13 Best Gray Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets in 2023

Choosing the best gray paint colors for your kitchen cabinets should not be a nightmare. With many options available, it should not take too long to find what you want. However, you will quickly realize that the many options can also be a problem because sifting through them is not as easy as it looks.

So, how do you find the best gray paint colors for your kitchen decor project? We have researched and picked the 13 top options from Sherwin Williams so you do not have to go through the stress. But before we explain each paint color on our list, let’s discuss a few things first.

What Are the Common Undertones in Gray Paint Colors?

Gray paint colors have three common undertones: blue, violet, and green. There may be a few exemptions, but they are rare. The most common undertone for a gray paint color is blue, and it is the most popular.

You will also find blue-gray paint colors, sometimes with more blue than gray in them. There are also true gray paint colors; they are colors that have an equal combination of black and white. The result is a total blend of the two colors and no other addition.

However, no color is totally without nuances of other colors, regardless of how neutral they appear. This is because all colors come from a mixture of the three primary colors: red, green, and blue. Therefore, there is a bit of color in the most neutral shade, regardless of how bland or pure it may appear.

Even if you pick a true gray paint color for your kitchen cabinets, remember that other colors and surrounding elements are vital to how the color turns out. Most importantly, the lighting at any point will decide whether or not you made the right choice.

Can Gray Paint Colors Be Warm?

Grays are usually tied to the cool end of the color scheme and rightly so. They usually have blue or green undertones, which translate to cool since blues and greens are on the cool end of the scheme.

However, you will also find gray paint colors with warm tones because they have yellow or brown undertones, leaning more toward greige than gray. On its own, gray looks pretty neutral with no hidden hues or shades. But in different types of lighting or beside other colors, the hidden hues come to the surface.

What Colors Are Best to Pair with Gray Paint Colors?

Because they are mostly neutral, gray paint colors are versatile. So, they pair well with almost every color, regardless of the shade or degree of brightness. However, cool grays are best to pair with cool color schemes. These color schemes should include purples, greens, and blues.

For warm grays, your best bet is to use warm color schemes that include yellows, reds, and oranges. You can opt for a completely neutral or monochromatic decor, using only black and white with the gray paint color.

You must also consider the elements you already have in the kitchen or what you plan to put there. If you have picked appliances, countertops, and wall paint colors, the shade of gray for the cabinets must match these colors. It is easier to mix and match colors if you are yet to choose the appliances and other accessories for the kitchen.

13 Best Gray Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets in 2023

Let’s look at the best gray paint colors from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore that look spectacular on kitchen cabinets and are trendy in 2023.

8 Best Sherwin Williams Gray Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

1. Repose Gray SW 7015

Light gray paint color with slightly violet undertones

Repose Gray does not need much to make it pop. It is a soft ray color that favors slightly purple undertones, although it can also reveal a bit of green. Simply put, the color has a melange of colors peeking through, making it easy for Repose Gray to blend well with any color scheme.

It has an LRV of 58 and an RGB color code of 204, 201, and 192 respectively. To complement Reppose Gray, use Eider White, Coral Clay, or Pavestone. You cannot go wrong with this gray shade for your kitchen cabinets.

2. Reflection SW 7661

Light gray paint color with blue undertones

Reflection is a cool and light gray that works well as a neutral color in your kitchen. As much as the walls may look great if painted with the color, the cabinets will look better. It mimics white in many ways, including how bright it looks.

Reflection has an almost perfect RGB color code of 211, 213, and 211 respectively. And with an LRV of 66, it is best to complement this color with In the Navy, Dustblu, and Ice Cube, all from Sherwin Williams. Apart from cabinets, Reflection is an excellent color for trims and entire walls.

3. Colonnade Gray SW 7461

Mid-tone gray paint color with beige undertones

Make a statement in your kitchen with this stone gray that brings an understated sophistication. If you are unsure of what other grays will do to existing decor, you do not have to worry about Colonnade Gray. Its muted tones make it perfect as a backdrop for other colors and ideal for your kitchen cabinets.

Its LRV of 53 is just a little above the middle point of 50, but it is still bright enough to keep your kitchen airy and fresh. With an RGB color code of 198, 192, and 182 respectively, consider coordinating Colonnade Gray with Resounding Rose, Pewter Tankard, or Origami White.

4. Agreeable Gray SW 7029

Warm gray paint color with beige undertones

Add some warmth and coziness to your kitchen with this most popular and best-selling paint color. Agreeable Gray has topped the chart for quite a while, mainly because it is neutral but also because of how well it performs with different color schemes.

Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60. Although it looks muted, this surprisingly high light reflectance value means it throws a good amount of light into any room. Coordinate it with Coral Rose, Extra White, and Incredible White, especially because it has an RGB color code of 209, 203, and 193.

