These 9 Kitchen Colors Are So 2024 And Here Are 7 That Were Dated Long Before
Kitchen colors have a magical way of transforming your cooking space from drab to fab. Just like fashion, color trends in kitchens come and go, reflecting our changing tastes and lifestyles.
Whether you’re planning a full renovation or just a fresh coat of paint, knowing which colors are hot right now (and which ones make your kitchen look stuck in the past) can make all the difference.
1. Sage Green
Sage green has quietly taken over kitchens everywhere, bringing the calming essence of nature indoors. This muted, earthy tone works brilliantly with both modern and traditional cabinet styles, creating a soothing backdrop for cooking and gathering.
What makes sage so appealing is its versatility it pairs beautifully with brass hardware for warmth or stainless steel for a contemporary edge. Many homeowners love that it feels fresh without being overwhelming.
The color also hides everyday kitchen messes better than lighter shades, making it practical for busy families. If you’re hesitant about committing to colored cabinets, try sage on just your island or lower cabinets for a trendy two-tone look that’s very 2024.
2. Warm Beige
Gone are the days when beige meant boring! The warm beige making waves in 2024 kitchens brings cozy comfort without feeling dated. This isn’t your grandmother’s beige it’s a sophisticated neutral with undertones of amber and honey that creates instant warmth.
Designers are pairing these rich beiges with natural wood elements and textured surfaces for kitchens that feel both luxurious and lived-in. The color creates a perfect backdrop for statement lighting and decorative pieces to really shine.
Warm beige works exceptionally well in open-concept homes, seamlessly connecting kitchen spaces to living areas. For maximum impact, consider warm beige cabinetry alongside dark countertops the contrast creates depth while maintaining that inviting atmosphere that makes everyone want to linger around the kitchen island.
3. Matte Black
Matte black has stormed into kitchen design, bringing drama and sophistication without the harshness of high-gloss finishes. This bold choice creates instant visual impact while somehow managing to be both timeless and thoroughly modern.
The velvety finish absorbs light rather than reflecting it, creating a rich depth that adds character to any kitchen. Fingerprints and water spots are much less visible on matte surfaces a practical bonus for busy cooking spaces.
For those worried about too much darkness, matte black works beautifully as an accent – think island bases, range hoods, or lower cabinets paired with lighter upper elements. The contrast between matte black and natural materials like wood or stone creates a balanced, high-end look that designers predict will remain popular well beyond 2024.
4. Dusty Blue
Dusty blue has emerged as the perfect middle ground between bold color and subtle sophistication in 2024 kitchens. This muted blue-gray shade brings a sense of tranquility while still making a gentle statement that won’t overwhelm your space.
Many homeowners are choosing dusty blue for islands or lower cabinets paired with crisp white uppers, creating visual interest without committing to a single color throughout. The shade looks particularly stunning in natural light, where its complex undertones shift throughout the day.
Designer tip: dusty blue pairs beautifully with brass or copper hardware and fixtures, creating a warm contrast that feels both current and classic. For those hesitant about colored cabinets, try incorporating this trending hue through backsplashes or even small appliances first to see how it transforms your kitchen’s mood.
5. Terracotta
Terracotta is making a spectacular comeback, bringing Mediterranean warmth and earthy richness to modern kitchens. This sun-baked clay color injects instant personality and creates a grounding effect that feels both current and connected to traditional design roots.
The beauty of terracotta lies in its versatility it can read as rustic in a farmhouse kitchen or sophisticated in a contemporary space with clean lines. Many designers are using terracotta as an accent wall color or in tile backsplashes rather than full cabinetry for a more subtle approach.
When paired with natural wood tones and plenty of greenery, terracotta creates a kitchen that feels like a natural extension of the outdoors. For maximum impact in 2024, look for terracotta with slightly muted undertones rather than bright orange versions from decades past.
6. Creamy White
Creamy white has nudged aside stark, clinical whites to become 2024’s most coveted neutral kitchen color. This warmer take on white brings softness and subtle depth that pure whites simply can’t match, creating spaces that feel both fresh and welcoming.
