The 16 Best Wall Paint Colors to Update Cream Cabinets & Trim

WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH CREAM (off-white) CABINETS & TRIM?

Are you frustrated with your cream cabinets or overly warm white trim? Can’t find a modern paint color that looks good with them? You aren’t the only one.

I deal with this topic daily in my Online Paint Color Consulting, and it’s always the same story – cream cabinets, beige walls, and a deep desire for something FRESHER.

However, as the Rolling Stones always say, ‘You can’t always get what you waaaaant, especially if you have off-white or cream cabinets and trim’ (I might’ve added that last part). This is just one reason why I don’t recommend that anyone hop on the current trend of painting their cabinets some form of light greige, beige, or cream, as I guarantee that in ten years, most you will wish you’d chosen white (and will be whispering sweet nothings in my ear, asking me to help).

Sherwin Williams Dover White with glaze (which lowers the LRV)

But before we get into the best paint colors to update cream cabinets, let’s have a little chat…actually, let’s make it a big one.

Why do we need to talk before we get into the good stuff? Does all of this seem like an awful lot for one darn paint color?

Let me ask you a question: How has your search gone so far? Chances are, you’ve been trying colors, and they aren’t working. This blog post tells you WHY and teaches you HOW so you can move forward with confidence and stop struggling to find a color that doesn’t exist.

And if all else fails, there’s wine.

 

THE REASON WHY CREAM CABINETS ARE AWESOME

While you might feel like everything is doom and gloom (if you wish you had white cabinets), they have redeeming features!

THEY WORK WITH THEIR EXISTING FINISHES (HOPEFULLY)

Based on existing finishes, especially in homes from the early 2000s, some kitchens don’t suit white cabinets and better suit a wood stain or a non-white paint color. In these situations, a warm off-white or cream can come in darn handy, often saving the day. I’ve fallen in love with many cream kitchens when they’re done well.

• This goes for kitchens that currently have cream cabinets and suit their finishes.
• This also applies to kitchens that might be wood right now and have a countertop and backsplash that suit cream cabinets, not white ones.

And that’s it. Seriously, I would love to give you more reasons why cream cabinets are awesome, but for the majority of people, cream cabinets are a HUGE PITA (I’ll let you figure that one out).

Sherwin Williams Antique White with glaze

When updating the paint color on the walls in a home with cream cabinets or trim without updating anything else, it’s easy to forget that the surrounding surfaces are often coordinated with the cream cabinets.

This is an important detail because it’s not just your CREAM CABINETS OR TRIMS that will be fussy about their wall color partners; it’s their coordinated surrounding finishes. Some finishes aren’t easy to transition into a more modern, updated look, meaning your cabinets might be the least of your concerns.

Sometimes, there isn’t one magical paint color that makes your cabinets, finishes, and YOU 100% happy; in this case, a ‘happy medium’ comes in handy. 

However, if you know the COLOR NAME of your off-white or cream cabinets, you’re already a step ahead… 

STEP 1: YOUR COLOR & ITS LRV

If you know your creamy cabinet or trim paint color, find its LRV and proceed to STEP 2.

If you have no idea what color is on your cabinets, the most common creams used for cabinets and trim are as follows. By the way, I recommend you get large samples and place them on your cabinets to find your best match; small ones aren’t big enough to get a good read on for an important job like this.

• Sherwin Williams Antique White LRV 72 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Navajo White LRV 72 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Creamy LRV 81, mild undertones, and darn close to being a soft white (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca LRV 76 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Navajo White LRV 78 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Linen White LRV 81 is close to being a soft white, but with a reasonably strong yellow hue (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore White Down LRV 77 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream LRV 72 (SAMPLE HERE)

If these aren’t close, go back and get more – get as close as you can, as this color will be your guide as you need its LRV.

As for your walls…

To start, look for paint colors with an LRV of 55 or lower. The goal is to get 20+ LRV points between your cabinet/trim and wall color. 

Of course, this can vary depending on how light or dark your particular shade of cream is:

• If your cream paint color is LIGHTER (approx 78), you might look at paint colors with an LRV of 58 or lower, as this would put approximately 20+ LRV points between the two colors
• If your cream paint color is DARKER (approx 72), you might look at paint colors with an LRV of 52 or lower, again putting somewhere around 20+ LRV points between the two colors. 
• Are there some colors with less of an LRV difference that can work? Maybe! But I’ll link to those later.

