Image Source: Wellborn Cabinet
Something about grey works just perfectly for kitchens. The color teeters between a relaxing neutrality and an exciting warmth, managing to provide the best of both worlds. Of course, depending on what shade of grey you choose, your kitchen could be closer to one end or the other.
It is the perfect color to choose for your kitchen remodeling project, whether you want to contrast brighter hues on your floor or fabrics, create textured variations in your kitchen space, or create an exciting yet relaxing space. One area where it has become common is in kitchen cabinets. More and more homeowners are opting out of the popular all-white or wood-brown cabinet styles to try out grey painted kitchen cabinets.
One common reason why homeowners avoid grey is the color’s association with dullness, modesty, and boredom. However, any other color scheme can also be given these attributes. It all depends on how you mix and match. In our round up of grey cabinets below, you can see how different colors and textures are used to create an amazing style with grey cabinets being a big part of it. If you are not so sure of your mix-and-match skills, a talk with an interior designer might provide some guidance.
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BEACH STYLE
Heydt Designs
Great slate gray island in this beach style eat-in kitchen.
GRAY & BROWN
Home & Stone
Traditional rich feel to this kitchen. Like the contrast of the dark brown island.
SHAKER GRAY
Murphy & Co. Design
Nice clean look to this wet bar.
CLASSIC GALLEY
Capital Area Remodeling, LLC
Soft gray color looks nice with the white backsplash. Love the lights.
WOOD ISLAND
Cason Graye Homes
The deep rich wood counter is a nice departure from the typical granite and quartz countertops you see quite often.
TTAINABLE GRAY
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Pretty kitchen that seems attainable to almost any budget. Love the farmhouse sink!
DRAWER SPACE
Nordby Design Studio, Architecture & Interiors LLC
Beautiful gray shaker cabinets–lots of drawers!
WINE STORAGE
Shenandoah Cabinetry
This gray cabinet is a wonderful idea for the organized wine lover. OR to get that wine lover organized.
ELEGANT
Revision LLC
This kitchen is so elegant. Love the contrast of the large white island with the gray cabinets.
RABESQUE
venue B Development
I think it’s interesting that they carried the Arabesque tiles all the way to the ceiling.
The Psychology of the Color Gray
At first glance, gray seems like an odd color to choose for the kitchen, an area that is often associated with bright and overly warm colors. Why is it then, that more and more homeowners are opting for gray-themed kitchens? The answer is in the psychology of the color.
A kitchen where everything is gray in color is bound to be dull and quite depressing. Can you imagine a gray floor, gray walls, gray ceiling, gray everything? But in this case, we are talking about using one aspect of the kitchen, the cabinets, to create the perfect décor for your cooking space. A kitchen adorned with gray cabinets, and the right matching colors, is far from dull or depressing. The psychological experience is far more positive.
There is a feeling of expectation. Gray cabinets build anticipation for other aspects of the kitchen. You cannot wait to see the countertop, the floor, the backsplash and so on. In a way, gray allows other elements of the kitchen décor to stand out. Instead of boring, gray actually makes the kitchen more exciting.An atmosphere of style and luxury. Step into a gray-themed kitchen and you will think you are in some high-end condo. Gray has an unmistakable feeling of classic style and unmitigated luxury.Relaxing yet exciting. There is a certain hard-to-explain way in which gray causes a deep sense of relaxation yet sparking excitement through its contrast with other nearby colors and textures.
The gray color is a projection of attributes such as cool, wise, knowledgeable, quiet, peaceful, and clean. Gray cabinets will transform your kitchen into a place of tranquility, warmth and relaxation. What more would you want for one of the most important spaces in your home?
STORAGE
Inspired Dwelling
Great storage space in this warm gray kitchen.
BASEMENT BAR
Sebring Design Build
Contemporary basement bar. Love the hanging pendants.
GRAY STAIN
East End Country Kitchens
Gray stain look cabinets in this contemporary kitchen. Pre-finished veneer called Shinnoki (Dusk Frakke). The cabinets with undercounter lamps are great if you can keep them neat.
SHAKER
Tom Howley Kitchens
This kitchen island is shown in a soft gray. Very bright and light. The Mazzano tumbled marble floors work well with this design.
Choosing What Shade of Grey Cabinets You Want
Companies like Benjamin Moore stock more than a dozen variants of grey, each with its own character and effects. For example, Fieldstone by Benjamin Moore is closer to white while avoiding its sterility. On the other hand, Dragons Breath by Benjamin Moore gets threateningly close to tan, providing a good complement for brown wood flooring.
Make sure that you test out different shades in different lighting situations. Most paint suppliers provide samples that you can test with. One shade can appear ashy in one type of lighting and bluish in another.