The magic of creamy white lies in its chameleon-like quality it shifts subtly throughout the day as natural light changes, preventing the flat, one-dimensional look that can make kitchens feel sterile. Designers are pairing these creamier whites with natural wood accents and textured materials for kitchens with soul.
For those worried about maintenance, today’s high-quality creamy white paints and finishes are remarkably durable. The slight warmth in the undertones also helps disguise everyday marks better than bright whites. When selecting hardware, both warm metals like brass and cooler options like polished nickel complement creamy whites beautifully.
7. Greige
Greige – that perfect marriage of gray and beige continues to dominate kitchen color trends in 2024 for good reason. This chameleon-like neutral adapts to your lighting and surrounding colors, creating a sophisticated backdrop that never feels too cool or too warm.
Homeowners love greige because it plays well with virtually any accent color or material. Whether you’re showcasing colorful accessories, natural wood elements, or statement lighting, greige cabinets provide the ideal foundation. The color also bridges traditional and contemporary styles effortlessly.
For a thoroughly modern take, designers are pairing greige with matte black hardware and fixtures for subtle contrast that doesn’t overwhelm. If you’re selling your home, greige kitchens appeal to the widest range of buyers while still feeling current making it both a trendy and practical choice for 2024.
8. Soft Olive
Soft olive green has quietly become the unexpected color hero of 2024 kitchens. This muted, nature-inspired hue brings organic warmth while still functioning essentially as a neutral – the perfect alternative for those tired of playing it safe with whites and grays.
What makes soft olive particularly appealing is how it connects indoor spaces with the natural world outside. The color pairs beautifully with natural wood tones, marble countertops, and brass fixtures for a look that feels both fresh and timeless.
Many designers are using soft olive on kitchen islands or lower cabinets paired with lighter upper cabinets for visual interest. The color also works wonderfully in various lighting conditions, maintaining its character whether in bright morning light or evening ambiance. For the color-shy, even small doses of soft olive through accessories can update your kitchen’s look instantly.
9. Blush Pink
Blush pink has transitioned from trendy accent to sophisticated neutral in 2024 kitchens. This barely-there pink brings unexpected warmth and subtle personality to cooking spaces without feeling overly feminine or trendy.
The key to blush pink’s staying power is its versatility it pairs beautifully with both light and dark elements, from white marble to matte black fixtures. Many homeowners are embracing blush pink islands or lower cabinets as a way to incorporate color without overwhelming the space.
For a thoroughly modern take, designers are combining blush with concrete countertops and minimal hardware for an edgy contrast that keeps the look from feeling too sweet. The color also reflects light beautifully, making smaller kitchens feel more spacious and airy. If cabinet commitment feels too permanent, blush pink walls or backsplash tiles offer a more easily changeable option.
10. Cherry Red (Dated Long Before)
Cherry red kitchens had their moment in the early 2000s, but this intense color quickly became the poster child for dated design choices. The vibrant, almost aggressive shade often paired with black granite and stainless steel created a look that screamed “remodel me” within just a few years.
The problem wasn’t just the boldness it was how the color dominated everything else in the space and quickly became visually exhausting. Many homeowners found themselves regretting the commitment almost immediately as the novelty wore off.
Today’s color trends favor subtlety and longevity over shock value. If you’re still living with cherry red cabinets, consider painting them in one of 2024’s more timeless hues or replacing just the doors for an affordable update. For those who still love red, today’s designers recommend using it as an accent through accessories that can be easily changed when tastes evolve.
11. Neon Yellow (Dated Long Before)
Neon yellow kitchens briefly flashed across design magazines in the late 1980s and early 1990s, creating spaces that were impossible to ignore – and equally impossible to live with long-term. This eye-searing shade quickly became the regret of many homeowners who jumped on the trend.
The intense color created spaces that felt perpetually jarring rather than welcoming or relaxing. Coupled with the chrome fixtures and white appliances typical of the era, these kitchens aged poorly almost immediately.
Today’s yellow kitchens take a dramatically different approach, favoring buttery or mustard tones that bring warmth without overwhelming the senses. If you’ve inherited a neon yellow kitchen, painting cabinets is the quickest fix almost any of 2024’s trending colors would be an improvement! For yellow lovers, designers now recommend incorporating the color through easily changeable elements like dish towels or small appliances.