Remember, just because you want a certain paint color doesn’t mean your home agrees! 

My next Online Color Consulting client wanted to update their cream cabinets by lightening their wall color considerably. However, their cabinets made that next to impossible, short of painting their walls the same color!

The cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White; the sample on the door is Sherwin Williams Creamy, and it ain’t workin’. 

STEP 2: UNDERSTAND THE COLOR YOU’RE DEALING WITH

Once you know the cream you’re dealing with, it’s important to acknowledge its strength. The more yellow it is (cream is a yellow hue color), the more yellow it’ll look when partnered with colors that are cooler than it.

• The more MUTED your cream cabinet or trim color is, the more flexible it will be toward other colors, as the YELLOW will be less bossy.
• The COOLER the color is that you try to partner with your cream cabinets or trim, the more yellow you risk them looking (opposites attract and make each other stronger).
• Most of the cream colors on the previous list have reasonably strong undertones except for Sherwin Williams Creamy and Benjamin Moore White Down, which are more muted.
• Cream cabinets with glaze on them will be LESS FRIENDLY towards colors that are cooler than them. They will also need wall colors that are a wee bit darker. 

WHAT IF YOUR CREAM CABINETS HAVE A GLAZE ON THEM?

This is always a tough one, and at some point, you can only get so close to finding your exact color match when cabinets have a glaze on them.

Do your best to figure out what the original color might’ve been and add a few LRV points for the extra depth added by the glaze. This is an important step; this number will help guide you toward a starting point when looking for compatible paint colors. Yes, glazed cream cabinets or trim add another layer to the beast.

Are you ready, Betty? Do you want to see the BEST PAINT COLORS to update cream cabinets and trim? To do this effectively and to apply to as many people as possible…

I’m basing this on the average cream kitchen (lighter than Sherwin Williams Antique White, for those of you with this particular shade of cream or one with similar depth).

Remember, I can only kill so many birds with one stone (or feed so many birds with one scone) – I’M JUST…ONE…WOMAN!

The above combo is off, as the walls are too cool & light for the cabinets. 

TWO THINGS THESE COLORS WON’T DO FOR YOU

1. They won’t make your cabinets or trim look anything other than cream/yellow. They’re a yellow paint color, and short of painting them, they are what they are.

2. Lightening and brightening are often the goals in rooms with cream cabinets. However, these options won’t make your room look light and bright compared to traditional off-white and light paint colors. But it’s not these paint color options stopping you; it’s your cream cabinets and trim; they have limitations (don’t kill the wee Ginger messenger!). Your room might look brighter than it USED to if it happened to be painted a darker color, but that’s as far as you’ll get short of painting your walls the same color as your cabinets or painting your trim/cabinets white. 

OH MY GOD, DOES SHE EVER STOP TALKING? No, no, I don’t… 

THE BEST PAINT COLORS TO GO WITH (UPDATE) CREAM CABINETS & TRIM

Remember, the yellow hue of your cabinets/trim may hold you back from your wildest color dreams (mine are full of paint samples, Ryan Gosling, wine, and Doritos). But this doesn’t mean you can’t find a good happy medium.

If you CAN’T or WON’T paint your cream cabinets and trim a more flexible shade, sometimes a happy medium is as good as it gets #truthbomb.

To be honest, some of the upcoming colors make me a bit twitchy with some cream paint colors, but settle okay with others – it depends on the cream you’re dealing with and your surrounding finishes. However, they might give you the flexibility to accommodate your cabinets and your other finishes, creating a purposeful and coordinated palette. 

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AMAZING GRAY 7044

Amazing Gray is amazeballs, and I love it with some of the more muted cream cabinets. Many people start with Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray, looking for a light shade of greige, but with its LRV of 57, combined with its subtle undertone, it’s just too soft for most cream cabinets and trims.

Amazing Gray has an LRV of 47, and its slightly noticeable green undertone goes with a relatively wide variety of cream cabinets and trim. This LRV puts Amazing Gray more than 20 points lower than the average cream paint color – AMAZING!

