Renovating your kitchen or just giving the cabinets a new coat of paint can breathe new life into a space that might’ve become worn and tired-looking. However, choosing which color to paint your cabinets can be difficult. So, if you’re wondering what color to paint your cabinets when you have gray countertops, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve researched the topic and have some suggestions for you!
Cabinet colors that will go with gray countertops are:
- White
- Black
- Darker gray
- Navy blue
- Green
- Yellow
- Red
We’ve given you a few colors to consider but keep reading as we elaborate on these further and give you some image examples to take a look at. We’ll also answer some other questions you might have about what color to paint your countertops. Additionally, we’ll talk about what is and what isn’t in style for cabinet colors!
We sometimes include affiliate links and curated AI content to highlight top design styles.
Cabinet Color Choices For Gray Countertops
Gray countertops have grown in popularity over the recent years. Their ability to work in various styles makes them a great choice if you’re looking for something fresh and new.
If you’re worried about choosing what color cabinets to go with your gray countertops, don’t be. You’re not as limited as you might think!
White
White is probably the least adventurous of colors for cabinets, but it is often a top choice. It works well in kitchens with a modern or farmhouse feel and emits the feeling of cleanliness.
Black
Painting anything black can be intimidating. After all, black can be heavy and make a room feel smaller than it is. However, when used correctly, it can create a stunning, modern, and luxurious visual.
Darker Gray
Shades of gray work well together, so even though we’ve opted to show you darker gray with light gray countertops, the reverse would work also.
Navy Blue
If you’re interested in a less traditional color or something more contemporary, you should consider blue.
Gray and blue pair naturally together since they are both cool colors, and navy blue offers an air of sophistication.
Click here to see navy blue cabinet paint on Amazon.
Green
This might not be a color you would normally expect to see in a kitchen, but it can offer a unique and airy feel. Green can be used to bring the outside in and often symbolizes tranquility and freshness.
Sage is a popular choice for kitchens! We’ve included a couple of photo examples for this one to show the range of greens you can use!
Click here to see sage cabinet paint on Amazon.
Yellow
This kitchen uses a combination of yellow and black cabinets, and the yellow you choose doesn’t have to be this bold and vibrant. A light pastel yellow would work nicely too!
Red
For an ultra-modern look, vibrant red cabinets can work really well with gray countertops.
If you like the idea of red but want a more traditional style kitchen, a burgundy or Venetian red might be a better choice for you.
As you can see, almost any color cabinet can be paired with gray countertops. Since gray is a neutral color, several colors will work well with it.
How do I pick the right color for my kitchen cabinets?
The color you choose for your kitchen cabinets can change the entire mood of the room. To pick the right color for your cabinets, you first have to consider what you want to achieve.
Do you want the room to feel more light and airy? Or, do you want the room to feel warm and cozy? Color can be used to achieve both of these environments.
Think About The Style
You should also consider the design style you want. If the rest of your house is modern and contemporary, you probably don’t want a farmhouse-style kitchen.
Color plays a large part in the design. Also, if you plan on selling your home anytime soon, you should stick with neutral colors to appeal to a larger market of buyers.
For a farmhouse style or traditional kitchen, creams, light yellows, and whites do well. You can be more adventurous for a modern kitchen and choose bold statement colors like red, black, or yellow.
Consider The Rest Of The Room
Don’t forget to consider the rest of the colors in the room too. You don’t want your cabinets clashing with your walls or countertops.
It’s important to find colors that pair well together. Even the color of your appliances should be considered.
Color Can Change How Big The Room Feels
If you have a small kitchen that you want to feel bigger and more open, you should opt for light-colored or white kitchen cabinets. Dark cabinets can look great in bigger kitchens or make a smaller kitchen feel cozier.
Be careful using dark cabinets in small kitchens that aren’t well lit, though. You could end up with a kitchen that feels more like a cave.
Should cabinets be lighter or darker than countertops?
Put simply, either can work. It is not uncommon to see light cabinets with darker countertops and vice versa.
In fact, contrasting cabinets and countertops is probably a more common sight than seeing the two in a similar shade and can really make a kitchen stand out.
That being said, contrast isn’t required. The colors have to pair well together. Take a look at some examples below!
Light Cabinets With Dark Countertops
The black countertops pair really well with the stainless steel appliances in this kitchen to really tie everything together. The dramatic contrast creates a feeling of luxury.
Dark Cabinets With Light Countertops
This kitchen already has pretty dark walls, floors, and cabinets, so a lighter countertop balances it out to lighten the overall look.
Mixture of Both
Another popular trend is to paint the lower cabinets a darker color and a lighter one. See, there really are no rules about whether or not the cabinets should be lighter or darker than the countertops.
Should countertops be darker than the floor?
Countertops do not have to be darker than the floor. Just like there aren’t any rules about whether cabinets have to be lighter or darker than countertops, there aren’t any rules about whether countertops should be darker than the floor.
The main goal is to choose colors that work well together. That’s far more important than worrying about the shades of colors.
Besides, white countertops are wildly popular, so what color would the floor have to be to be lighter if this was a rule?
To help simplify your decision when choosing your kitchen colors, a good rule of thumb is choosing a similar color for your floor and countertops. However, this is just a suggestion.
If you’re following this suggestion and have both gray countertops and floors, check out this blog post for some cabinet color ideas: What Color Kitchen Cabinets With Gray Floors?
Or, if you have oak floors, you might be interested in checking out this post: What Color Cabinets Go With Oak Floors?
Are white cabinets going out of style?
Whether white cabinets are going out of style is up for debate. Some say that white cabinets will never go out of style because white in a kitchen will never go out of style.
Others, who aren’t necessarily saying that white is out of style, say there are other colors more in style at this moment in time.
However, white cabinets are still used frequently in new homes. White is a neutral color that appeals to a larger audience than a trendy color like blue, green, or red.
So while those bolder colors might be great in your forever home, you might want to stick with white if you want to sell your home anytime soon.
What color cabinets never go out of style?
Neutrals, neutrals, and you’ve guessed it, neutrals. We’ve already mentioned this a couple of times in this post, but neutral colors will always appeal to a wider audience.
They allow for customization and don’t limit the homeowner to a certain design style. Rather, they can accent the room with almost any color they like. Neutral colors allow for easy wall color changes as well.
Final Thoughts
If you were concerned that gray countertops would limit your cabinet color choices, we hope you’ve been pleasantly surprised. Hopefully, our article has offered some inspiration for you to choose the perfect cabinet color for you! Happy Painting!
If you still need some more inspiration for countertop and cabinet combinations, take a look at this blog post: Best Colors For Kitchen Cabinets And Countertops [6 Awesome Combinations!]