COASTAL COOL
William Quarles/Kitchen Design by Jill Frey
These cabinets in this coastal kitchen are a lovely light gray.
ISLAND GETAWAY
rtistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs
Awesome island, love the crisscross detail on the end and the extra thick Carrara countertop. Looks like two shades of gray used in this kitchen.
GRAY ISLAND
Paragon Kitchens
The dark gray island is a nice pairing with the white wall cabinets and countertops. Wonderful extended island.
CORNERED
Hyde Evans Design
A very traditional and timeless look in a unique area of the home.
Mix and Match Different Cabinet Colors and Surfaces
One popular option is grey and white kitchen cabinets, which creates a gentle contrast. You can go for grey cabinets and a white countertop or grey lower cabinets and all-white upper wall cabinets. You can take a look at these kitchen remodeling ideas from our previous projects.
You can also choose grey painted cabinets to match a grey floor, making sure to choose contrasting shades of grey for both surfaces. For instance, a light grey wood tile floor could work well with dark grey cabinets.
Grey does not have to be boring, dull, or safe. It can be fun, exciting, and even unique. To prove it to you, here are some amazing grey cabinets that work perfectly for the space they are in.
GRAY PENDANTS
Kitchens & Bath Décor
The lights match the cabinets!
BLACKOUT
Niche Interiors
I like the look of this dark black countertop in this transitional kitchen. Cool rectangular pendant lights.
CONTEMPORARY
Cucina Bella Ltd – Rebecca Gagne CKD
Very contemporary kitchen. Cabinets are European laminate high gloss lacquer.
CHARCOAL GRAY
Michael Abrams Limited
Dark charcoal cabinets displayed in this sophisticated Chicago bathroom.
CALM & COLLECTED
John Kraemer & Sons
Gorgeous detailed kitchen. Look at the backsplash over the stove! Love the lights and the chairs that add a pop of color.
TRADITIONAL BATH
JD Smith Custom Homes
Extremely traditional and elegant.
BEACH HOUSE BATH
Rachel Reider Interiors
Love the drawers and overall style of the cabinet and how the window is incorporated into the design.
MASCULINE MASTER
Emerick Architects
A very masculine feeling to this dark gray master bathroom.
PRETTY MASTER
Shelter Interiors LLC
Pretty master bathroom. The gray base colors are so soft and comforting. You could pair almost any color (accessories) in this room to create the atmosphere you want.
MIRROR MIRROR
manda Teal Design
Unique mirrors, faucets and fixtures in this gray bathroom.
SLEEK MASTER
Positive Space Staging and Design Inc.
Sleek contemporary gray master bathroom.
BRASS & GRAY
Romanelli & Hughes Custom Home Builders
I guess brass is coming back? Personally not a fan of the brass, but I love the door style and position of the hardware.
MEGA STORAGE
SID San Diego Chapter
Awe-inspiring storage. If you can’t find room in this master bath, then it is time to de-clutter! I love how the mirrors hang in front of the windows. This brings in so much natural light.
COASTAL POWDER
Splice Design
Pretty gray furniture-like cabinet in this coastal powder room.
HIS AND HERS
Cambridge Construction LLC
Absolutely love the vanity in this his and hers bathroom. The lights are so pretty and all the other design elments balance out so well.
CLASSIC BATH
dRemodeling
This is just a classic clean hall bath with storm gray cabinets. I like the simple storage tower in the center of the sinks.
BUILT-IN
Katherine Wills Interiors
Very clean look to this contemporary built-in.
HOME OFFICE
SID San Diego Chapter
This gray built-in looks fantastic in this home office.
CONTEMPORARY STORAGE
Wettling Architects
Contemporay bedroom closet and entertainment storage.
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Emerick Architects
A very masculine feeling to this dark gray master bathroom.
ELEGANT LAUNDRY
Bradshaw Designs LLC
Very elegant laundry room that you almost wouldn’t mind spending a lot of time in.
GRAY MUDROOM LOCKER
Greenable
Great use of space in this enclosed front porch mudroom.
GRAY LAUNDRY
Cranberry Hill Kitchens
Love the farmhouse sink and white backsplash in this gray laundry room.
MUDROOM
Sebring Design Build
Smart and attractive way to keep your mudroom organized.
Why Choose Gray Kitchen Cabinets?
One of the benefits of using gray cabinets is that they do not reveal dirt as easily as white cabinets do. White cabinets are great to look at, but they reveal grime readily. White cabinets have ruled the home design landscape for a long time, but they have a significant disadvantage. Against white cabinetry, each smudge, stain, or droplet of liquid will stand out. Gray cabinets, on the other hand, are a little more forgiving.