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO AMAZING GRAY

• Sherwin Williams Jogging Path #5 has a wink more green (it’s coming up shortly; it’s fab)
• Sherwin Williams Analytical Gray
• Benjamin Moore Northern Cliffs offers a bit more depth and body
• Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray is a bit grayer and more grounded (SAMPLE HERE)

Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray: IMAGES, Info, & More

These kitchen cabinets (below) are painted Sherwin Williams Alabaster, a soft, warm white on the edge of the off-white/cream world. Amazing Gray (on the walls) is pretty darn happy with this color but might handle a cream with a bit more depth…

 

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS STONE LION 7507

Stone Lion is a light-medium-depth beige paint color with muted undertones. It sits reasonably well with most cream paint colors because it doesn’t have the same level of taupe found in Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige, which is most people’s first choice in this range (and is coming up shortly).

While it might be darker than you have in mind, your creamy trim or cabinets might disagree with you! Here’s Stone Lion with cream trim…

Stone Lion has an LRV of 38, making it a medium-depth warm neutral that’s WELL below the boundaries of cream. You could also explore the lighter look of Sherwin Williams Loggia, with its LRV of 48. However, the lighter-again Shiittake might be too flat-looking (not warm enough at this depth) for some cream paint colors.

The Best Stone-Inspired Greige, Taupe, Beige, & Gray Paint Colors 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO STONE LION 

• Sherwin Williams Tony Taupe
• Benjamin Moore Brandon Beige 

3. BENJAMIN MOORE CLAY BEIGE

Admittedly, Clay Beige is a tight squeeze with many cream colors, but oooo, it can be a badass and beautiful to update cream cabinets – the right cream cabinets.

Clay Beige is a light shade of tan (not a beige, so it doesn’t center on an orange undertone). Its incredibly muted undertones make it one of this page’s more updated warm colors.

Clay beige is similar to the top left sample. 

However, being lighter and more subtle, it won’t suit more dense, rich shades of cream.

PAINT COLORS SIMILAR TO CLAY BEIGE

• Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan is quite similar and a great sample to compare.
• Sherwin Williams Sand Beach offers a bit more depth and body.

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MACADAMIA 6142

While Macadamia can be next-level awesome with cream cabinets, particularly Antique White, it’s also the type of color many of my Online Color Consulting clients try to avoid! But this doesn’t mean it’s not a good option.

The thing is, cream cabinets and trim (Antique White in particular) can be pretty fussy regarding the wall colors they’re partnered with—you won’t have many GREAT options, but this is one of them.

Macadamia is a light-medium-depth beige with an LRV of 49 and reasonably strong undertones. If you see how Macadamia works but can’t bring yourself to paint your walls a beige this dark, look at the lighter version, Softer Tan, but it might be a bit more of a stretch.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MACADAMIA 

• Sherwin Williams Nomadic Desert, but be careful. If your cream is hiding a green hue, it could be a hot mess.
• Benjamin Moore Wheeling Neutral – amazeballs.
• Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige is lighter but is known to work with some cream cabinets and trims.
• Benjamin Moore Hush is an interesting, lighter shade. Just be careful with creams that have more orange in them.
• Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan is a great comparison.

Kilim Beige, shown in this next kitchen, is well-suited to these cream cabinets and surrounding finishes…

 

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS JOGGING PATH

I’m obsessed with Jogging Path (not that I’ve ever been on one – this hot mama jama does NOT like running). Not only does it have a beautiful green hue, but it also complements a reasonable range of cream paint colors, as long as they’re subtle and more muted.

Just remember, the green undertone in Jogging Path Gray can make your cream cabinets or trim look a bit more yellow in comparison.

Jogging Path is a shade of greige with a reasonably noticeable green undercurrent. It could be wicked pretty with your cream cabinets, but is it the right color for your countertop and backsplash? WE’LL SEE!

 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO JOGGING PATH

• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray #1
• Sherwin Williams Gateway Gray is loverly
• Benjamin Moore Seattle Mist, if you think you can sneak in a slightly lighter shade. Just be careful with those rich creams, and note that cooler shades can enhance your cream’s yellow!

This process isn’t just about colors to update cream cabinets or trim; make sure the paint colors you sample suit your other finishes, such as countertops, backsplash, and flooring!  

