Cream-colored kitchen cabinets come in a variety of qualities and are popular with both designers and homeowners alike. Cream-colored kitchen cabinets are just as bright as their popular cousin’s white cabinets, but less stark.
Cream-colored cabinets are warm and inviting, adding subtle depth and character to any room. Cream also pairs beautifully with a variety of natural materials such as wood, stone and brick to create a sophisticated and simple style.
The cream resembles white but is a softer, warmer neutral and one of many shades known as off-white. The cream is off-white with a yellow tint, similar to the color of dairy cream.
Cream tones depend on the amount of yellow in the mixture. Depending on the combination of cream paint, yellow has a strong presence. In addition, there are some that add cool colors such as gray and blue to suppress the yellow.
Popular paint colors for cream kitchen cabinets
The trick when choosing the right cream is to consider the color base, the surrounding colors, the light sources in the room and how they affect the color, and personal preferences.
Sherwin Williams Creamy (7012)
Sherwin Williams Creamy is a popular cream for all types of furniture. It is a bright off-white with a pale yellow tint. It works best with warm tones, but its mild undertones work well with cool tones.
Winterborne White (No. 239) by Farrow & Ball
Winterborn White is the ideal cream color for those looking for a shade that is a step away from white. This color is off-white with a hint of warm yellow in it. This color pairs well with warm hues, but looks equally gorgeous with grays and blacks.
Benjamin Moore White Down (CC-50)
White down is a cream with a slight gray and beige tint. These undertones create colors that work well with cooler shades.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster (7008)
Alabaster is a warm off-white/light cream that looks great on kitchen cabinets. The light color makes it look white in a dark kitchen, but it looks creamy when compared to white. The undertones of this color are warm, yet balanced, making it suitable for a wide variety of color tones.
Farrow & Ball Pointing (No. 2003)
The name pointing comes from pointing to the lime between the traditional bricks. True to its name, it has a subtle red tone that goes well with warm colors. This color is more solid than white, but it looks pale when compared to stronger colors.
Benjamin Moore’s Natural Cream (OC-14)
Natural Cream is a light and neutral cream. It is a well-balanced color based on gray. The color is very well balanced and has a cool undertone, but it also works well with both cool and warm tones.
Farrow & Ball Shadow White (No.282)
Shadow White is an off-white with a slight gray tint that looks like white in the shade. It’s a versatile color that shows more presence in a dark room. This color is best combined with other colors that have cool tones.
Navajo White (6126) from Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams Navajo White is a distinct cream color with a strong yellow tint. Yet light enough to act as an off-white rather than a yellow. Don’t confuse Sherwin Williams’ Navajo White with the Benjamin Moore shade of the same name.
Tips for choosing cream cabinet colors
Painting kitchen cabinets is a big job. Consider these six tips when deciding on the best colors for your kitchen cabinets.
- Coordinate with other elements in the room – Before choosing a cream color for the cabinets, you should consider them if you do not plan to change all the other colored elements of the room. Consider wall colors, appliances, hardware finishes, and other decorative materials such as countertops, backsplashes, and lighting. For general use, if the color of the material is warm, cream colors with pink or red tones should be chosen. For cool accents, choose creams with tones of gray, blue, or green.
- Consider lighting – Light dramatically changes the perceived color of a space. In a room with more natural light, colors appear brighter and less saturated than in a dark room. Also, the color of the light bulb can make the room warmer or cooler, affecting how the cream looks.
- Choose the material of your kitchen before you choose the color of your cabinets – This tip is for homeowners who are designing their kitchen from scratch. While there are plenty of gorgeous variations of cream that go well with kitchen cabinets, there aren’t too many to consider when it comes to countertop materials, floor colors, and backsplash options. Before choosing a cream color for your cabinets, choose these kitchen accents. Once you’ve chosen your countertop, backsplash, and floor options, you can choose the right cream paint color.
- Consider color intensity – Cream paint colors have an amount and depth of color. Some creams are slightly tinted, while others are brightly colored. Choose your color depth carefully and test a sample in your kitchen. Colors with a yellow tint look more yellow in a dark room or under warm light. In rooms with large windows, pale cream colors may wash out and not give you enough body to achieve the distinctive cream look you want.
- think about your style – The color of cream you choose is determined by your personal taste. Cream paints with darker shades of yellow are suitable for more traditional or classic room styles. Subtle cream colors work well with contemporary styles.
- pick complementary colors – Cream can be used for a variety of other tones, but works best with natural colors. Consider pairing the cream with other neutral colors like black, brown, gray, and white. Creams also look stunning in distinctive colors such as various blues and greens, blush pinks, burnt sienna, and metallic tones.
A Lookbook of Cream Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
Kitchens with cream cabinets work well in a variety of styles and situations. We’ve rounded up a few kitchens with cream cabinets to show you all the ways you can enhance your kitchen space.
modern cream kitchen cabinets
Cream cabinets work just as well in modern kitchens as they do in traditional style kitchens. You can use simple cabinet styles such as the shaker style for a modern classic look, or flat panel cabinet styles for a more contemporary look. In any case, the cream color gives the modern kitchen a cozy and bright look, providing a slight but noticeable contrast with the modern white walls.
cream cabinets and black
Cream cabinets with black accents give the kitchen a contemporary and luxurious look. Consider adding dark accents to a kitchen with cream cabinets, such as dark countertops, floors, or black hardware. It creates a simple yet dramatic style.
cream cabinet and mixed ingredients
Cream-coloured cabinets have a soft feel and work well with a variety of materials and other colors. Consider combining a cream-painted cabinet unit with a section of cabinet painted in a complementary color such as dark green, blue, grey, or black. Add wood elements like beamed ceilings and countertops to give your kitchen depth and texture.
cream kitchen cabinets with metal highlights
Creams, like other neutrals, go well with a variety of metallic finishes. Cool creams look great with silver and chrome finishes, while warm creams look great with gold and brushed brass. Brass or gold hardware can bring out the cream’s bright undertone and give it a luxurious style.
white and cream cabinets
Creating a bright, neutral kitchen with depth and texture requires planning. Layering white and cream tones keeps your kitchen from looking cold and sterile. Mix it with other bright neutrals like taupe, beige, tan, almond for even more contrast and glamor.
