What are the kitchen colors for 2022?

Need inspiration to spend more time cooking? A fresh paint job might be it.

Published on July 15, 2022

There is plenty of debate over the best kitchen paint colors. Some theories say warm reds help stimulate an appetite, while others suggest crisp white paints make the space look cleaner. At the end of the day, though, what's most important is that you find a kitchen paint color that makes you happy when you step into the space—especially if you're trying to spend more time cooking and less money on takeout. If you're looking to refresh your kitchen, but aren't exactly sure what shade you're looking for, kitchen paint color trends can be a helpful place to start.

So, we asked design experts to share their favorite kitchen color trends for 2022. Below, find everything from soft neutrals to moody blues—and see which one looks most like the vision of your dream kitchen.

Warm White

You can't go wrong with a classic—but sometimes, it just needs reinventing. "Explorative neutrals are a huge color trend in our most recent kitchen remodel and new build projects," Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla, says. "As clients—and designers—tire of the days of gray and beige wall colors, they start to find inventive ways of keeping these tried and true hues." For the kitchen design pictured, Shaffer says the off-white paint color keeps the kitchen from looking too stark and sterile, and the soft gray cabinets add more dimension to the space.

Soft Pink

If you're ready for something a bit more fresh and playful—but not overwhelmingly so— Corban De La Vega, chief marketing officer at DecorMatters, recommends Pink Dynasty by Benjamin Moore. "[It's] the perfect combination between a bold and muted pink; it's not too much and not too little," he says, explaining that the shade adds vibrance and youthfulness to a room without overdoing it. "We see this color on kitchen cabinets often, and it creates a unique kitchen space," he says.

Sage Green

This soft green shade has been an interior design trend for a little while now, and its versatility gives the color serious lasting power. "Sage green is the perfect addition to any design style, especially natural, boho, minimalistic, and Scandinavian designs," De La Vega says. "Such a calm and earthy color, it creates a serene and neutral aesthetic."

Earthy Terracotta

Another versatile kitchen color trend is this terracotta shade, which is great for anyone looking to add an earthy color along with a more minimal design aesthetic. De La Vega says this shade, and other earthy neutrals, combine well with natural wood cabinetry, add an interesting texture to the kitchen, and help to connect your home with the outdoors. "Warm neutrals also pair amazingly with leather, black, and white accents," he says.

Moody Blues

On the cooler side of the color spectrum, designer Jessica Nelson, founder of an eponymous design firm, says her clients have been loving deeper, moody blues that take on different lives throughout the day. Rich shades, like the blue pictured, she says, can look almost black in some lights and a deep cobalt during the day time. For an even more unique take on the cool, dimensional color trend, Nelson loves Brinjal, a purple eggplant shade by Farrow & Ball.

Sleek Black

For lovers of modern, luxe style, this kitchen paint color trend is for you. This kitchen design by House of One Interior Design was painted using Sherwin Williams' Tricorn Black on natural white oak. "It gives the space a sleek look and provides a great contrast against the diamond-shaped Calacatta gold marble tile we used as the backsplash," says Brittany Farinas, CEO and creative director of the firm.