What Color to Paint a Kitchen With Brown Wood Cabinets?

White

• If you want your cabinets to stand out, paint your kitchen walls a crisp white shade. The stark contrast between the light walls and dark wood will draw the eye to the cabinets and highlight any interesting molding, trim or detail work that they feature. As a neutral color, white also provides a blank canvas for the kitchen, so you can incorporate a variety of accents colors to help liven up the space, including red, orange, blue, green and plum. If white is too stark for your taste, try an ivory color on the walls for a softer, warmer look.

Pale Yellow

• In a kitchen that lacks natural light, brown cabinets may make the room feel even darker. It is important to balance out the dark wood with a light shade on the walls, so you can brighten the space and make it feel more inviting. A pale yellow color provides a sunny, warm look that can make your kitchen feel cozy and inviting. Like white, it contrasts with the brown in the cabinets, but the look is much softer, and the warm undertones in both shades complement one another for a polished look.

Terra Cotta

• For a bold look in your kitchen, pair your brown wood cabinets with a deep, warm color that adds a rich look to the walls. Terra cotta is an ideal option because it isn’t dark enough to make the room feel smaller, but it’s still deep enough to balance the brown in the cabinets. If you’re still worried about your kitchen feeling too dark, incorporate white, ivory or beige accents to help brighten up the space and break up the dark, rich colors.

Blue

• While a warm color can give your kitchen a cozy, inviting look, pairing your brown cabinets with a cool-toned color provides a striking look for the space. Blue is an ideal wall color with brown cabinets because it offers a soothing contrast to the strong look of the brown wood. You can choose a light blue shade like robin’s egg for a smaller kitchen or a mid-tone shade like cornflower for a larger space. If you are looking for an accent color, try pale yellow, which can help brighten up the space and add a touch of warmth that gives the space a welcoming feel.