The Most Popular Kitchen Paint Colors Throughout the Years

“Beige is a tried-and-true favorite, but in the early 2000s, there was an urge to spice it up a bit,” says Noval. This cappuccino brown shade is built on the beige foundation, but it also brings a modern spin to an old staple—which is why so many people gravitated toward it.

“Kitchens in 2001 embraced a more natural, sophisticated aesthetic, but that doesn’t mean they were boring!” says interior designer Liz Williams, founder of Liz Williams Interiors. By using gloss on regular white paint, designers at the time created a glistening pearl shade that kept things elegant and sparkling.

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According to Williams, soft white was a staple this year, with designers going for a clean look that remained uncluttered. “Linen white refers to a softer white that pairs well with sophisticated countertops like granite,” she says. The focus was on the stone, so the kitchen needed a lighter base to let it stand out.

“Azure blue is light and breezy, reminding us of joyful optimism and crisp ocean waves,” says Noval. “This serene color fits perfectly with the neutral theme of the decade, but it wasn’t dull.” Soothing themes were the central aesthetic this year, she adds.

After the tranquil tones in the first half of the decade, people began to look at pops of color in their kitchens. “Cherry red was huge this year, especially since it added a playful tone to spaces, and allowed for the kitchen to become a statement in the home,” says Noval.

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According to Williams, turquoise was the perfect mix between tranquility and colorful, which is why it was so popular in 2005. “It merged the two desires of the decade effortlessly, and it had a calming quality to it,” she says.

“Bold orange was the equivalent of rebellion—and it was also the time when millennials began to come of age,” says Noval. This allowed for brighter colors than had ever been seen in kitchens before, and this extra daring orange was a reflection of that.

“Pastels shone at the end of the decade, and light blue was incredibly popular this year,” says Williams. “This shade created an open, fresh feel, and made kitchens appear more spacious, especially in popular open floor plans.”

In that same pastel vein, light pink was added to the mix in 2008, which lent a tranquil feel to the home. “Pink suddenly became a very popular shade for kitchens, especially as people realized it was neutral, yet sunny enough for added warmth,” adds Williams.

“Violet was very popular at the end of the decade, as people leaned into muted tones for added sophistication,” says Noval. “Earlier, these colors were simply accents, but now, they were statement-making all on their own.”

“Grey was a new way to bring in dark, moody hues into a kitchen without going overboard,” says Noval. “White finishes made sure there was still a brightness to the room, but the focus was definitely on duskier looks.”

Is anyone really surprised this was the color of 2011? “Millennial pink was everywhere, so it naturally made its way into our homes,” says Noval. It was the color that could go equally well with soft whites as it could with stronger hues like navy, so it was versatile for every home.

“Bold tones took center stage this year, and yellow was the standout,” says Noval. “There was a desire for brightness in the home, and often in an overwhelming way.” Yellow represented a fresh feel and the desire for new, along with a renewed sense of using the kitchen as an entertaining space.

People were over all the color this year, but instead of returning to snowflake white, they went for off-white instead, says Williams. “Off-white was especially used in smaller kitchens since it helped the space seem larger, and it also provided a gentle brightness that regular white couldn’t do,” she adds.

“Warm and inviting, chocolate brown lent a timeless look to a kitchen,” says Williams. “A return to the all-wood log cabin feel of the 1700s, it provided a nature-inspired vibe that people gravitated toward at the time.”

“This year, forest greens paired beautifully with deep browns to create soothing spaces,” says Noval. “It was all about adding serenity in unique ways, with darker shades allowing for contrasts that weren’t seen in interior kitchen design before.”

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“While it can be seen as boring, beige was a staple in 2016 due to the resurgence of the boho chic look,” says Williams. Paired with accents like rattan chairs and textured quilts, beige was anything but boring. In fact, it was just what those accessories needed to feel chic in their own right.

“Striking navy blue was huge this year, often paired with white cabinets for a two-tone vibe,” says Williams. It was a more subtle take on jewel tones, and it added a brightness that isn’t normally seen with stronger blacks or purples.

“After the navy obsession of the year prior, people began to play with darker tones like black to really hit the trend home,” says Williams. “It was all about cozying up to those richer hues and letting them steal the show.”

“Vibrant tones were huge in 2019, right before the pandemic hit,” says Lina Galvoa, co-founder of interior design firm Curated Nest. “Teal was a major hit, especially because it mimicked a retro vibe, and added the cool factor to a kitchen.”