Furthermore, gray kitchen cabinets do not make a room appear gloomy or heavy. When it comes to kitchen design, black can make a statement, but it can also make the space appear dreary or dull. Although dark cabinets are growing more trendy, they are not the best option. If you are drawn to the color black but are concerned that the kitchen will be too dark, you might opt for gray.
Furthermore, the gray tone of the cabinets allows for customization. While some may consider gray to be neutral or uninteresting, it comes in a variety of colors that can be used. A bluish-gray, for example, is appropriate for settings with colder tones. French gray, meanwhile, has warmer tones and can almost be read as affection. It goes well with the warmer colors when combined with French gray. You can use different colors depending on the color of the other surfaces. Furthermore, the majority of the grays complement other hues such as purple and green.
Furthermore, having grey cabinets in the kitchen is advantageous since they complement a variety of surfaces. Gray cabinets have been seen with solid surface and marble counters, which are common choices for countertops. On the other hand, Gray looks well with laminate and butcher block, especially if you’re looking for a low-cost option.
Another advantage of gray cabinets is that they tend to last a long time. Gray may be found in the majority of Scandinavian kitchens. These kitchens are cutting-edge in terms of design. Although grays are not particularly trendy for traditional kitchen designs, they offer distinctive elements and have a place in the current kitchen scene. So, if you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, choose gray—it’s fashionable, cozy, and resistant to filth.
Styling Gray Kitchen Cabinets
In terms of choosing a color for a room’s décor, it is not a simple task. Before you can choose a palette, you must first decide on a style while also considering practicality. Gray has the advantage of being extremely versatile. It may be adapted to any location or style. A kitchen with grey cabinets will appear fashionable in a majority of instances and will balance out things.
If you want to customize your gray cabinets, consider the additional colors you employ. Gray cabinetry in the kitchen can be combined with warm materials and hues. The issue about gray is that when compared to other colors, it might appear cold and austere. A kitchen, for example, needs to be both warm and inviting, which means that utilizing gray alone can be difficult. You need to match it with a warm material like wood and vibrant accent colors like red, orange, and yellow to bring out some cheer.
Maintain a neutral kitchen tone to allow the material to shine out. When you use costly materials to decorate your kitchens, such as marble or wood, it adds too much color, distracting. As a result, keeping the color palette neutral and letting the materials stand out is an excellent idea.
You may also wish to utilize light colors to give the kitchen a cheerful and open appearance. Sometimes you want your minimalist kitchen to appear light and spacious. If this is the case, a dark color like gray may not be the best choice. Choose a lighter color or paint the walls white to make the décor appear fresh and airy.
The use of gray in subway tiles creates a one-of-a-kind aesthetic. Having distinctive backsplashes is now a popular trend in most kitchen décors. On the other hand, a normal subway tile appears to be the most classic and appealing option.
Light Versus Dark Gray Cabinetry
Your particular preferences will determine the color of your gray kitchen cabinets. However, the qualities of the kitchen have a role as well. For example, if the room appears small or there is limited natural sunlight, utilizing dark cabinets can create a minimalist vibe in the kitchen—it feels smaller and darker. Light tones tend to reflect light back into the space, whereas rich, saturated hues absorb light. As a result, light shades will increase the brightness of the room. Gray cabinets and dark gray tones are ideal for grounding a larger area in compact spaces.
Warm Versus Cool Cabinetry Color
Gray may appear to be a direct neutral; yet, other hues such as reds, blues, and yellows have a strong influence on it. The gray color may appear warmer or cooler depending on the undertone or influencing color. For example, a gray color combined with a blue undertone produces a steely hue. In addition, gray kitchen cabinets with a red undertone provide a putty tone that is comparable to taupe. If you want to examine how different shades function in your area, tape paint chips with different gray hues next to each other on the wall. Examine those shades throughout the day—you’ll notice color fluctuations. You can select the colors that appeal to you the most.
Painted Versus Stained Cabinets
In terms of gray kitchen cabinets, you have two options: stained cabinets or painted cabinets. You might have painted cabinets covered in an opaque gray tone or stained cabinets with a translucent finish that enables some wood grain to be seen. In terms of cabinetry painting and staining, there are numerous options.
They bring in a clean, even hue with painted cabinetry. They are also easy to clean, but stained cabinets have a textured appearance that draws attention to the wood beneath. However, with a protective coating, you can make stained cabinets easier to clean.
Grey can be a surprisingly fun color, as is evident in our article. With some creativity and the right match-ups, grey cabinets could work great for your kitchen. Whether you are planning a remodel or building a new house, consider some grey additions to your kitchen. If you need help with advice or ideas, we are always here to help.
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