These are 5 of Shea McGee's favorite paint colors for kitchen cabinets – ranging from light neutrals to dark and moody hues

Discover Studio McGee's tried and tested paint colors for kitchen cabinets from leading paint brands

moody kitchen with black color-drenched cabinets
(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Your choice of paint color for your kitchen cabinets is a great way to add design appeal to this functional room. When selecting a shade, it's important to consider what goes well with the other elements in the room – while going for something timeless ensures longevity.

If you're looking for some expert help with your kitchen cabinet colors, Studio McGee and its founder Shea McGee have you covered. In a recent blog post, the celebrated design studio shared its favorite paint colors for kitchen cabinets, as used in many of its previously designed projects.

Below, we've rounded up five of them to serve you with some timeless kitchen paint ideas – ranging from light neutrals to richer tones from leading paint brands including Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore.

1. Fawn Brindle, Sherwin-Williams

large kitchen with brock walls, modern rustic decor

Lower cabinets: Sherwin-Williams' Fawn Brindle

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

In Studio McGee's Water's Edge project, Sherwin-Williams' Fawn Brindle was used on the lower kitchen cabinets. This is a greige paint color with undertones of gray and green. While still neutral, this hue adds more depth than commonly used lighter tones such as white kitchen cabinets, without feeling too bold.

2. Creamy White, Benjamin Moore

corner of kitchen with creamy white kitchen cabinets and white tiles

Cabinets: Benjamin Moore's Creamy White

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Benjamin Moore's Creamy White is certainly a favorite for Studio McGee, used on the cabinets here in the Tahoe Pines kitchen as well as in The McGee Home.

While white paints can come across as cool and stark, Creamy White has warm tones which give it a welcoming, cozy feel. Here, it perfectly complements the kitchen's modern rustic aesthetic and natural wood tones throughout.

neutral kitchen with wood floor, warm white walls and cabinets, marble island

Cabinets: Benjamin Moore's Creamy White

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

In the kitchen of The McGee Home, Creamy White was also used on the cabinets, creating a soft and elegant look while achieving that much-desired light and airy feel.

3. Accessible Beige, Sherwin-Williams

neutral kitchen with warm white cabinets

Cabinets: Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Sherwin-Williams' Accessible Beige is a popular beige paint with gray undertones that stop it from feeling too warm. Here, in Studio McGee's Spec Home project, it was chosen for the cabinets, creating a timeless look with just the right amount of warmth.

4. Deep River, Benjamin Moore

kitchen with dark gray cabinets, wood floors, brick wall and island unit

Cabinets: Benjamin Moore's Deep River

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Shea's favorite kitchen cabinet paint colors aren't just light and calming neutrals, but much darker shades too. In The Summit Estate, Benjamin Moore's Deep River, a dark gray-green paint, was used on the kitchen cabinets.

Sometimes, a darker color on cabinets can be the perfect way to add more depth to the heart of the home, and a rich gray-green like this one also sets a sophisticated feel.

5. Midnight Oil, Benjamin Moore

moody kitchen with black color-drenched cabinets

Cabinets: Benjamin Moore's Midnight Oil

(Image credit: Studio McGee)

Another of Shea's favorite dark paints is Benjamin Moore's Midnight Oil, which was used here in the butler's pantry of The Houston Estate.

This shows just how effective it can be to lean into dark kitchen cabinet colors and use them boldly throughout the room, creating a cohesive space that offers lots of design interest.


Which of these kitchen cabinet paint colors is your favorite? Whether you're most drawn to the soft and delicate neutral paints or the darker, moody hues, these are all timeless choices for kitchen cabinets that work well with many design styles.

Paint & Color Editor

Emily is H&G's Paint & Color Editor, covering all things color across interior design and home decor. She joined the team in the summer of 2023, having studied Fashion Communication at university before working in various creative roles ahead of making the leap into interiors. She lives in Glasgow where she loves admiring the city's architecture, frequenting her favorite coffee spots, and sourcing vintage furniture for her tenement apartment. Emily's interior style is inspired by the simplicity of midcentury design, mixed with more playful modern pieces that inject small (but bold) doses of color.