The 15 Best Neutral Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands

GORGEOUS GRAY, BLACK & GREIGE COLORS FOR ISLANDS

I’ve talked a lot about oak cabinets, white cabinets, off-white cabinets, appliances, and wine—sometimes all in the same sentence. But this is my first blog post on the best paint colors for kitchen islands. And let me tell you, it’s a HUGE topic to cover.

Not only do these colors cover kitchen islands (literally), but they can also be used for…

• your bathroom vanity
• the lower cabinets in your kitchen (most likely paired with white or off-white upper cabinets)
• a feature area of cabinets in your kitchen like a built-in hutch or desk
• built-ins (e.g., in your living room, bedroom, etc…)
• mudroom benches and cabinets

Or whatever gets you excited to get your paintin’ pants on (keeping in mind, these aren’t ‘pants required‘ projects).

Now, if you go onto Pinterest or Houzz, you’ll find no shortage of ideas for what color to paint your island or cabinets – we’ll touch on a few of my favorites below. But (a BBL-sized one)…

Just because you CAN paint your island a different color doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

This is why today, we’re not just chatting about some of the best paint colors for your islands, vanities, and lower cabinets; we’re also going to look at some pros and cons to see if it’s even a good idea.

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PROS TO PAINTING YOUR ISLAND OR LOWER CABINETS A DIFFERENT COLOR

While you might like to think your personal tastes play a big part in color selection, it doesn’t. Oh sure, you want to humor yourself, but it’s more important that a) your space suits a painted island (or other cabinet), b) you choose a color that suits the surrounding finishes, and b) you consider resale if that’s a factor in the coming years.

Let’s briefly explore a few of these topics…

1. A PAINTED ISLAND CREATES A FOCAL POINT & A FOUNDATION

Painting your island a different color from the main cabinets can be a great way to ground your space and create a striking focal point, especially if you have light-colored tile/vinyl and white cabinets.

The same goes for a two-color palette, where the lower cabinets are painted a different color from the upper cabinets. If you have a home that’s a bit monotonous, this can break things up and add interest. It’s also a great choice if your home is more eclectic or ‘homey.’

However, it’s not as popular of choice for homes that are more traditional, modern, or transitional in style. While there are exceptions, kitchens with a two-color upper-lower palette often have more ‘character’ than the average kitchen.

 

2. A PAINTED ISLAND CAN BREAK UP A WOOD-ON-WOOD LOOK

While some kitchens and X-rated movies can pull off the wood-on-wood look, it can be a bit much if the floor and cabinets more or less blend with each other. Even if they don’t…

Wood on wood isn’t always good. 

Breaking things up with a colored island or lower cabinets offers some balance and allows the countertop and backsplash to be pulled into the palette. It also gives the remaining wood surfaces a chance to SHINE, whereas they might have otherwise been hiding amongst all of the grains and stains.

In the above kitchen, there was a heck of a lot of wood grain going on. Painting the huge island a dark, grounding color (Sherwin Williams Cyberspace) slows things down and gives the space a solid foundation for the remaining wood to really dance (and you all know how I love to make wood dance—wink, wink)!

 

3. MAKE A POLITE NOD TOWARD CURRENT TRENDS

Painting ALL of your kitchen cabinets a trendy paint color can be a risky choice. However, nodding towards a cabinet trend (like dark green, currently the top shade) by painting ONLY the island is a great happy medium without a 100% commitment to color on a large scale.

This is also an important consideration if you want to sell in the next 5-10 years. Chances are, whatever trend you commit to will be gone or on its way out, and it could affect your resale value.

 

4. IT’S MORE AFFORDABLE TO CHANGE IF YOU GET BORED OR TRENDS CHANGE

Painting kitchen cabinets is an expensive project, and not every budget can accommodate this kind of investment. Painting the ISLAND is not only more affordable now, but it’s also affordable to change down the road if you get bored (or on a monthly basis like me).

It’s not just about paint colors, either! Painting the main cabinets white (for example) and pairing them up with an island or lower cabinets in a wood stain is a popular, on-trend look, as shown in this next photo. These kitchens were created from scratch, so painting the island a different color/stain was easier to incorporate than remodeling using existing products.

 

CONS TO PAINTING YOUR ISLAND OR LOWER CABINETS A DIFFERENT COLOR

Just because you WANT to do something doesn’t mean your home or current trends agree with you (if you’re worried about resale).

1. A PAINTED ISLAND/LOWER CABINETS CAN MAKE A KITCHEN LOOK TOO BUSY

If you have two different countertops, painting your island a different color from the main cabinets can add to the busyness unless things are very carefully coordinated. It’s a bit easier if your island has a butcher-block countertop and wood flooring, as this eliminates a few products that need to be cross-coordinated. Still, if you have tile/vinyl flooring and two different countertops, things can look really cluttered really fast.