6. BENJAMIN MOORE BENNINGTON GRAY HC-82

You might be excited at the word ‘gray,’ but don’t be fooled—this is just another color named by someone who was CLEARLY in the cups (which I am after writing this epically long blog post). While Bennington Gray is certainly not as warm as Macadamia, it sure as heck isn’t gray.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Bennington Gray…

Bennington Gray has an LRV of 47 – BOOM, mad love. It’s also a great happy medium if your home needs warmth, but you don’t love the more traditional Tuscan approach of Macadamia. 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO BENNINGTON GRAY 

• Benjamin Moore Grant Beige #7 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Bleeker Beige (SAMPLE HERE)

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Bennington Gray & Bleeker Beige 

7. BENJAMIN MOORE GRANT BEIGE HC-83

If the above beige and tan paint colors are too strong, but you see how a warm shade might be your home’s best color, you could check out Grant Beige. Grant Beige is a tan color with a bit less undertone than many popular beige and tan paint colors, without falling into the greige range.

Disappointed to see ANOTHER beige or tan? Don’t get your titties in a tussle; I’m not here to tell you what you WANT to hear; I’m here to help you avoid a fugly kitchen combo. Many of the lighter colors we WANT to pair with our cream cabinets and trim are simply the wrong choice.

Grant Beige has an LRV of 56, so it’s on the edge of the light and light-medium range. This makes it a great option, especially for some mid- to light cream colors. 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO GRANT BEIGE 

• Sherwin Williams Sandbar (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan for a lighter approach

Sandbar (left), Clay Beige 25% darker (right)

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Grant Beige

I usually start with the above colors when looking to update cream cabinets and trim. But again, a lot can change depending on the surrounding finishes, including the backsplash, countertop, and flooring. 

8. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC-172

While I get nervous about Revere Pewter with the darker cream paint colors, it’s often a nice partner to lighter, more muted cream paint colors. It will still make the cream look more yellow ‘in comparison,’ but that happens so easily when you partner a warm color with a color that’s cooler than it.

In this next photo, there are a few things at play…

1. The trim is whiter than the cabinets, making the cabinets look more yellow. Overall, the trim looks considerably bright and warm with a reasonable yellow tint.

2. This is a low-light area, and Revere Pewter looks muddier than usual.

Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55, making it a heavy, light-depth, warm gray with a slightly earthy green undertone that doesn’t always show up to the party. Regarding coordinating with cream paint colors, it’s best if it does all of that and then some!

Once again, in this next photo, Revere Pewter looks WAY warmer and muddier than usual – this is what we hope it does…

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO REVERE PEWTER 

• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray #1
• Sherwin Williams Jogging Path #5

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter 

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY 7641

Like Revere Pewter, Colonnade Gray is touchy with cream paint colors with more yellow or depth. But it can be an interesting partner to lighter and muted creams.

This next example shows Colonnade Gray with cream trim in a bedroom. Notice how the cream doesn’t act like traditional white trim, even with a modern paint color partner, but that’s because it’s not white.

Colonnade Gray can be a slightly better option than Revere Pewter because it has a lower LRV, at 53, compared to Revere Pewter’s 55. However, Revere Pewter one-ups Colonnade Gray in the muddy department, pulling that organic warmth off way better. 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO COLONNADE GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray…maybe (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter #8

Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray: IMAGES, Info, & More

The COOLER a paint color is or the more COLOR it has (purple, blue, or green), the more it will CONTRAST with the yellow of your cabinet cabinets or trim – nature of the beast, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t pretty combos if you’re so inclined! 

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS VERSATILE GRAY 6072

Versatile Gray is a light-medium-depth taupe paint color that looks pretty with many cream cabinets.

Why?

Well, when surrounded by the right countertops/tiles or carpet, the taupe (violet, slightly violet-pink) undertone can be a pretty accent—AS LONG AS YOUR CREAM DOESN’T HAVE ANY GREEN IN IT.

The painted furniture in this next bedroom is SUPER creamy-yellow. Notice how Versatile Gray settles with it…

In this next photo, Versatile Gray humors the cream cabinets while tapping into the countertop’s needs. Would I usually put Versatile Gray with cream cabinets? Probably not (but there are exceptions), but again, when looking for a happy medium, sometimes you have to think outside the color box!

Versatile Gray has an LRV of 48, making it a great contender for various creams.

However, many homeowners want a lighter, warm gray, greige, or taupe with their cream cabinets. Let’s look at the lighter version, Popular Gray – wooooooof…

Do you see how the cabinets’ cream-yellow fights with Popular Gray (right)? And while Worldly Gray (left) is no screamin’ glory either, its slightly lower LRV makes it a bit better (I still wouldn’t do it).