12. Mint Green (Dated Long Before)
Mint green kitchens instantly transport us back to the 1950s and not in a charming, retro way. This pastel shade made a brief comeback in the early 2000s but quickly retreated back into the land of dated design choices, where it firmly remains.
The problem with mint green isn’t just its vintage associations – it’s how the color tends to cast an unflattering, slightly sickly glow throughout the space. Combined with the white appliances it was typically paired with, mint kitchens often felt clinical rather than inviting.
If you’re still living with mint cabinets, the good news is that today’s sage green trend offers a sophisticated update that maintains the nature-inspired feel while looking thoroughly current. For those attached to mint’s nostalgic charm, consider using it only in small doses through vintage accessories or a single accent wall rather than throughout the entire kitchen.
13. Cool Gray (Dated Long Before)
Cool gray kitchens dominated the 2010s, appearing in seemingly every home renovation show and Pinterest board. Fast forward to 2024, and these stark, cool-toned spaces have quickly fallen from favor, replaced by warmer, more nuanced neutrals.
The issue with cool gray wasn’t just its ubiquity it was how the color could make spaces feel cold, clinical, and unwelcoming. Many homeowners who embraced the trend found their kitchens feeling sterile rather than inviting, especially in spaces without abundant natural light.
Today’s gray kitchens incorporate warmer undertones (hence the popularity of greige) or pair cool grays with natural elements like wood to add necessary warmth. If you’re stuck with cool gray cabinets, consider warming up the space with brass hardware, terracotta accessories, or even a fresh backsplash in one of 2024’s trending colors to bring your kitchen into the current decade.
14. Eggshell Blue (Dated Long Before)
Eggshell blue kitchens had their heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s, often paired with country-style details and floral wallpaper borders. This particular shade of pastel blue quickly became synonymous with outdated design and has never quite managed to shake its dated associations.
Unlike today’s sophisticated dusty blues, eggshell blue has a distinctly artificial quality that lacks depth and complexity. The color also tends to fade unevenly over time, leaving cabinets looking patchy and worn even when they’re structurally sound.
If you’ve inherited an eggshell blue kitchen, consider updating to 2024’s dusty blue for a modern take on blue cabinetry, or embrace one of the warm neutrals currently trending. For those determined to preserve some blue in their kitchen, today’s designers recommend deeper, more complex blues with gray or green undertones that feel fresh rather than frozen in time.
15. Canary Yellow (Dated Long Before)
Canary yellow kitchens briefly brightened homes in the 1970s, creating spaces that were undeniably cheerful but ultimately exhausting to live with. This intense, unrelenting yellow quickly became associated with dated design choices that homeowners rushed to replace.
The problem wasn’t just the brightness it was how the color reflected on everything else in the space, casting a yellow tint that could make food look unappetizing and people appear jaundiced. Combined with the dark wood trim typical of the era, these kitchens felt like time capsules.
For yellow lovers in 2024, designers recommend more sophisticated options like mustard or butter yellow as accents rather than all-over color. If you’re stuck with canary cabinets, painting them in one of today’s trending neutrals like warm beige or greige will instantly modernize your space while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.
16. Seafoam (Dated Long Before)
Seafoam green kitchens made a splash in the 1990s, often appearing alongside hunter green countertops and brass fixtures. This particular shade of green-blue quickly became emblematic of dated design that homeowners couldn’t wait to replace once trends shifted.
The color’s inherent brightness lacked the sophistication and subtlety that today’s kitchen designs prioritize. Many seafoam kitchens also featured matching appliances a commitment to color coordination that feels particularly dated by current standards that favor integrated or statement appliances.
If your kitchen is still riding the seafoam wave, consider updating to 2024’s sage green or soft olive for a more current take on green cabinetry. These modern options offer the nature-inspired feel without the time-capsule effect. Alternatively, painting seafoam cabinets in a warm neutral creates a blank canvas that works with virtually any design direction you might want to explore.
