Our Favorite White Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors

Do not listen to anyone that tells you that white is trendy. White is timeless and traditional and it’s the color that has the least probability of you feeling remorse about it in the future.

There’s no right or wrong answer to this, but if you’re looking for more reasons to choose white kitchen cabinet paint, how about the fact that it goes with virtually every design style and every color palette? Simply white kitchen cabinets also make spaces feel more spacious as they reflect light.

But I do have my favorites when it comes to the best white for kitchen cabinets.

What Is The Best White Paint To Use On Kitchen Cabinets?

It’s a tie for my favorite white kitchen cabinet paint color. The safest bet for white paint to use on kitchen cabinets is undoubtedly Simply White by Benjamin Moore because it’s the perfect white in my opinion and no client has ever regretted the choice, or said it was too white, or too off white.

Benjamin Moore describes Simply White as “Fresh as the first snowfall, this clean, crisp, multi-purpose white is a perennial favorite for trim, ceilings, and walls.”

My other favorite white paint is Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. It’s more of an “off-white,” and it feels warmer than Simply White. I love it so much that I used it in my own house and I regularly comment to my wife how glad I am that we used it in the whole house, not just as a white kitchen cabinet paint.

Benjamin Moore describes Swiss Coffee’s color family as, “inherently sophisticated and endlessly versatile [offering] subtle nuances of whites that suit tranquil, serene environments as well as [creating] color-enhancing accents for dynamic spaces.”

To me, it’s a creamier, warm white that feels like what white oil paint would turn into after many years of aging. In an absolutely beautiful way.

Best White Paint For 2023 Cabinetry And Design

As the years go by we can always see which parts of cabinetry and design, interior trends, and paint colors either fade out of popularity or stand the test of time. We’re more than happy to report that we are still in love with our favorite white paint colors discussed above, and our clients are too. The slight warmth of the Swiss Coffee is as cozy as ever, and the clean, more perfect white of the Simply White remains a constant and loved choice. That said, we’ve added a few new colors of white cabinet paint for 2023 that we believe round out a great set of options for any kitchen and home.

Just remember, never pick your white paint color based on a paint swatch alone. You need to test a bit of the color in the space, with the other paint colors or materials that it will be complemented by, along with both the natural and artificial lighting found or being brought into the space. Even white paint is going to be relative to all of these extra elements and you don’t want to pick something under fluorescent box store lighting only to find that it reads completely different in your actual home.

White Cabinet Paint For 2023: White Dove

White Dove by Benjamin Moore is a clean and classic white paint color. When using it as a white paint for kitchen cabinets, it won’t err on the “sterile” side of white and it can bring out subtle yellow undertones in a space. It pairs beautifully with natural green paint colors—which are also rising in popularity right now. White Dove has an elegance to it that can elevate the sense of style in your kitchen. It’s great for walls, cabinets, and trim.

White Cabinet Paint For 2023: Alabaster

Alabaster, as Benjamin Moore puts it, is “a fresh, youthful white with a flattering touch of pink” to it. That soft depth can play well with either warm or cool colors which makes it incredibly versatile, no matter your personal style. You can even pair it with a whiter white to really make it stand out as a beautiful wall or cabinet color choice.

White Cabinet Paint For 2023: School House White

A bold white cabinet paint for 2023 would be School House White by Farrow & Ball. While it was a color created to look white in deep shade, Farrow & Ball describes it as a soft white reminiscent of its namesake—a little less bright than many other neutrals claiming to belong in the white category. That said, we think this is the best white paint for kitchen cabinets that have a textured surface like fluted drawer faces or open cabinets backed in beadboard.

White Cabinet Paint For 2023: Creamy

Best described by Sherwin-Williams—the creators of our last white cabinet paint for 2023—Creamy is a “bright white [with] the softest of yellow undertones to create a subtle warmth in the room. [It] pairs wonderfully with other soft, warm hues.” All kitchen cabinetry and design stand to improve with a coat of Creamy, as would any kitchen wall. Natural light would also complement this sunny hue incredibly well.

How Do You Pick White Paint For Kitchen Cabinets?

Honestly, there are not many right or wrong answers here. The only word of caution I’d give is to not choose a white that is too pure, bright and stark. Generally speaking, any white you choose is going to be a safe, classic color. It’s the color choice that will leave you with the least remorse and is legitimately timeless and endlessly versatile. Some people worry about white kitchens being trendy and the subsequent need to then update their space yet again—it’s simply not true. You can’t go wrong with the best white color for kitchen cabinets. White kitchens have been “in style” for a long time and there is no end in sight.

But if you’re still stressed about how to pick the best white kitchen cabinet paint, here are a few tips:

• Consider the Lighting: We’ll talk about this more later, but lighting can play a big role in the look of your white kitchen cabinet paint. Depending on the type of lighting you have, you may want to go with a brighter white or one that is warmer.
• Pair With Your Design: What is the rest of your design? Is it modern? Then, the best white cabinet paint is likely a brighter, true white. Does your design skew rustic or classic? Then, the best white paint color for kitchen cabinets in your home may have warmer yellow undertones.
• Think of the Undertones: Speaking of undertones, do your research to find out what the undertones of each paint color are. Examine the swatches in different lights, read what the manufacturer says, and paint bigger samples than just the paint chips you get from the store. The undertones of a paint color can change the look of the paint completely.
• Consider the Almost Whites: If you’re not ready to pull the trigger on all white, look into a white-ish paint like taupe or a light gray. These can give you a similar bright feeling of white, but they tend to have a little warmth and personality to them as well.