Even though the above kitchen had some great bones in place, painting the island a different color wouldn’t have added to the look; it would’ve cluttered it.

The same goes for the island in this next kitchen. It doesn’t need to be its own color to be perfectly balanced and beautiful.

 

2. IF YOU DON’T PICK THE RIGHT PAINT COLOR, IT WILL BE A HOT MESS

Picking the best paint color for your kitchen island isn’t just about picking the color you WANT to paint; it’s about picking a color that ties into your existing finishes, including the floor, countertop, backsplash, and main kitchen cabinets.

 

3. YOU COULD SET THE ROOM OFF-BALANCE

Not every kitchen was designed to have an island in a different color. Some spaces need the consistency of ONE cabinet color due to the depth of the walls, backsplash, countertop, and main cabinets.

For example, in this next space, while a darker island would’ve looked ‘okay,’ the balance down the center of the room, considering the stately stone fireplace and dark sectional, would’ve been pretty strong, whereas the white island adds balance.

The Best Sherwin Williams White Paint Colors

4. IT’S TRENDY

It’s as simple as that. Right now, painted islands are popular, as are different colored lowers…but so are crop tops and shorts that show off your bum cheeks (hey, I would if I could). Like any trend, it’s only a matter of time before painted islands or lower cabinets aren’t as popular, and when it comes time to sell, your choice could devalue your home.

4 PART SERIES: How to Create a Timeless Home

But why does this blog post focus on neutrals only?

I can’t cover everything in one blog post – or I could, but it would be 20,000 words, and we’d both be exhausted (insert wine and funnel here). Instead, you can peruse these neutral paint colors to see if one lights you up. If not, you can head over to the more COLORFUL end of things and get your paintin’ party started!

And a huge thank you to my E-design and local clients for sending me their ‘after’ photos—I couldn’t do this without you!

Colors are just example blobs, not direct references to actual colors

 

THE 5 BEST GRAY ISLAND/CABINET PAINT COLORS

Choosing a neutral is almost ALWAYS a better choice than a color if you’re worried about resale value, as you’re more likely to appeal to a wider range of buyers. And gray is HANDS-DOWN the most popular neutral choice for a kitchen island/lower cabinets (followed closely by black), but that’s not to say it’s the easiest…

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Amherst Gray

It’s important that the undertones in your countertop, flooring, and backsplash (if they are gray) jibe with the undertones of the gray of your cabinets (every gray has undertones). Some of the more popular quartz and marble countertops lean towards a soft purple or blue-purple undertone, so you’d want to pick a gray with those same undertones. If you choose the wrong undertones, you’ll have a hot mess on your hands that can only be fixed by repainting.

When painting your island or lower cabinets gray, there is a LOT of room to move, but there are a few limitations…

• if you have warm-toned countertops, there aren’t many gray paint colors that are going to look good
• if you have beige tiled flooring, again, there are a few grays that will work
• gray cabinets look good with MANY of the most popular white paint colors, but they are NOT always as good with overly warm or creamy ones

The Best Paint Colors for a Bathroom Vanity (or any cabinets)

 

1. BENJAMIN MOORE CHELSEA GRAY HC-168

Chelsea Gray is a solid, medium-toned gray that has been a fan fave for years. While it’s FRACTIONALLY warm (you’d hardly know it), it acts more like standard charcoal and can sometimes pick up a super vague green undertone.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray

BTW, the kitchen island is almost ALWAYS darker than the main cabinets. While there are exceptions, it’s a combo that has to be done carefully! 

 

2. BENJAMIN MOORE METROPOLIS CC-546

Metropolis is a beautiful medium-toned WARM gray (almost taupe) with a subtle purple undertone – that’s right, there’s not a wink o’ green to be found in this bad boy! When it comes to homes built in the early 2000s, particularly those with granite countertops, Metropolis is a popular choice as it often suits the TYPE of gray found in these finishes.

See the AWESOME before and after of the above bathroom HERE

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Metropolis

 

3. BENJAMIN MOORE AMHERST GRAY HC-167

Amherst Gray is similar to Chelsea Gray but darker. The green undertone in Amherst Gray can sometimes show up just a wink more (depending on the products you partner it with and your lighting/exposure).

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

 

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY 7019

Gauntlet Gray is one of the darkest, warmest grays available. As some warm grays darken, they pick up too much brown—not Gauntlet Gray. While it has some warmth, you’re still left with an overwhelmingly gray paint color.

