Kitchens wield substantial power when it comes to interior design. Not only does a kitchen renovation increase the value of your home by up to 85 percent, this heart-of-the-home space serves as the backdrop for countless holidays, weekend parties, and special moments, from birthdays to family dinners.
Needless to say, when an up-and-coming kitchen trend starts to take shape (whether on social media or within our own design projects) we pay attention. And in the last six months to a year, we’ve noticed a particularly retro, controversial color popping up in kitchen designs, particularly when it comes to cabinetry: yellow.
Credit: @houseofjadeinteriors
“We’ve seen a natural progression from all white kitchens, to slightly warmer shades of beige and mushroom, to now rich, buttery yellow,” says our SVP of Creative Shelby Girard. “It’s a comfort color, and can lean historic and Victorian, or cozy and cottage-inspired, depending on the styling.”
The hue marks a refreshing departure from shades of white, blue, and green — the three most popular kitchen cabinetry colors for the last decade-plus. “I love how unique yellow kitchens feel — the look is a little daring, but still has a timeless quality,” adds Shelby. “I see this color hitting the mainstream for kitchens in the next five or so years.”
Adding Yellow To Your Kitchen
Credit: @annechaperon_architecte
While we love the look of yellow kitchen cabinets, there are other, more low-lift ways to add this trending color to your cookspace.
Consider painting your walls and ceilings a soft shade of yellow and leaving your cabinets white to save a couple of bucks, or installing floating shelves and painting them yellow, like in the above kitchen. Or, you can go the textile route, and add touches of yellow via runners, upholstered dining chairs or bar stools, and yellow roman shades for a touch of color (we love the idea of a soft yellow and white stripe!). Finally, low-lift accents like yellow vases, bowls, dinnerware, florals, and artwork allow you to experiment with the color without investing for the long haul.
Paint Colors For Yellow Kitchen Cabinets
Credit: DeVOL Kitchens
If you’re ready to go all-in on the look with yellow kitchen cabinets, we got you (and fully support your decision — here’s how to DIY it!). Find a few of our favorite yellow kitchen cabinet paint colors below, courtesy of our interior designers.
- Dorset Cream, Sudbury Yellow, and Hay from Farrow & Ball
- Chestertown Buff, Honeywheat, and Golden Tan from Benjamin Moore
- Lemonade, Golden Hour, and Good as Gold from Clare Paint
- Tanlines, Pablo Honey, and Miami Parasol from Backdrop
- Butterscotch, Sun Salutation, and Honeypot from Sherwin Williams
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