When you want a light, yet warm, kitchen, consider going with off-white kitchen cabinets instead of bright white cabinets. They accomplish the same goal but in a softer way. Not sure where to start? Check out my favorite off-white paint colors for kitchen cabinets.
White kitchens will probably never go out of style. That’s because they aren’t simply a trend.
They’re classic.
Chic.
White kitchens feel light, bright, airy, inviting, and eye-catching. They’re wonderful in many ways and perfect in many homes. However, white isn’t ideal for every kitchen.
In some situations, the lighting in the kitchen can make white kitchen cabinets feel harsh or even washed out. That’s especially true with north-facing kitchens which can read blue or south-facing kitchens that get brighter light all day.
For those kitchens, I recommend skipping over the white paint colors in favor of considering off-white kitchen cabinets. Off-white cabinets offer a similar lightness and airiness, but they also add a certain softness that appeals to a lot of people.
The Best Colors For Off-White Kitchen Cabinets
I have a list of 5 of the best off-white paint colors that I love and recommend to others. I thought it was time to take you on a tour of all of them so you can see how amazing they are.
This list is only the best of the best when it comes to off-white cabinet colors, and I feel confident that after you see how they shine, you’ll want to use one of them in your own kitchen!
1. Dover White From Sherwin Williams
Dover White is a light white with an LRV of 83 that’s just warm enough to feel bright without feeling too white. It’s a creamy white that will read white in many lighting situations while offering the perfect amount of yellow to add softness. But, make no mistake, it does have yellow undertones that can come through!
This color looks amazing with warm browns, greiges, and grays (like Kendall Charcoal!).
Here are a few examples of kitchens that have Dover White cabinets so you can see how it looks yourself.
Kitchen Makeover From Painted By Kayla Payne (That’s ME!)
Few colors can bridge the gap between grays and browns the way that Dover White can. I love how these cabinets I painted turned out! They read white and make the kitchen sparkle without being too bright.
Shiplap-Wrapped Island
I love this kitchen update from Bella Tucker! The shiplap-wrapped island and matte black hardware add eye-catching features that make this kitchen stunning. The cabinets are the perfect amount of creamy and look great with the wood floors.
2. Creamy From Sherwin Williams
Similar to Dover White, Creamy is a light off-white (LRV of 82) with yellow undertones. In fact, its yellow undertones are slightly stronger than those in Dover White. Creamy reads differently in a variety of lightings, ranging from very creamy to soft white.
This color looks amazing with warm brown, taupe, greige, gray, purple, and more.
Here are a few examples of Creamy kitchen cabinets so you can see how it looks yourself.
Off-White Kitchen Cabinets In Creamy
This small kitchen from 2 Cabinet Girls looks about twice as big as it actually is. No other shade could make that gray countertop pop and at the same time complement the wood floors. I love this rich shade!
Impact Of Lighting And Decor
Here’s an example of how Creamy reads on the other end of the spectrum. With darker lighting and dark natural-colored fixtures and surrounding decor from Evolutions Of Style Blog, Creamy reads as a soft white!
3. White Sand From Benjamin Moore
White Sand is a lovely warm, soft off-white paint color that looks great in many spaces but is a true chameleon. As an off-white that has a beige undertone with just the slightest hint of green, it can switch from looking warm to cool based on your lighting and the colors and undertones of the nearby decor. It has an LRV of 68, putting it in the light, but not bright, category.
White Sand is a timeless neutral color that works with darker beiges, browns, natural colors, grey blues and greens, soft pink, and more. Check out the way it looks in on kitchen cabinets!
White Sand Cabinets
Since White Sand doesn’t have a high LRV value (LRV 68), I would not normally have it as my go-to kitchen cabinet color for darker kitchens. However, this kitchen is a prime example of how the surrounding colors in the house affect the appearance of White Sand.
In this example from Home Bunch, White Sand is the perfect creamy off-white paint color to brighten up a kitchen with dark wood floors and low levels of natural light.
4. Aria Ivory From Sherwin Williams
Ok, technically, this color has been retired. But, I still keep it on my list of favorites because it’s so gorgeous and versatile…AND you can still ask for it by name because the formulation is still in their systems so it can be mixed without a problem.
It’s light, with an LRV value of 75, but it’s wonderfully creamy without the tendency of being too yellow or peachy.
Off-White Kitchen Cabinets in Aria Ivory
I used this color for a client of mine who wanted to update her very outdated honey oak cabinets. Aria Ivory completely transformed her kitchen and made it look chic and gorgeous!
5. Steamed Milk From Sherwin Williams
Steamed Milk is a rich and creamy off-white that has yellow, brown, and slight green undertones, with an LRV of 75.
It’s an off-white kitchen cabinet color that does extremely well in busy kitchens because it calms everything down while at the same time allowing each element to shine in its own right.
Pair it with beiges, browns, gray-blues, gray greens, blues, bushes, and greens. See it in action below!
Brighter And More Inviting
Here are some kitchen cabinets that I painted for a client. This space went from dark and dated to creamy, dreamy, and inviting!
Thanks to its rich color, Steamed Milk enhanced this kitchen instead of getting lost in it.
Picking The Best Paint Colors For Off-White Kitchen Cabinets
Off-whites, more than many paint colors, display their undertones based on the lighting and the colors around them. But given the right circumstances for your home, each color on this list looks eye-catching and amazing.
That’s why they’re all on my list of the best off-white kitchen cabinet colors! Don’t forget to make a large color swatch and check it in different lighting levels throughout the day before making your final color selection.
Learn How To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets (All On Your Own)!
Did you know that simply painting your kitchen cabinets can dramatically change the look of your kitchen at a fraction of the cost of buying new cabinets? While most people feel anxiety about painting their kitchen cabinets, you don’t need to! I strongly believe that anyone can paint their kitchen cabinets (or furniture).
My DIY Cabinet Painting 101 class will show you exactly how to do it from start to finish and do it well.
Download the supply list now!
More Posts To Read:
- 10 Worst Cabinet Painting Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)
- How Do Painted Cabinets Hold Up Over Time?
- Kitchen Cabinets In Alabaster White
- How To Repaint Kitchen Cabinets
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