How Do You Avoid a “Sterile” White Kitchen?

I’m not one who believes that sterility is necessarily a bad thing. One of my favorite kitchens I’ve done  is also the most “sterile” one.

But if you’re worried about a sterile look, here are my two cents: what most people believe is sterility is actually monotony. So, in order to avoid a clinical feeling in a white kitchen, break it up. Whether that happens with décor, backsplash, countertops, lighting, hardware, earthy wood accents, or another pop of paint color is up to you.

What Colors Go With White Kitchen Cabinets?

My favorite thing to pair with white paint is beautiful wood. Any wood. Dark and light stains alike tend to sing next to a white kitchen cabinet.

If you’re looking to pair another paint color with white, I lean toward blues and greens. They round out a clean palette that’s perfect for modern kitchen design. But I also appreciate the classic, stunning look of black and white together. It can accomplish a variety of aesthetics and is fairly timeless as well.

As for which colors of hardware go best with white cabinetry—almost anything. I love brass and polished nickel, but the clean slate of a white cabinet face allows for the personality of the home and homeowner to really shine. Eclectic, modern, and traditional looks can all be achieved with the right hardware on a white cabinet.

If a neutral color is “without color” or doesn’t compete with other colors, then white is the ultimate neutral. It’s hard to go wrong in pairing something with white. If I need to warn about one thing, it would be to use caution when choosing countertops to compliment your white cabinets. You have to be aware of the yellow or gray tones in your paint choice in order to avoid clashing with certain materials.

How Does Lighting Affect White Cabinets?

Lighting can add a warm (cream-yellow) or cool (gray-blue) tone to your space. So if you’re ever looking at white paint, consider your lighting options at the same time. Both artificial and natural lighting will have an effect on the whiteness of your paint color and you need to know how light works in order to understand that effect. This is a great resource to use before you pick and apply any paint in your home.

Another way to find the best white for kitchen cabinets in different lighting conditions is simply to test them out. Gather together all of the lighting you will be using in your kitchen and bring in your paint samples. Then, observe the samples and lighting at different times of the day. This is the only guaranteed way to know what your paint will look like in your room.

Combining Simply White Kitchen Cabinets With Countertops

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, white kitchen cabinet paint is the perfect neutral backdrop for anything else you bring into the kitchen. Because it goes with so many things, it can be easy to become paralyzed with decision overload on what countertop to use. My best advice is to start with a countertop that blends with the aesthetics of your overall space. Understanding the style of your space will narrow down your options.

From that point, you’ll want to choose an option that blends with the white of your cabinets. As I’ve been saying, your white may have cool or warm undertones. Knowing which way it skews will narrow your field of countertop choices even further. Whether you’ve chosen the best white paint for kitchen cabinets with white quartz countertops or the perfect white to pair with a butcher block island, you can tell when you look at the undertones.

If you need more direction to decide, you can read up about the best countertops to go with white cabinets. You’ll find even more practical tips and examples of beautiful white kitchen cabinets and the countertops they pair well with. Not only that, but I’ll talk you through more of the why behind the pairings.

Maintenance Tips For White Cabinet Paint

No matter what color your cabinets are, you need to use care when cleaning them. However, because white cabinets tend to show more dirt and grime, you’ll need to use a little extra care as you wash them.

One of the biggest worries of white kitchen cabinet paint is the potential to get stained. (I’m looking at you, marinara sauce.) When getting out stains, vinegar, and baking soda are your friends. For your run-of-the-mill stains, combine:

• 1 cup vinegar
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 Tbsp baking soda

This mixture will work wonders on your general cleaning and stains. If you find yourself with an extra stubborn stain, make a paste out of baking soda, vinegar, and water and let it sit on the stain for a few minutes before rinsing it off. These two cleaning methods will conquer most stains your everyday living will throw at your white kitchen cabinets.

If you’re worried about your white kitchen cabinets getting chipped, the repair method is no different than any other cabinetry color. To fix this, you’ll need some matching touch-up paint, a touch-up pen, a paintbrush, or a foam brush. Simply dab the paint lightly onto the surface of the chip. Let it dry completely before adding another coat. (It may take a few coats before the chip blends in and disappears.)

With these tips, you’ll be able to keep your white kitchen cabinets looking fresh and clean for years to come.

General Paint Must-Knows

What is Paint “Sheen” And How Does It Play Out In A Space?

The sheen of paint is how shiny or dull it is. There is an entire spectrum (see below) ranging from completely matte to glossy, and everything between. I prefer a satin sheen because it’s the perfect balance of not too dull or too shiny. Shiny paint can appear plastic or fake, but something too matte won’t wear well over time against grease and oil.

Sheen Spectrum:

Matte

Dull

Eggshell

Satin

Semi-gloss

Gloss

What Should People Know Before Picking Their Paint Color? 

You’ve got to consider what is happening with the rest of the room: flooring, walls, trim, hardware, lighting, and art will all play a part in how a room comes together. You have to ensure your paint color is cohesive with everything else as part of the overall game plan. You can’t just design a room and then drop in cabinets at the end—holistic design sense is key.

Paint Colors, Cabinetry, Design And More

There’s so much to consider when choosing paint for your cabinetry, and while there are some basic tips outlined above, sometimes you still need a professional to help you find the perfect choice for your home. That’s where our team comes in. While our team is based in Utah, we offer custom cabinetry design for clients nationwide. No matter where you are in the United States, Christopher Scott Cabinetry is your best choice for luxury custom cabinetry. Contact us today to find out how we can create the home of your dreams!