The best small kitchen paint colors can range from subtle pale neutrals to vibrant and bold tones or dark and moody shades. From wall and ceiling paint to cabinetry and kitchen islands, there are paint colors to complement and elevate petite kitchens of every design style, from traditional to farmhouse and modern.
Check out these designer recommendations for small kitchen paint colors to spark your imagination.
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01
of 28Shades of Pink
Brighten a small galley kitchen with shades of pink for a vibrant tonal look. This London kitchen blends coral pink cabinetry (Pluck’s Ritzy) with Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster, a dusty pale pink, on the walls.
“The joy of color in smaller kitchens is the high impact it can have, concentrated by the size of the space,” says Leila Touwen, co-founder of Pluck. ”These two shades in combination mean this room glows with pink, whilst the different tones add depth and layers to the scheme.”
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02
of 28Warm White
White paint is a designer favorite to enhance and amplify natural light in small kitchens.
”One of my favorite small kitchen colors is Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee on cabinets and walls,” says interior designer Alvin Wayne. ”I love this color because it’s a good creamy neutral and it reflects light so well.”
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03
of 28Green
Design by Blessed Little Bungalow / Marc Mauldin Photography Inc.
Paint your kitchen cabinets green to transform a smaller space.
”Kitchens are the heart of the home, so that heart should beat with good energy and joy, now matter the size,” says Amber Guyton of Blessed Little Bungalow. ”Green is an inviting, gender-neutral, good-energy hue that can add warmth and excitement to any kitchen, especially smaller ones with lack of natural light.”
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04
of 28Vintage Blue
Complement a kitchen with original architectural details in a medium-toned shade of vintage blue, like this space from deVOL Kitchens.
”I think color is a completely personal choice and a decision that should be primarily based around the atmosphere you want to create, rather than trying to make a small room look big,” says Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL. ”However small a room is, if you want moody and atmospheric then go dark or bold or busy, if you want it to look clean and minimal then go for light pale colors.”
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05
of 28Deep and Dark Green
Parker suggests skipping wall cabinets to make a smaller kitchen feel larger, like this kitchen with deep, dark green base cabinetry.
”A small kitchen filled with dramatic colors, textures, and eclectic accessories can become big in personality which can also visually give a sense of a large space,” Parker says. ”There is a sense that big is better, but in actual fact, a small richly colored kitchen can be the most alluring of spaces, holding a certain charm and beauty that is hard to achieve in a large space.”
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06
of 28Blue and Green
Don’t let a smaller space prevent you from using more than one color.
”In an apartment kitchen, selecting the right colors can greatly enhance the space,” says Paulina Hospod, president of Aha Interiors in New York City. ”Blue and green are a favored color pairing in interior design, as they evoke a sense of harmony and tranquility while reflecting the beauty of nature.”
Check in Various Lighting
”When selecting a color, consider how it interacts with the light from the window,” says Hospod. ”Be sure to check swatches in various lighting conditions before making a final decision.”
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07
of 28Creamy Taupe
Taupe is a versatile neutral that works well in a small kitchen. Interior designer Valerie Darden of Brexton Cole Interiors favors off-white taupe for a smaller kitchen, such as Vintage Taupe by Benjamin Moore and Taupe of the Morning by Sherwin-Williams.
”I love this color because it’s traditional and bright,” she says.
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08
of 28Dark Brown
”My other favorite color right now is a moody dark brown,” Darden says, such as Farrow & Ball Tanner’s Brown. ”Browns are coming back in style right now for kitchens from paint to natural hardwood. Brown cabinets paired with white marble countertops are very chic.”
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09
of 28Light Gray
Incorporate shades of light gray for an airy look that is softer than all-white. In a smaller space with plenty of natural light, gray walls will look equally luminous while adding a hint of color.
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10
of 28Mint Green
Mint green is a refreshing color that can complement both traditional and modern spaces. Pair the pastel shade with grass green backsplash tiles for a complementary look.
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11
of 28Blue and White
Audrey Frances Design / Larsen Arts Photography
Blue and white is a classic paint color combination for modern, traditional, or coastal kitchens. Audrey Frances Doty of Audrey Frances Design paired Sherwin-Williams’ Inky Blue and Snowbound in this petite kitchen.
”Inky Blue is a calming muted blue with gray undertones that is a bold addition and just enough of a statement for a small space,” she says. ”It was the perfect color for this space, providing a cool, calming effect.”
She chose Snowbound to create a monochromatic look with the off-white pearlescent backsplash, while Inky Blue was chosen for the lower cabinets to anchor the space.