Why?

Because there isn’t enough LRV or difference in depth between the cabinet color and these samples. Even though my client might’ve wanted a lighter warm gray or greige/taupe paint color, it’s easy to see how a light-medium version like Versatile Gray (or the previously mentioned, Amazing Gray, which is the light-medium version of Worldly Gray) makes a better connection.

HOORAY FOR HAPPY MEDIUMS! 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO VERSATILE GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray, although it’s often a touch too cool/violet (SAMPLE HERE)

Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray 

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE 7037

Balanced Beige is touch-and-go and highly dependent on your cabinets, the amount of yellow they have, and the potential glaze they have on them.

In this next kitchen, look at how flat and taupe Accessible Beige (left) looks compared to the glazed cream cabinets. While Balanced Beige (right) is better, it’s still too toned down for the degree of warmth in the glaze—close, but no cigar!

In this next kitchen, notice how the glaze on the cabinets isn’t as warm as in the previous version. Because the glaze is more toned-down and the backsplash is agreeable, Balanced Beige is a slightly better fit.

Balanced Beige has an LRV of 46, which is definitely in its favor.

While it’s okay with some of the more muted and lighter cream paint colors, it’s too taupe for others (including Antique White and creams with a similar depth). It’s in this section because sometimes it’s just that happy medium between cream cabinets/trim and surrounding finishes. My best advice is to try 25% darker, as you’ll have a better shot by lowering its LRV. Or even better, check out the darker version, Tony Taupe.

While this next photo isn’t super (I only use photos from my Online Color clients, friends, and readers), it shows Balanced Beige with creamy cabinets…

Note how Balanced Beige looks a bit drab and flat. Sure, it’s great with the white trim, and it’s ooookay with the cabinets, but it could be way better (I can’t wait to see the AFTER photos!) 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO BALANCED BEIGE 

• Sherwin Williams Loggia (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth #2

Oooo, I have a great example of Accessible Beige with cream cabinets to show you, to hammer down how it’s NOT a great option…

My Online Color Consulting client hired me to fix her kitchen, but changing the paint color wasn’t easy. Sure, the backsplash and paint color are well-coordinated, but the granite and cream cabinets do their own thing and don’t suit the other surfaces. Accessible Beige (and the backsplash) look too taupe/flat compared to the yellow/cream of the cabinets—it’s a bad combination that makes the cabinets look more yellow and dated.

The above is a great example of a kitchen that has beautiful finishes that aren’t well-coordinated with each other. And paint can’t fix everything when a good foundation isn’t in place.

Pick the best paint color for the home you have, not the home you WISH you had.

Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige: IMAGES, Info, & More 

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030

Anew Gray is a popular light-medium-depth greige/taupe paint color. However, it has less undertone than some of the previously mentioned colors. This means it can look a bit washy and non-committal compared to a cream paint color—sample carefully!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Anew Gray, but when coordinating with cream cabinets and trims, often a bit MORE undertone is better than a bit less.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Anew Gray…YAY! 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ANEW GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray
• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray #1
• Sherwin Williams Mega Greige
• Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray (#10)

Sherwin Williams Anew Gray: IMAGES, Info, & More 

13. BENJAMIN MOORE PASHMINA AF-100

While Pashmina isn’t always friendly towards some of the darker or more intense cream paint colors (ones with more yellow in them), it can be a pretty complement to a muted cream or off-white.

This next image shows Pashmina (top) and Balanced Beige (bottom) with subtly warm cabinets and trim. To see their depth, look at how the trim compares to the light switch…

Pashmina has an LRV of 44, making it a great depth for various cream shades. As for its color, Pashmina is a greige paint color with a slight nod towards green. 

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR(ISH) TO PASHMINA 

• Sherwin Williams Anew Gray #12 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige #11 (SAMPLE HERE)

Benjamin Moore Pashmina, IMAGES, Info, & More 

14. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COMFORT GRAY 6205

Comfort Gray is one of the most popular green-blue-gray blend paint colors because while it certainly has COLOR, its gray base calms it right down for a more muted approach.

