Selecting the ideal color for your kitchen cabinets can be a challenging decision when your kitchen features stainless steel appliances. The color palette you choose for your cabinetry plays a major role in the overall aesthetic of your kitchen and can dramatically impact how seamlessly your stainless steel appliances blend into the space. In this article, we’ll explore the most complementary cabinet colors to pair with stainless steel appliances, provide color combination inspiration, and outline key considerations when making your kitchen cabinet color selection.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Cabinet Color with Stainless Steel Appliances
Several important factors come into play when determining the most flattering kitchen cabinet colors to match stainless steel appliances:
Tones of the Stainless Steel
Not all stainless steel has the same tone. Some appliances have a warmer, more yellow undertone while others read as cooler and grayer. Identify the specific tone of your stainless steel finishes to find a cabinet color that harmonizes. Warm undertones pair well with wood stains, cream and beige paints. Cooler stainless steel looks best against more saturated or deeper gray paint colors.
Personal Style Preferences
Consider your own tastes and lifestyle needs when choosing a color scheme. Do you prefer a more modern, sleek look or crave the warmth of traditional styling? How will the space be used and what mood do you want to evoke? Determine whether you want the cabinets or stainless appliances to be the main focus.
Lighting in the Kitchen
The type and amount of natural and artificial lighting in your kitchen impacts how colors appear and interact. Bright spaces can handle deeper or bolder cabinet hues. Lower light situations and smaller kitchens often look best with lighter cabinet colors so the space feels open and airy.
Countertop and Backsplash Materials
The colors and patterns of your countertops, backsplash tile, flooring and any accent materials will all contribute to the overall feel of the kitchen. Make sure your cabinet selection complements or creates an appealing contrast to these other elements.
Best Cabinet Color Combinations with Stainless Steel Appliances
Here are some of the most popular, foolproof cabinet color options to match stainless steel appliances:
Creamy Off-Whites and Beiges
- Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW 7008
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
- Sherwin Williams Extra White SW 7006
- Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117
Creamy off-whites like Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray or Sherwin William’s Alabaster work especially well in traditional kitchens with stainless appliances. The soft neutral backdrop allows the stainless finishes to take center stage. Warmer beige tones like BM Chantilly Lace also pair beautifully with stainless appliances that have golden undertones. These versatile neutrals add an elegant, timeless feel.
Crisp or Navy Whites
- Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White SW 7757
- Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17
- Farrow & Ball Strong White No. 2001
- Benjamin Moore Decorators White OC-149
For a brighter, clean look that highlights stainless appliances, choose a true, slightly cooler white such as BM Simply White, SW High Reflective White or BM White Dove. Crisp whites with a hint of blue make small spaces appear larger and lend a fresh, contemporary vibe. Baker recommends blue-based whites like Farrow & Ball Strong White or BM Decorators White for east-facing kitchens where daylight has a cooler cast.
Light to Medium Grays
- Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52
- Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray SW 7016
- Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172
- Sherwin Williams Repose Gray SW 7015
- Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage Satin GN-90
Soft light grays and greiges beautifully complement stainless steel’s sleek modernity. Try Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray or Repose Gray for a soothing blend with warm stainless appliances. Benjamin Moore favorites like Gray Owl, Revere Pewter and Gray Mirage are fail-safe pairings that let the stainless finishes take center stage. These versatile grays mix well with white, black and wood tones.
Rich Shades of Blue
- Sherwin Williams Rainwashed SW 6220
- Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154
- Farrow & Ball Studio Blue No. 271
- Benjamin Moore Century Slate Green 2065-10
- Sherwin Williams Oceanside SW 6496
From bright navy to gray-blues, rich shades of blue offer a sophisticated duo with stainless appliances. Deeper colors like Sherwin William’s Rainwashed or Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy add dramatic contrast and interest. Farrow & Ball’s Studio Blue has green undertones that work well with eco-chic designs. Try Century Slate Green or Oceanside to coordinate with cool-toned stainless steel.
Statement Black Accents
While all-black cabinets paired with stainless appliances can look too harsh, adding black island bases or accent door fronts can be stunning. Introducing black via open shelves, hardware or accent walls also brings cohesive drama. Sleek black plays up the modern edge of stainless appliances, as long as other materials like wood or white are incorporated to add warmth and keep the look balanced.
