Gray is a neutral that's been taking center stage lately in many homes. It often gets categorized as being too cold, but with the right shade, it can work wonders in a kitchen. Best of all, it pairs beautifully with a wide array of other colors and is the perfect base to build upon in a kitchen.
These days, more and more homeowners are ditching traditional white or brown wood cabinetry in favor of rich grays in their kitchen. And it's not a surprising trend because unlike some color schemes, gray offers the perfect balance of warmth and neutrality, working well in nearly any size kitchen.
According to kitchen design and painting experts, the most popular color for a kitchen is tied between navy blue and white. Home stagers and listing agents often suggest painting the kitchen a fresh white color to make the space look larger, cleaner and inviting.
Here, designers, decorators, and color experts reveal why beige is replacing gray for 2023, and how to decorate with beige for a beautiful scheme every time.
Thanks to its versatility and wide selection of shades, from deep hues to pared-back neutrals, grey kitchen designs remain a popular choice for culinary areas.
Arguably, the most timeless kitchen cabinet color is white. Bright white cabinets suit a variety of beautiful kitchens, including modern, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Brilliant whites work to give kitchens a light and airy feel, and off-white options, like the White Dove shade, provides warmth.
The consensus is that grey is out and warm neutrals will continue to dominate in 2023.
Natural and refined, this balanced neutral creates a clean interior for a stress-free aesthetic.
Marvelous Magenta
Though it's derived from the red family, magenta brings forward a vibrant spirit all of its own that people will be craving in the upcoming year. The Pantone Color Institute named Viva Magenta as its official color of the year for 2023 for its joyous yet powerful nature.
And while gray might be falling out of favor, white is still holding on strong—it's still the number one kitchen color with 35% of people choosing it from 2022 to 2023. Beige nabbed the third top spot with 18%, followed by blue with 6% and green with 5%.
Pale green – for a lighter take on an earthy scheme
Designers and decorators are replacing dark green in favor of paler and brighter hues for 2023. However, our love affair with green kitchens isn't going away anytime soon. In fact, sage green is the new neutral to use in your kitchen.
"Generally, going with neutral colors like shades of white, beige, taupe, and grays lead to a faster sale," she shares. "Neutral colors are also more appealing to potential buyers because many want the creative freedom of a blank canvas to add their personal touches to when looking for a new place to call home.
They have a timeless appearance: Since grey cabinetry fits many different designs, it'll never go out of style.
Grey kitchens will probably never go out of style - the way in which grey gets used by designers is constantly evolving, keeping it fresh. At the moment, light grey marble and dark grey cabinets are the biggest kitchen trends for 2022, but you can guarantee that a grey kitchen will age gracefully and well.
After years of seeing all-gray-everything, it seems interior trends are officially shifting away from the palette that became a staple in the early 2000s. According to some experts, there isn't a moment too soon to say goodbye to gray. But, don't bust out the paintbrushes quite yet.
Agreeable Gray, by Sherwin-Williams
"Agreeable Gray SW 7029 is our most popular gray paint color because it's the perfect hue for any living space, whether it be a family room or bedroom," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams.
Rounding out a year of blush-tone selections, Pantone selected Viva Magenta 18-1750, a bold pinkish red, as its 2023 color of the year, calling it "an unconventional shade for an unconventional time." But this isn't your Barbie pink. Viva Magenta is a saturated shade that's not for the color-shy.
Agreeable Gray is one of the most popular Sherwin Williams grays. It's a definite go-to neutral for many people and it's another gray paint color I always suggest to customers. It's also a great paint color to go with honey oak wood, which is one of the more challenging wood tones to match with.
Vintage Interior Design
Whether it's a classic mid-century modern piece or a vintage-inspired color palette, this design style effortlessly withstands the test of time, making it a perennial favorite for those seeking enduring elegance and character in their homes.
Overall, the chromatic trend for Autumn-Winter 2023/2024 presents great comebacks and confirmations, with a palette that ranges from red to gray, yellow to brown, and pink. Even the most delicate and subtle shades will have their space, inviting experimentation and rediscovery of classic nuances in an original key.
For the color-averse, there are some more subdued shades highlighted in Pantone's Fall 2023 report, like a faint orange-y beige (Tender Peach), a cooling blue (Persian Jewel), a "mentholated green" (Carnival Glass) and a faded rosy brown (Burnt Sienna).
Since it is a neutral color, gray looks good when combined with warm undertones. Selecting cabinets should match the undertones of your walls. So go for cool cabinets if your gray walls have cool undertones. White, cream or brown tones are some nice options.
To warm up cooler greys, add in plenty of wooden tones, this can be in the form of something as big as a kitchen island or as small as a shelf. Pick woods that have warmer more orangey tones if you want a more rustic look, and cooler tones for a more Scandi vibe.