5. Dorian Gray SW 7017

Warm gray paint color with brown undertones

If your kitchen already has some pure whites or light gray, it does not hurt to add a bit of color with Dorian Gray. This warm color makes your kitchen look amazing and is a great conversation starter. Moreover, the color does not get old, unlike stark neutrals.

Dorian Gray is a medium gray with an LRV of 39, low enough to darken with low lighting. It also has an RGB color code of 172, 167, and 158 respectively. You can coordinate it with Jasper Stone, Skyline Steel, or Eider White.

6. Anew Gray SW 7030

Mid-tone gray paint color with stone undertones

Anew Gray has a quiet and calm look, turning a busy decor in your kitchen into a tranquil one. When paired with light colors like white or cream, you will get that same classic look as an all-white kitchen, but with some color.

You may want to pair this color with light or bright colors because of its LRV of 47. It also has an RGB color code of 191, 182, and 170 respectively. Try Sherwin Williams’ Little Blue Box, Pure White, and Incredible White as coordinating colors.

7. Worldly Gray SW 7043

Warm gray paint color with winks of green

There are subtle undertones of green peeking out of Worldly Gray, although other experts say there is a bit of violet. The color brings a room alive and adds sophistication without compromising on comfort.

With an LRV of 57, Worldly Gray is bright enough to keep your kitchen airy, even if you add saturated colors to the decor. And with an RGB color balance of 206, 198, and 187 respectively, coordinate Worldly Gray with Whirlpool, Amazon Gray, or Shoji White.

8. Passive SW 7054

Light gray paint color with cool blue undertones

If you already have warm colors in your kitchen, adding this cool light gray paint color can create an unexpected balance. But for new decor, pairing it with white trim can expose the blue depths and make it look more saturated than normal.

Coordinate Passive with a saturated color like Onyx or other light colors like Nebulous White and Shell White. You will also find that wood tones pair well with it, bringing warmth to the kitchen. The color has an RGB color code of 203, 204, and 201 respectively, with an LRV of 60.

5 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

1. Iron Mountain 2134-30

Warm black paint color with brown undertones

We love that  Black and white neutrals will always look classy in any room, including the kitchen. The beautiful part about using Iron Mountain is that it is a soft black, so it does not feel overwhelming. However, you may want to use it minimally if your kitchen is small.

With an LRV of 10.96, consider matching this dark neutral with light colors like White Dove and Barren Plain or Snowfall White and Stardust. Iron Mountain has an RGB color code of 87, 85, and 83 respectively, which is as close to perfect as it can get.

2. Chelsea Gray HC-168

Dark gray paint color with brownish-violet undertones

While it is not as dark as Iron Mountain, Chelsea Gray is dark enough to draw attention. It is a popular gray paint color from Benjamin Moore that interior designers love to use when picking dark neutrals. We also love how well it works on kitchen cabinets.

Chelsea Gray has an LRV of 23.33 and an RGB color code of 134, 132, and 124 respectively. Coordinate it with colors such as Concord Ivory and Lemon Chiffon or Angelica and Sanctuary.

3. Winter Gates AC-30

Medium gray paint color with red and blue undertones

So, one of the first things you notice about this color is that it looks more brown or purple than gray. This is because of the obvious undertones of red and blue, giving it a purple-like hue. Whatever color you see, Winter Gates looks spectacular on kitchen cabinets.

Winter Gates is not the most popular paint color from the gray color collection. However, it should make it into kitchen and living rooms because of its unique color. It has an RGB color code 162, 155, and 150 respectively, with an LRV of 33.44. Match it with Chantilly Lace and White Dove.

4. Classic Gray 1548

Neutral gray paint color with warm undertones

This light gray paint color can stand in the place of off-white, although it has hues that indicate that it belongs in the gray color family. We like how versatile Classic Gray is, and how much class it adds to your kitchen or any other room.

Classic Gray has an LRV of 73.67, a pretty high point on the reflectance spectrum. This means the paint color can throw a lot of light into your kitchen if you use it on the cabinets. It also has an RGB color code of 227, 224, and 215 respectively.

5. Metropolitan AF-960

Light gray paint color with cool undertones

This is a superb gray paint color that shows up and turns up the style in your house. As a kitchen cabinet paint color, Metropolitan plays into the decor and keeps everything elegant and sophisticated with its trendy vibes.

Metropolitan has an LRV of 49.96, pretty close to the middle point. And with an RGB color code of 186, 189, and 184 respectively, coordinate this color with others like Frostine and Constellation or Paper White and Black Horizon, especially because of the hint of blue in it.

 

Conclusion

It does not take much to see that all the colors on our list make the best gray paint color options for kitchen cabinets. So, there you have it; go through our list and pick one or more of these colors. Create a superb color palette and watch your kitchen turn into a cozy yet classy haven.

If you already have a color palette for your kitchen, we would love to share it with you and see what it looks like in real life. Feel free to share with us in the comments section.