This next photo is a wicked example of a cool paint color in action with cream cabinets…

Comfort Gray has an LRV of 54, making it a bit touchy with some of the darker cream paint colors, but an interesting option for slightly lighter, more muted shades of cream.

In general, Comfort Gray with these cream cabinets is a beautiful combination.

• Would I like them in rooms that are next to each other? Sure.
• Do I want them right up against each other? Personally, no. Sure, they look pretty together, but the cool hue of Comfort Gray is making the cabinets and trim look more yellow in comparison, a look that not everyone is going for…but maybe YOU ARE!

While I wouldn’t go any lighter or more colorful than Comfort Gray (e.g., Sea Salt or Rainwashed) if you’re okay with this warm-cool play and your cream is light enough, they could work for you.

Look at Sweet Bluette (below) as an example of a cool color that will not update cream cabinets. Sometimes, my clients need to see something to understand why it doesn’t work, and I’d say this gave them a pretty clear eyeball on things…

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO COMFORT GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Argos (below, much grayer – SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Sensible Hue (grayer, SAMPLE HERE)

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray

15. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ARGOS 7065

Argos is a wicked pretty, light-medium gray paint color with a green-blue undertone. However, being a cool paint color, it’ll make your cream cabinets or trim look that much warmer in comparison. This is a pretty combo, but it needs to be the look you’re going for.

While the trim in this dining room isn’t overly creamy, it’s easy to see how Argos plays with its softness…

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ARGOS 

• Sherwin Williams Tinsmith (it’s lighter, so be careful – SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Silverplate (again, lighter – SAMPLE HERE)

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Argos

As for that elusive blog post I mentioned earlier..

WHAT ARE THE BEST OFF-WHITE & LIGHT WALL COLORS TO GO WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIMS?

Lighter colors can be harder to coordinate with cream cabinets and trims, as if they undertones don’t align, it can be even MORE obvious that things don’t jibe (compared to some darker colors).

And while it’s DEFINITELY more of a hit and miss situation, I’ve got quite a few colors for you to sample and compare.

Just…sample carefully.

Modern Paint Colors to Update Cream Cabinets & Trims

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

ARE CREAM CABINETS OUTDATED?

In today’s average home? Yes, cream cabinets are outdated (don’t shoot the messenger!).

While some are still painting their cabinets cream, they look more timeless in country-style, vintage, or traditional-style homes (some), particularly those with black countertops. 

HOW DO YOU UPDATE CREAM CABINETS?

Aside from choosing one of the paint colors suggested above, a new backsplash can help to update cream cabinets and make them look more modern. In particular, look for a 3×6 subway tile that’s the same cream as your cabinets – NEVER choose a tile that’s whiter than your cabinets.

Also, consider hardware in a finish that suits its surroundings (usually oil-rubbed bronze or black) but has a slightly more modern profile (check these out). While oil-rubbed bronze isn’t an updated finish, it often suits homes with cream cabinets.

PHEW, we did it! Hopefully, you found the best paint color for you and your cream-inspired home. If not, you know where to find me (and no, it’s not at the winery).

How to Update Cream Cabinets: COMMON QUESTIONS

Modern Paint Colors to Update Cream Cabinets & Trims

And in case you’re wondering about some colors I didn’t mention, there might be a good reason… 

POPULAR COLORS THAT DON’T UPDATE CREAM CABINETS (SO YOU CAN STOP WONDERING)

While I could go into all the reasons why, having read the above information, you’ll understand. These colors come up ALL THE TIME, with my E-design clients hoping to update cream cabinets or trim with them.

Of course, if your cream is lighter and has muted undertones, you have a better chance, but don’t hold your breath for too long.

• Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
• Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
• Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray
• Sherwin Williams Popular Gray
• Sherwin Williams Alpaca
• Benjamin Moore’s Big Chill
• Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
• Benjamin Moore Cedar Key
• Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist
• Benjamin Moore Collingwood

I could go on, but those are the usual offenders. If you have very light cream trim or cabinets, could they work? Maybe. If they do, send photos, but most of the time, they’re just too light or have the wrong undertones.

READ MORE

How to Update Cream Cabinets or Trim: COMMON QUESTIONS

The 10 Most Timeless Finishes for Your Home

The Best MODERN Cream Cabinet Paint Colors

Cream Paint Colors for a Classic, Traditional Kitchen Cabinet

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2022, UPDATED IN 2025