As for undertones, Gauntlet Gray is flexible between green and purple, meaning it doesn’t commit to either. If you’re nervous of ANY undertone and hope for that ever-elusive ‘gray with no undertones,’ Gauntlet Gray (and Dovetail, listed next) could be as close as you get.

This next kitchen is still being completed but is a great shot of Gauntlet Gray…

The 9 Best Benjamin Moore Gray Paint Colors

FULL REVIEW OF SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY HERE 

And remember, when you’re choosing the best gray paint color for your vanity, you need to pay CLOSE attention to the needs of your tiles and countertop. Find out which undertones you’re working with and coordinate your gray paint color from there! Every gray will have undertones, and you’ll want to ensure they partner up!

 

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL 7018

Dovetail is like a lighter version of Gauntlet Gray. This means that it’s also a warm gray with flexible and non-committal undertones. As for LRV, Gauntlet Gray sits at 17, whereas Dovetail is a good dose lighter at 26, putting it in the medium depths.

Sherwin Williams Dovetail Paint Color Review

Shown above, Sherwin Williams Dovetail

The Best Paint Colors to Update Your Golden Oak Cabinets, Flooring, or Trim

Trendy & Popular Paint Colors for Your Kitchen Island (MIXED BAG!)

 

THE 3 BEST BLACK PAINT COLORS FOR KITCHEN ISLANDS/VANITIES

Black islands can look classic when they suit the kitchen or bathroom they’re in. I say this because not every room can pull off a color as striking as black. It all comes down to the combination of the countertop, backsplash, and flooring. Sure, the main cabinet color plays a part, but assuming that MOST of the time it’s white, it’s the least of our concerns.

Here’s a gorgeous kitchen with painted cabinets and a striking darker island. However, because a traditional black would come off a bit stark for the softness of this countertop, we chose Iron Ore, which is a softer shade…

While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets black, your kitchen would ideally have the following:

• black or gray in it
• a butcher block countertop
• white or wood cabinets
• wood flooring or tile/lino that can easily accommodate a sharp color like black

 

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TRICORN BLACK SW 6258

With hundreds of blacks to choose from, it can be hard to narrow things down. But sometimes, it’s best to just start (and often end) with Tricorn Black. So many blacks pick up blue, violet, or green—not Tricorn Black. This gorgeous shade is Sherwin William’s most popular black paint color because it’s just…black. No secret undercurrents, no ulterior motives, just an uber-sexy, sultry shade of black.

Now, how I don’t have a photo of this on a kitchen island is BEYOND me, but since I only use photos from my readers and Online clients, I’ll show you this pretty laundry room instead…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

 

2. BENJAMIN MOORE BLACK 2132-10

While sometimes I wonder how Benjamin Moore came up with their color names, this one is right to the point as black; in fact, the name says it all.

Black 2132-10 (you need the number to order/find it) is a classic shade. Similar to Tricorn Black with its intentions, Black is a great choice when you don’t want any surprises. This killer dark shade has an LRV of 4.56 – it ain’t messin’ around. And while it’s a touch lighter than Tricorn Black’s LRV of 3, they’re pretty much kissin’ cousins (isn’t that illegal in most States?)

Now, because I only use photos from my readers and Online Color Consulting clients, I don’t always have the perfect image. However, this one gives the right idea…

The 8 Best Black Paint Colors

Sample & compare my FAVORITE shades of black with this CURATED COLOR BUNDLE

 

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS IRON ORE SW 7069

While Tricorn Black and Black 2132-10 have their place, Iron Ore is more popular in today’s homes. This is because, unlike the other two shades, which are BLACK, Iron Ore is a soft black, so it’s not quite as striking. Oh, don’t get me wrong—she’s darn purdy; she just isn’t as…black.

In the above image, the softness of Iron Ore is easy to see compared to the black outlet on the end of the island.

Iron Ore has a beautiful but subtle green undertone, making it an interestingly thoughtful choice for an island, vanity, or lower cabinets.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

 

THE 5 BEST GREIGE COLORS FOR CABINETS, ISLANDS, & VANITIES

Greige is another great choice and can sometimes work better than gray if you’re trying to transition out of the beige end of things. I say ‘sometimes’ as some kitchens and bathrooms just CAN’T pull off gray or greige – it all depends on the existing finishes and what they can tolerate!

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URBANE BRONZE 7048

Urbane Bronze is a WICKED gorgeous, super dark, greige paint color. Some of my Online Paint Color clients see the green undertones and love them; others don’t see them at all – it just depends on the surrounding environment and your perception.

