If You Should Paint Your Walls a Dark Color]

Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

TERRACOTTA

Not only is this giving us chic Southwestern vibes (another excuse to buy more cute cacti, anyone?), but we’re loving the warmth it adds to any space, while still remaining versatile. And with Pantone’s Living Coral taking the décor world by storm, it’s no surprise orange-tinted palettes are creeping onto kitchen walls as well. “Terracotta is the best version of orange in my opinion, it’s more muted, ” says Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams (whose Color of the Year is a gorgeous Cavern Clay).

[WHY: Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year is Making Us So Happy]

Not ready to part from a previously neutral kitchen palette? Fear not, you can still play with this fiery tone as Wadden adds: “It’s also a great complementary color to gray. To everyone who’s painted their rooms gray in the last five years, this is a great way to bring some color and a boost of energy into the space.” She also suggests incorporating hints of terracotta in accent pieces from a freshly painted kitchen island to chairs and cabinets.

Courtesy of Farrow & Ball
Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

LIGHT AND DUSTY PINKS

When it comes to creating soothing spaces for a new year, we couldn't be more on board with the soft touch pink palettes are bringing to the table (and the pantry! and the walls!). And while, this may seem like an unusual paint pick for you outside of your little one’s playroom, you might also find yourself quickly converted—especially if you love a good classic look with a twist. “The Sulking Room Pink, a dirty rose, is elegant on kitchen units,” says Joa Studholme, International Color Consultant at Farrow & Ball. “Particularly when combined with darks like Paean Black and Railings.”

If you still have reservations about going full pretty-in-pink, Color Expert and VP of Color and Creative Services at Behr, Erika Woelfel, suggests a more subtle blush peach, like Sand Dance, for brightening cabinets and creating accent walls. “And if you’re ready for a fresh take on a space in your home, but don’t want to take the plunge and paint the whole room, try painting an accent piece, like a bench, in a trending color.”

[HOW-TO: Paint Your Cabinets Step-By-Step]

Courtesy of Benjamin Moore
Courtesy of Benjamin Moore

DEEP BLUES AND GREENS

If you’re looking to make 2019 the year of big, bold moves, a new paint job could be calling your name—and you don’t even have to commit to the entire kitchen. “As we shift from the all-white kitchen, we are seeing more cabinetry painted in deeper hues increase in popularity, even if it’s only the island or a select section of millwork,” says Andrea Magno, Color and Design Expert at Benjamin Moore. Magno suggests trying Hale Navy (a perfect complement to Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year!) on pantry doors for a timeless look; it also pairs well with hardware in warm golds. “The result is a balance between a modern sensibility and classic appeal.”

[WHY: We Can't Get Enough of Benjamin Moore's Oh-So-Sophisticated Color of the Year]

Craving to take more inspiration from Mother Nature? Consider going green—literally. In addition to trending navy hues, Woelfel adds: “A dark, rich green like Vine Leaf adds drama on a wall or painted cabinets.”

[WHY: Behr's 2019 Color of the Year is Perfect For Pretty Much Every Room]

Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams

“NATURAL” WHITES

Okay, so the all-white trend isn’t ready to leave just yet. But it’s certainly getting a sophisticated upgrade with various warm, brown-gray tints, according to Wadden. “I’m obsessed with mushroom neutrals, bone colors, and oatmeal whites,” she tells us. “They’re creamy, but not stark and will be key as we move forward to replace all-white kitchens.” In other words, the future may not exactly be looking bright, but honestly—we’re not complaining.