We Asked Interior Designers to Name the Best Kitchen Paint Color — And They All Said the Same Shade
Picking the perfect paint color for your kitchen can be a daunting task. The selection needs to be timeless, yet on-trend, and it must create an ambiance that makes both cooking and socializing a pleasure. So, when tasked with finding the best kitchen paint color, we turned to the experts: interior designers. Surprisingly, their responses coalesced around one particularly versatile shade: Classic White.
White might seem like a simple choice, but its popularity among interior designers is no coincidence—it has several distinct advantages. For one, white makes spaces feel larger and more open, an essential feature for kitchens that are becoming ever more central in the home. Furthermore, white reflects light, enhancing both natural and artificial lighting to make the kitchen bright at all times of day.
Interior designer Emma Blomfield emphasizes white’s ability to serve as a backdrop for bolder accents. “White is a fantastic base that allows you to play with colors through kitchenware, backsplashes, and decor items,” she notes. Meanwhile, designer Michael Helwig highlights its timelessness: “White is classic. Trends come and go, but white kitchens always look clean and fresh.”
Classic White also provides unmatched flexibility when it comes to different kitchen styles—from modern minimalist designs that rely on sleek surfaces to rustic environments where it contrasts beautifully with natural woods and stones.
But not all whites are created equal—designers recommend leaning towards warmer whites with subtle undertones to avoid a sterile feeling. Benjamin Moore’s White Dove OC-17 is often cited for its creamy warmth without veering too yellow or gray.
To sum up, while there’s an entire spectrum of colors available for your kitchen walls, the resounding professional consensus is that Classic White reigns supreme. It offers room for personalization while maintaining a clean and spacious environment—ideal qualities for any kitchen regardless of size or style. When blended with thoughtful accents and textures, a white kitchen can go beyond being simply trendy; it becomes timeless.