Ready to elevate your kitchen cabinets? Two-toned kitchen cabinets could be the perfect solution. In today’s post, I’ll share my own journey to update my tuxedo kitchen cabinets (Article) with my favorite lower cabinet paint colors to pair with white uppers.
I’ve had a two-toned kitchen with white uppers and gray lowers since we moved into this house. I love this kitchen, but lately I’ve been wanting a bit more color in this space. I am a paint color consultant after all!
So, I started searching for some bolder, more modern cabinet paint colors (Article) I could use for my lower cabinets and kitchen island. And I found some really beautiful options! I’m keeping my upper cabinets white (Sherwin-Williams Pure White (Article) and now I need your help to choose my lower cabinet paint colors. In the rest of this guide, I’ll be sharing realistic Photoshop renderings of my kitchen with different cabinet paint colors.
These are exactly the kind of paint color mock-ups we make for many of our Exterior color consultation clients, and they’re a fantastic way to really see how a paint color looks in your space. (Of course, this does not replace paint color testing (Article) in your home, which I’ll address later!)
We are considering offering renderings for cabinet consultations. Please let us know if you think this would be a good service.
Keep reading to explore my favorite lower cabinet paint colors and be sure to weigh in with comments to let me know which color you think I should choose!
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Our 10 Favorite Lower Cabinet & Kitchen Island Paint Colors
Below are the Photoshop renderings of my top picks for lower cabinet paint colors in a two-toned kitchen cabinet palette. I’ll also be painting my kitchen island the same color as the lowers.
Benjamin Moore Plum Raisin
BM Plum Raisin (Sample) is a truly unique and gorgeous paint color! Sherwin-Williams doesn’t have an equivalent (and believe me, I’ve looked!). With an LRV of 9.91, Plum Raisin is warm, but muted. It’s almost a burgundy, but not quite.
It reminds me a lot of this gorgeous Strathberry purse I once had (they call this color Oxblood).
On lower kitchen cabinets, Plum Raisin is just really lovely and adds such a bold pop of color to the space. I feel like they make my kitchen come alive!
I’m not sure if I’ll end up using this paint color, because my adjacent dining room is painted with Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue and they don’t really complement each other, but I love this hue so much I might just need to make it work!
Sherwin-Williams Sommelier
Sherwin-Williams Sommelier (Sample) is the darkest red cabinet color I’m featuring today, with an LRV of 5. This color is closer to a classic burgundy than Plum Raisin, and it’s so gorgeous.
I’ve used this as a cabinet paint color in my practice before, as well as an exterior front door color and even exterior trim on a Victorian house color palette. It’s such a deep but still colorful hue, and it looks really pretty alongside the warm white upper cabinets.
Sherwin-Williams Blustery Sky
Moving on to blue kitchen cabinet paint colors! Sherwin-Williams Blustery Sky (Sample) is the lightest blue hue I’m testing for my two-toned cabinets. This is a great option if you love the idea of white and blue cabinets but don’t want anything too dark.
With an LRV of 22 and warm green undertones, Blustery Sky cabinets offer plenty of color but keep the space feeling light and airy, offering an almost coastal vibe that works even if you’re near the mountains of Colorado like me. They also contrast really beautifully with my warm wood chairs and floors.
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
The darkest blue I’m testing for my kitchen cabinets is Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (Article), with an LRV of 8.36. This color is a darker, more classic navy blue color, and it’s so surprisingly neutral that you’ll hear people refer to it as a “blue-tral.”
This is a great option if you want more of a classic tuxedo kitchen palette with stronger contrast between your uppers and lowers, but also want something a bit more modern than black and white.
Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green
Now let’s move on to some of the most trending cabinet options: green kitchen cabinet paint colors! Green kitchens have been very popular in recent years, and I’m not surprised! There’s something so beautiful and organic about green cabinets.
Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green (Sample) is one of my personal favorite colors for lower kitchen cabinets. With an LRV of 12 and warm yellow undertones, this color is very muted and surprisingly dark. Sometimes it looks like a warm, earthy neutral, and other times the green is very clear.
