Do your kitchen cabinets look drab or do they steal the show? Upgrading kitchen cabinets can be pricey, coming in at an average price tag of $5,000. While a kitchen remodel generally offers a healthy return on your investment, implementing the top kitchen-cabinet colors of 2021 can give the appearance of a new kitchen for less. If you think your kitchen can use some extra pizazz, consider these kitchen cabinet color trends of 2021 and the ones coming for 2022. 

How to choose the perfect hue 

Kitchen trends, as well as kitchen cabinet color choices, come and go. Heavily grained wood cabinets were popular in the 1970s, while cherry-stained wood was a favorite during the early 2000s. Theoretically, kitchen cabinets can be any color under the sun. However, if youre selling your home, youll want to choose carefully. 

When it comes to choosing the color of your kitchen cabinets, there are several considerations to keep in mind:

• The color of your walls
• The mood you want to create in your kitchen
• The style of your kitchen
• If the color easily shows dirt, requiring frequent cleaning
• Whether you want to achieve a contrasting or coordinated appearance 

From there, you can take your pick from these kitchen cabinet color trends and apply it to your own kitchen. 

Whites 

Lets start with white. White cabinets are nothing new, yet they are one of the hottest kitchen cabinet color trends of 2021. Both buyers and homeowners love the look of white cabinets. This includes many shades of white, such as warm white, cool white and even cream.

This is no coincidence, as white offers several psychological benefits, including balance, especially when the kitchen is chaotic and messy. White also vibes with most kitchen styles, so this trend is nearly always safe to inject into your own space. 

Two tones

Two-tone cabinets  the upper cabinets in one color, the lower cabinets in another  are a big trend for 2021. Adding an eye-catching touch to your kitchen, two-tone cabinets can come in infinite color combinations  including black and white or gray and white. Some homeowners choose to paint the top kitchen cabinets a standout color, such as blue, with the bottom color being neutral. If you have a kitchen island, another alternative is painting it one color, and all the other cabinets in the room  upper and lower  another. That works well when you are trying to inject color into your kitchen without a possible overwhelming effect.

Greiges

A mix of gray and beige, this color can be a key element of a warm palette. Warm colors are well-known to add an air of tremendous comfort to a home  especially so in the midst of a pandemic, when your home should feel like a safe space. With the versatility of greige cabinets, you can take your pick of hardware color, which can either key into that warm palette or contrast it, for a little added gleam. (Think brushed brass, a very current finish.) 

Grays

Imagining a sophisticated kitchen? Gray is an excellent choice. This color creates a sleek, smooth, calming aura while bringing depth to the cabinets. Grays come in an array of different hues, and the shade can make a difference in the appearance of your kitchen. One design tip: Small kitchens work best with light-gray cabinets, as more light reflects from this color, making the space feel larger. If youre in doubt, take paint samples and tape them to your cabinet doors. This will give you an idea of how to choose the best shade of gray for your kitchen cabinets. 

Browns 

Brown will likely never go out of style it evokes earth, nature, natural materials  and there are several shades that are quite popular in 2021. If you are considering brown cabinets, warm tones of brown evoke emotions of security and protection. Brown cabinets can also help you achieve a rustic appearance in the kitchen. 

Blues

Dark blue also makes an appearance in the list of kitchen cabinet color trends of 2021. Navy blue kitchen cabinets, specifically, are quite on-trend, as they are both beautiful and versatile; they mix well with wood, copper, stainless and other finishes in the kitchen. How to make blue cabinets work in your kitchen? Pair them with a white or pale gray backsplash. Meanwhile, burnished gold or brushed-brass hardware on navy blue cabinets looks positively sophisticated. 

Whats coming for 2022?

What are the kitchen cabinet trends for 2022? If you are looking into new paint colors for your cabinets for next year, these are a few of the top predictions:

Gorgeous grees

This just in from Veranda magazine: If the announcements from leading paint companies on their 2022 colors of the year have any indication (PPG, Sherwin-Williams, and Valspar all chose shades of green), bringing the beauty of the outdoors in will remain a key design element for kitchens in 2022. Whether you prefer a moody, muted green [or a more energizing green], the future is looking bright for green interiors, and thats especially true for the kitchen.

Citrus shades 

Want an especially bright and vibrant kitchen? Youre in luck. Citrus shades will likely make an appearance for kitchen cabinets in 2022, says Southern Living magazine. Lemon yellow and lime cabinets will quickly catch the eye. With citrus-color cabinets, its hard not to feel happy every time you step into your kitchen. 

Ocean blues

Behr, another well-respected paint company, just announced its 2022 color of the year as Breezeway, a muted silvery green shade that reminds many of soothing tropical beaches. Breezeway and brighter, richer ocean blues ones that pack a punch will find themselves on kitchen cabinets in 2022. 

Keep an eye out for more 2022 colors of the year, such as Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams, Guacamole by Glidden and Orchid Ash by Valspar. These colors can point you to even more kitchen-cabinet color trends that will no doubt leave you feeling inspired.