When designing your kitchen, a functional layout and high-quality appliances are the first things that to come to mind. However, we believe color and style should get equal room on the vision board for your dream space. Black and white will always be the best-sellers for kitchen color schemes, but there's another option that's just as timeless and versatile: blue. From navy to cobalt, robin's egg to teal, a blue kitchen works across decades and design styles and will never go out of style.
Opt for a blue paint color in a semi-gloss finish to bring attention to detailed woodwork, or go bold with a high-gloss or lacquered finish for glamour. Just be sure to use a final sealant for a lasting finish, advises Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "For flawless-looking kitchen cabinets, try the Gallery Series Waterborne Topcoat," she suggests. "This self-sealing, professional-grade, spray-only product with effortless application is our most recommended product for kitchen remodels."
The color blue is known to promote feelings of relaxation and tranquility, the ideal fix for when the Thanksgiving turkey is taking forever or when wine spills all over your marble counters. Blue works with any design vision. Whether you're a minimalist, a maximalist, or something in between, blue kitchen cabinets can take your kitchen to the next level. Below, we've gathered 20 of the best blue kitchen cabinet color ideas from designers to spark your inspiration—or kick-start your renovation.
Slate Blue Cabinets and Wallpaper
Designer Sheila Bridges elevated the blue kitchen cabinets in her own kitchen (painted in Benjamin Moore Hemlock, a cool slate blue with a hint of green) with patterned damask wallpaper from her own collection and an antique pot rack and Swedish chairs. The slight sheen of the wallpaper complements the silver hardware and accents used throughout the space; the floors are painted in Farrow & Ball All White.
Blue Cabinets and Subway Tile
Designer Jenn Feldman proves a monochromatic blue kitchen can be exciting in this Los Angeles kitchen. The navy subway tile is set in a modern chevron pattern with subtle tonal grout instead of white. It matches the cabinets but adds a shiny, reflective finish that makes the room look richer and more interesting.
Blue-Green Cabinets and Plate Rack
Blue lower kitchen cabinets frame this kitchen designed by Heidi Caillier, freeing the upper two-thirds of the wall. Custom built-in shelving backed in beadboard with an English-style plate rack offers room to display cookbooks, plate, and art.
Soothing Light Blue Cabinets and Island
Eneia White designed this kitchen in a Brooklyn townhouse to be a comfortable gathering space. Modern kitchen cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore Manor Blue offer plenty of open shelving, contributing to the open and airy feel of the space.
Light Blue Cabinets and Trim
Blue kitchen cabinets and molding painted in Benjamin Moore Soft Chinchilla give this Upper East Side kitchen designed by Garrow Kedigian a light, cheerful energy. "I always like my kitchens to feel like rooms and not utilitarian spaces, so I always encourage my clients to paint their kitchens with a lively color," he says. The black granite backsplash and countertops add sophistication and depth.
Blue IKEA Kitchen Cabinets
Designer Cameron Schwabenton elevated glossy dark blue cabinets from IKEA with brass hardware. It's just one of many high-low tricks she pulled off in this South Carolina guest house.
Robin's Egg Blue
Light and bright doesn't have to mean white. Create for a spring-like atmosphere by painting your kitchen cabinets in a cheerful light blue to help reflect sunlight. It's a great way to open up a small or cramped space.
Regal Navy
For a dramatic take on the blue cabinets, adorn every inch of your kitchen with a rich, deep navy blue. Gilded accents, like the brass cabinet inlays, make take-out feel Michelin-star-worthy.
Subtle Slate
To soften a room with industrial features like concrete and brick, choose a muted shade of blue. Oversized knobs add a playful touch.
Antique Blue Cabinets
If French Country is your preferred aesthetic, take a fine-grit sandpaper to your cabinets after painting them sky blue for a weathered and off-to-the-country kind of look.
Glamorous Cobalt
Glitz and glam isn't limited to jewel tone colors. A striking cobalt blue can be equally dramatic in a glossy finish as seen in this butler pantry. Pair it with a metallic backsplash for high drama.
Yves Klein Blue Island
Despite its graphic appearance, Yves Klein Blue is actually quite timeless. It dates back to the 1950s when the artist would make monochrome paintings inspired by the shade. Take your cue from him and give your cabinets a solid, eye-catching wash of color.
Provincial Blue Everywhere
Embrace the cottagecore decor trend and opt for a soft sky blue to adorn your kitchen's walls and cabinetry. Shelves painted in the same hue keep the space feeling light and open.
Monochrome Gray-Blue
Moody and cocooning, a gray-blue is perfect for spaces where you want to feel a sense of coziness. This space features the shade from ceiling to floor, except for a tonal stripe along one wall for added visual interest, no artwork needed.
Glossy Teal
Like a powder room, a pantry is a great space to have some fun in. Embrace the close quarters and envelop the space a rich teal. Opt for glass cabinet fronts or open counters to keep the small room from feeling too cluttered.
Indigo Blue Upper and Lower Cabinets
Indigo blue is ideal for fans of cool tones since it straddles the line between navy and purple. Plus, the sleek shade works in nearly any design style, from modern farmhouse to industrial.
Light Blue Cabinets With Copper
If you know copper will be your kitchen's metallic accent, use the color wheel to your advantage and pair the orange-toned metal with cabinets painted in a light blue to complement as well as contrast.
Marine Blue Lower Cabinets
A timeless and historical classic, a deep blue-green gives depth and dimension to simple cabinets while not being as stark as black. When paired with creamy walls, the hue grounds the cabinetry.
High-Shine Navy Cabinets With Brass
Designer Reena Ravi broke up the navy cabinets in her studio kitchen with brass fronts to add detail and accentuate the soaring ceilings. The metallic touches also prevent a total wash of the dark hue, ensuring it doesn't overwhelm the small space.
Powder Blue and White Cabinets
For a colorful but not overwhelming look, paint your kitchen cabinetry in a pastel blue. When paired with white, it gives a subtle and cheerful wash of color.
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