If you have a lot of foliage outside your home and large kitchen windows, this color is a great way to tie the outdoors and the indoors together.
Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog (Sample) is another gorgeous green kitchen cabinet color. We’ve used this with clients before for kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and even bedroom built-in cabinets. Paired with the SW Pure White upper cabinets, Evergreen Fog (with an LRV of 30) looks soft, warm, and lovely.
SW Evergreen Fog is very muted, but it has more green than gray. If you want a soft green cabinet color that won’t overwhelm your space, this could be the hue for you.
Sample All Our Favorite Lower Cabinet Paint Colors
Click the links below to get Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples shipped straight to your door.
- Benjamin Moore Plum Raisin
- Sherwin-Williams Sommelier
- Sherwin-Williams Blustery Sky
- Benjamin Moore Hale Navy
- Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green
- Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog
How to Choose Lower Cabinet Paint Colors
Now that we’ve explored my favorite lower cabinet paint colors, let’s talk a little bit about what I’m considering when choosing a color and what you should do if you want to try two-toned kitchen cabinets in your own home.
Consider Your Hard Finishes
Before you choose any paint colors, it’s really important to think about your hard finishes like flooring, tile, backsplash and countertops. Unless you’re doing a complete kitchen remodel, those elements are not likely to change. So you need to be sure the color(s) you choose complement them.
Start With Your Upper Cabinets
Next, choose your upper cabinet paint color. If you’re doing a classic tuxedo kitchen with white uppers, it’s good to pick the white first. While I have a fairly bright white in my kitchen, you can absolutely do the same thing with a warmer, creamier white (as long as it works with your countertops and backsplash).
The cultural convention is to pick a white that is the same (or similar) to your white trim color. If your trim is stained wood, pick a warmer darker white such as Alabaster or Swiss Coffee. Paint your tall cabinets (oven, refrigerator) the white color. If you have a wall of tall pantry cabinets consider painting them the dark lower color.
If you already have white cabinets (Article) that you plan to keep, then just make sure your lowers will complement them.
How should I test cabinet paint colors?
Once you’ve selected some lower cabinet paint colors to try, you must test them properly in your kitchen. It’s not enough to just paint a few strokes on a cabinet face and decide which looks best.
Instead, I recommend getting Samplize peel-and-stick samples, sticking the large swatch on white poster board. If the background is white, no need for the poster board.
Follow these steps to test your paint colors like a pro (Article):
- Make sure one side of the sample is at the edge of the poster board so you can place it next to all the hard finishes and trim.
- Hold the sample against your countertops and backsplashes vertically (same orientation the paint will appear on the cabinets).
- Observe the paint colors throughout the day and in the artificial light in the evening.
Please test the color in natural daylight to make sure all surfaces match each other. If you use artificial light, it can change the undertones of the finishes and paint samples.
Consider the Future of Your Home
Another thing to keep in mind is the resale value of each color. If you’re in your forever home, you can ignore this step and do what makes you happy! But if you’re considering selling your house in the near future, the darker blues and greens are typically better lower cabinet colors for sale than a deep red or other bold hue.
Still, don’t worry too much about whether your cabinet color will go out of style. I actually think colorful cabinets are more timeless than neutral ones. While trending neutrals constantly change (from warm, deep beige to “millennial gray” and warm, creamy whites), bolder colors stand the test of time.
Key Learning Points
Two-toned kitchen cabinets are a timeless design trend that can work in kitchens of all shapes and sizes. Don’t be afraid to go bold with your lower cabinet paint colors!
- Deep red and burgundy cabinet colors are a striking but classic take on a tuxedo kitchen color palette.
- For a more neutral look, try a deep blue or muted green lower kitchen cabinet color.
- Whatever you choose, make sure to test your paint colors carefully to ensure they complement your upper cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and flooring.
Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.
No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors here.
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Related Posts:
- 15 Classic Kitchen Design Elements
- 2025 Kitchen Design Trends
- Best Tuxedo Kitchen Color Palettes
- Best Kitchen Wall Paint Colors
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person. I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, our Online Color Consultations will help you pick your paint colours. Thank you for your understanding.
