Decide whether to make the cabinets a design feature or minimize their appearance. Painting the cabinets a color that matches the narrow room's wall color will blend them into the wall and draw attention away from them. To make the cabinets stand out, choose a paint color that contrasts with the wall color.
Widen the room's appearance by painting the short walls a darker color than the long walls, and then painting the cabinets the same color as the long walls. To complete the illusion of more space, use colors such as violet, green or blue on walls and cabinet doors because those colors tend to push back walls.
Determine the room's main purpose and the effect or mood you want to create through its color scheme. Color affects emotions. Orange, for instance, is a stimulating, energetic color that’s ideal for an exercise room. If you house a gym or exercise equipment in the cabinets and want to create a stimulating environment before a workout or similar session, a bright color such as orange would work. Green is a restful, calming, cool color and is ideal for tall kitchen cabinets in a narrow room.