While this next photo shows an entire kitchen, it gives you a great eyeball on the color and depth of Urbane Bronze…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

 

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PORPOISE SW 7047

Porpoise is more or less the lighter version of Urbane Bronze, making it a greige with a little less ooomph. Compared to Urbane Bronze’s LRV of 8, Porpoise’s LRV of 13 makes it a more moderate, medium-dark color.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Porpoise

 

3. BENJAMIN MOORE KINGSPORT GRAY HC-86

Kingsport Gray is an awesome, medium-toned, greige paint color. While it’s planted between gray and beige, it does have a decent allegiance to brown over gray. But don’t let that sway you; I know not everyone gets excited over the ‘b’ word. A color like Kingsport Gray can be a gorgeous landing place between the gray and the beige world while humoring the needs of MANY popular granites from the 1990s and early 2000s.

However, while some greiges commit hard to their green undertone, Kingsport Gray comes in way more muted, so the green isn’t noticeable unless you partner it with finishes with an opposite (purple-pink) undertone.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray

 

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS KEYSTONE GRAY SW 7504

Keystone Gray is one of my top greige paint colors for cabinets. While it’s similar to Kingsport Gray, it’s a bit lighter and less warm. It also has SUPER passive undertones that are hard-pressed to flash any green at all.

If you’re nervous about the world of gray (as it’s not as trendy as it used to be) but not quite ready for BROWN (join the club), Keystone Gray could be a great happy medium!

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray

 

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY SW 7029

Not everyone wants a dark-colored island. In fact, current trends call for a lighter approach in some kitchens! In that case, the subtle greige look of Agreeable Gray could be just the color you’re looking for.

For this approach, it’s best if you have white cabinets so there’s a reasonable degree of contrast between your island and your cabinets, as shown in this next kitchen…If you want light or off-white depth cabinets and love the subtle greige look, it’s hard to beat Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. IN FACT, I wrote an entire blog post on it!

Agreeable Gray is a light depth greige with an LRV of 60. And while this might be a bit darker than you had in mind, remember that the sheen of cabinet paint (satin) can make a color look a bit lighter than expected. Check out Agreeable Gray in this beautiful kitchen…

Funny enough, this shows Agreeable Gray on the main cabinets and the previously mentioned Iron Ore on the island! 

Agreeable Gray has flexible undertones. While there’s a touch of green in it, it’s so subtle that it rarely shows up at the party in a big way. On the other hand, it also doesn’t flash overly green or violet, either!

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

We did Agreeable Gray in this budget-friendly kitchen remodel…

 

THE 2 BEST DARK TAUPE PAINT COLORS FOR CABINETS & ISLANDS

A lot of people confuse greige and taupe as, according to some, the terms are interchangeable – they’re one and the same ‘type of color.’ To make our lives easier, I classify greige and taupe as the following…

• Greige paint colors have a green undertone (which is easy to remember as they both start with ‘gre’, but that’s not the reason they’re called that).
• Taupe paint colors have a violet (violet-pink) undertone

Now, you do you boo, but for the sake of my blog, you might find these explanations helpful!

While taupe is well into fourth place compared to the previous colors, it still has its place, depending on the countertop it’s partnered with. If you happen to have granite countertops from the 1990s and 2000s, there’s a chance Spalding Gray could be a great color for your cabinets. The same goes for several laminate countertops. And while it’s less likely to find a home with today’s more modern white quartz countertops, it all depends on what you’ve got!

 

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS FOLKSTONE SW 6005

Folkstone is one of my favorite shades of taupe (there are few, as there aren’t many great darker taupes). With an LRV of 14, Folkstone is a medium-dark color that’s a great blend of brown, gray, and, you guessed it – violet. The violet is certainly noticeable but not overwhelming, which is why it’s often a great choice with countertops with flecks in this range.

Get a Peel & Stick sample of Folkstone HERE

The 8 Best DARKER Shades of Taupe & Greige

 

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SPALDING GRAY SW 6074

Compared to Fokstone, Spalding Gray will seem SO neutral. However, like Folkstone, it harbors a violet hue, but this time, it’s very…very subtle.

I chose Spalding Gray, not just because it’s subtle but because it’s a slightly lighter option. Its LRV of 22 puts it closer to the medium-depth range, offering a softer approach compared to most of the previous shades (black, gray, and otherwise).

While I don’t have a photo of it in action on an island (yet), here’s Spalding Gray on the left side of these cabinets…

Well, that’s it for neutrals. If you want to see more great color ideas, keep reading!

READ MORE

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Trendy & Popular Paint Colors for Your Kitchen Island (MIXED BAG!)

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Not sure what the best paint color for your island or cabinets is?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting packages; I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2024