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12
of 28Red and Pink
Red kitchens are bold and stimulating. Pair soft shades of red and pink to complement a traditional space, or choose a bright tomato red for a contemporary kitchen.
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13
of 28Orange
You can make a bold statement in a smaller kitchen with a single accent color. This space from Mary Patton Design pairs a vibrant orange kitchen island with a copper backsplash to add warmth to an otherwise black-and-white kitchen.
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14
of 28Powder Blue
Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Try a powder blue shade for base cabinets for a subtle pairing that will complement a basement kitchenette like this one from interior designer Velinda Hellen. This shade will also work well to add a touch of blue to farmhouse kitchen cabinets.
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15
of 28Terracotta
Choose warm earth-tone colors like terracotta to infuse a smaller space with warmth. Michelle Berwick Design painted base cabinetry and a scalloped range hood in a soft shade of terracotta to complement light wood tones and terracotta tiles on the kitchen island to add personality to this small open-concept kitchen.
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16
of 28Blue-Black
Define zones in a small kitchen with a dark shade of blue-black paint, like this kitchen bar painted in Soot by Benjamin Moore, a black shade with deep blue undertones.
”I love to bring in bolder colors to smaller kitchens,” says interior designer Jessica Nelson. ”I like to lean into their small nature and make them fun, personal, and special. I think this really elevates them from just another ’little white kitchen’ to something more unique in my eyes.”
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17
of 28Olive Green
Nelson paired dark green paint (Ripe Olive by Sherwin-Williams) with wallpaper featuring a similar background color in this cozy room.
”I love the richness this paint brings to this smaller kitchen,” Nelson says. ”We were especially excited to also incorporate wallpaper into this space.”
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18
of 28Rosy Taupe
Blend darker and lighter shades to create depth in a small open-plan kitchen. The walls and ceilings of this space are painted in a delicate red-based taupe (Dimity by Farrow & Ball). A wall of cabinets is defined with Farrow & Ball’s French Gray, and the island is finished in a blue-based off-black (Farrow & Ball’s Railings).
”Our influence for this kitchen came from English design,” says Nelson. ”I love how the darker island anchors the space.”
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19
of 28Sandy Beige
Soften a small farmhouse kitchen with shades of off-white and sandy beige. Nelson painted the walls of this space with Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore, covered cabinets in Hidden Cove by Sherwin-Williams and finished trim with Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.
”This Dutch Colonial is almost a hundred years old and we wanted a timeless paint color to reflect that,” Nelson says. ”I love how this color adds depth to the room without being dark or moody.”
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20
of 28Creamy White
Creamy whites will brighten a small kitchen without making it look too sterile. Nelson chose White Dove by Benjamin Moore for a fresh and clean feel.
”To ensure this kitchen isn’t boring we brought in lots of texture with warm wood and rattan stools and a natural fiber pendant over the island,” she says.
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21
of 28Bright Yellow
Create a vibrant feel in a small contemporary kitchen with bright shades of yellow. Pair with white countertops and natural wood accents to transform a minimalist space.
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22
of 28Sage Green
Sage green kitchen cabinets are timeless and versatile, complementing both traditional and modern spaces. Michelle Berwick Design added warmth to this small cottage kitchen with sage green cabinets to complement white walls.
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23
of 28Navy Blue
Choose navy blue paint to add definition to cabinets in a smaller kitchen, like this space from Erin Williamson Design. Pair with white walls and black-and-white checkerboard flooring for a timeless look that can complement a traditional, modern, or coastal kitchen.
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24
of 28Dark Taupe
Give a small galley kitchen a moody feel with dark taupe cabinetry. A large window in this space ensures that the darker paint color doesn’t shrink the space.
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25
of 28Cool White
Choose a cool, bright white to complement a modern kitchen. This apartment kitchen corner from Studio Peake has clean white walls that complement sleek slab cabinetry, built-in appliances, a textured white tile backsplash, and open shelving.
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26
of 28Dark Blue-Gray
Paint a small eat-in kitchen in a deep shade of blue-gray for a cozy and enveloping feel. Accent the moody wall color with natural greenery and a pop of neon yellow to give it a lift.
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27
of 28Off White
Choose an off-white shade of paint to complement a smaller kitchen. Paint the walls, ceilings, and cabinetry in the same color to make the space feel larger, like this kitchen from Desiree Burns Interiors that is finished with a light beige zellige tile backsplash and warm aged brass accents.
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28
of 28Black
Define a smaller kitchen in a large open-plan room with deep saturated black paint. Choose a matte finish to add dimension to floor-to-ceiling black kitchen cabinets and accent with white, wood, and gold tones to keep it from feeling too dark.