Cabinet & Appliance Color Combination Inspiration
To spark creativity for your own kitchen design, here are some inspiring examples of stylish cabinet and stainless appliance color combinations:
Crisp White and Stainless Steel
All-white kitchens continue to dominate contemporary kitchen design because they never cease looking clean and current. Using Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or another crisp, blue-undertone white on shaker-style cabinetry highlights the modern lines of stainless appliances. Add visual interest with glass-front upper cabinets, nickel hardware and marble, quartz or mosaic tile accents.
Photo Credit: John Doe
Light Gray and Stainless Steel
Soft gray cabinetry in a shade like SW Mindful Gray warms up stainless appliances beautifully. The gray takes the edge off all the metal finishes for a welcoming look. Integrating wood elements via a butcher block island or open shelving along with a stone or brick backsplash balances the palette nicely.
Photo Credit: Jane Doe
Blue Gray and Stainless Steel
Shades like BM Rainfall offer a sophisticated blue-leaning gray to pair with stainless appliances. Choosing finishes with blue undertones like nickel hardware, a carrara marble or white quartz countertop and subway tile backsplash creates a serene, integrated color scheme. This tranquil vibe evokes a relaxing escape.
Photo Credit: James Doe
Cream and Stainless Steel
Warmer cream cabinet colors like SW Alabaster, BM Linen White or BM Chantilly Lace bring out the glow of stainless appliances and create an elegant, traditional kitchen. For contrast, Opt for darker finishes on the island base cabinets or add black metal stools, lighting or hardware. Travertine tile backsplashes and granite or butcher block countertops pair nicely.
Photo Credit: John Smith
Wood Tones and Stainless Steel
The richness of wood cabinetry makes an attractive complement to the industrial aesthetic of stainless steel. Stick with light stains like natural oak to keep the look open and airy. Darker stains can feel too heavy with stainless appliances. Add white, green or blue accents via tile backsplash, quartz counters and deocr details to lighten up the warmth of the wood.
Photo Credit: Jane Smith
Black and Stainless Steel
Including black cabinets or accents in a stainless kitchen instantly ups the contemporary vibe. Use black on the lower cabinets with crisp white uppers to avoid looking too dark. Add wood, green plants or bright backsplash tile to create balance. Open shelving also allows you to incorporate black while keeping the room feeling airy and light.
Photo Credit: Jeff Smith
No matter your color preference, choosing a tone that complements the existing stainless steel appliances in your kitchen is crucial to pulling off a cohesive, polished look. Always sample cabinet colors in the room before fully committing to ensure it creates the mood and style you’re after. With the right cabinet color selection, your stainless steel appliances will shine and bring sleek style to your kitchen design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color cabinets look best with stainless steel appliances?
The most popular and foolproof cabinet colors to pair with stainless steel appliances are:
- Creamy off-whites
- Crisp whites
- Light to medium grays
- Shades of blue gray
- Rich deep blues
- Black accent colors
Avoid an all-neutral scheme or cabinets that are too similar to the stainless steel finish, as this can create a monotonous look.
Should you match countertop color to stainless steel appliances?
It’s not necessary to directly match your countertop color to your stainless appliances, but you want to select a harmonious hue. Light countertops like white quartz, Carrara marble or butcher block can brighten up dark cabinet colors beautifully. Gray quartz or stone surfaces coordinate well with many cabinet shades.
What backsplash looks good with stainless steel appliances?
White subway tile, marble tile, metal and stone mosaic backsplashes all pair wonderfully with stainless appliances. Just make sure to consider the undertones of your cabinet color and counters to select a backsplash tile that complements the full kitchen scheme.
Do dark or light cabinets go with stainless appliances?
Both dark and light cabinet colors can work well with stainless appliances. Light, neutral hues like white, beige and light gray allow the stainless finishes to pop. Deep blue, green, black and wood tones add dramatic contrast and a moodier feel.
Should cabinets and floor be the same color?
It’s recommended to have some color variation between your cabinets and flooring so the kitchen doesn’t look washed out. Lighter cabinets with a warm-toned floor or vice versa creates nice contrast. Keeping both in a similar color family still allows cohesion.
Conclusion
Determining the ideal cabinet color to complement your existing stainless steel appliances is an important kitchen design decision that affects the overall aesthetic. Assessing the undertones of your stainless finishes and thinking about your style preferences will guide you in the right direction. Classic combinations like crisp white, light gray, cream and blue cabinetry effortlessly match and modernize stainless appliances. Don’t be afraid to also consider bolder navy blues, black accents or wood tones for dramatic contrast options. With the right cabinet selection your kitchen will feel cohesive, stylish and uniquely you.