Remember when we painted the kitchen island?
It still makes me happy every day.
The paint color we used?
It’s the beautiful, wonderful, amazing Peppercorn SW 7674.
But why stop there?
What about other paint colors for the kitchen?
What if I told you that I had 10 tried-and-true paint colors that I’ve used in kitchens all over America?
And what if I told you I’d share them with you?
Come sit by me.
Here are 10 paint colors every kitchen needs.
A couple of quick things before we get started:
1. If you want some amazingly sound, totally non-intimidating, non-judgmental advice on how to pick a paint color based on my learnings from all the years I’ve spent staring at the paint chip display…
…read this post first.
2. If blue is not your thing—I have some other paint color posts, too.
Like my favorite blue-gray paint colors
And my favorite gray paint colors.
And my favorite neutral paint colors.
(total aside: can you tell I’m all about a can of paint?)
3. Paint is a super tricky thing to see through the eyes of a computer screen. It can look one way on the computer screen and another way on your paint chip and still another way on your walls. That’s the amazingness of paint. It looks your own special way in your own special house.
For questions on this—refer to number one.Â
4. If some of these colors seem a little overwhelming for your walls—think about furniture or even the back of a bookcase instead.
5. And lastly, these paint colors are TRUE BLUE tested. They are ones I’ve used in my own home and clients’ homes. They are colors I’ve tried again and again and work perfectly in so many different spaces. They all have their own personality and their own character. I hope you love them as much as I do.
8 paint colors every kitchen needs
1. Extra White SW 7006
This is the color I used on the walls and the trim in the kitchen above.
It’s the perfect neutral white.
It’s the perfect backdrop for some other paint friends like our island color, Peppercorn SW 7674.
The combination is stunning.
2. Toque White SW 7003
If you want a white with a hint of brown? Toque White SW 7003.
I love it because it’s the white paint you are always looking for that you never knew you needed.
It’s so pretty on the walls, and it changes color in different lighting, so make sure you paint it on a piece of poster board and test it.
Toque White adds so much depth to the walls, and if you paint your trim with Extra White, it has the perfect hint of contrast.
3. Shoji White SW 7042
I found this white when we worked on the makeover in my mother’s bedroom.
Since then, I’ve painted several spaces with Shoji White SW 7042 and it never disappoints.
It has a slightly blue undertone (super slight), but enough that it makes the walls look crisp and clean.
You will want to introduce it to your kitchen and maybe another room or two.
4. Sandbar SW 7547
You know my love affair with Sandbar SW 7547. I’ve painted more rooms and recommended it to more people than I can count.
It looks so light when you open the paint can.
But when you paint it in a kitchen, it turns into the prettiest light khaki.
It’s the perfect color when you want something a little more than white.
5. Repose Gray SW 7015
This is the color we painted the laundry room adjacent to the kitchen.
But Repose Gray SW 7015 would work perfectly in a kitchen space, too.
I’d pair it with Naval SW 6244 on accent furniture or a kitchen island.
6. Mindful Gray SW 7016
It would not be a paint post without Mindful Gray SW 7016.
This gray and I have been friends for years.
The hutch in my kitchen is painted Mindful Gray, and I get asked about it all the time.
It really is a true khaki gray and the perfect classic paint color.
7. Peppercorn SW 7016
This is the bluish-gray of the kitchen island.
I also added it to the bottom of the butler’s pantry.
You can see the entire space here.
8. Tricorn Black SW 7658
Every space needs a little accent black.
And there is no more perfect black on this planet than Tricorn Black SW 7658.
It works well with doors and accent pieces in the kitchen.
I’ve never had a home that didn’t have a little Tricorn Black somewhere.
Look at those amazing paint colors all together in one group.
Aren’t they beautiful?
They are all just sitting and waiting and hoping for a kitchen makeover.
Don’t you want to be friends? 🙂
PS • Such a gentle approach — I really like it.