White or Gray Kitchen Cabinets: What’s Best for Your Home?

White kitchen cabinets have been a popular trend since designers started incorporating them in the 1980s, but gray has crept into the running as a contender these past few years. So, should you choose white or gray kitchen cabinets? Here are some shade details to help narrow down your cabinetry choices before hiring a local cabinet painter to transform your kitchen.

Pros of Gray Cabinets

Gray cabinets are a new timeless color for kitchens. Not only are gray cabinets versatile—you can choose from several different shades, but they are also much easier to maintain. Gray cabinets hide dust and dirt, so you don’t need to worry about constantly wiping them down. Here are the pros of gray cabinets.

Invokes an Intelligent Vibe

Some people describe gray as detached and neutral, while others say it’s the color of intelligence and wisdom. Color psychology also classifies gray as mysterious and even gothic.

Versatile

As far as aesthetics go, gray is a popular color choice for rooms because it’s versatile. If your kitchen has a warmer tone, you can go with a warmer gray; if your kitchen favors cooler colors like blues, you can choose more of a slate gray with blue undertones.

Easy to Accessorize

Since gray cabinets come in so many shades, you can easily match or blend them with different countertop materials, flooring, hardware, wall colors, and light fixtures. Your choices run the gamut from sleek marble to warm woods—the possibilities are endless for kitchen cabinet colors.

Cons of Gray Cabinets

While gray cabinets add a touch of class to your kitchen, they also have downsides. Namely, pairing gray cabinets with the wrong colors for countertops, floors, backsplash, and hardware can make the kitchen look dark and dated. Here are some other cons of gray cabinets:

Doesn’t Always Match Well

While gray cabinets can help a space look more modern, they can also make it look dreary if not paired with the right complementary colors. If you choose a darker gray shade, you may make your kitchen feel smaller.

It’s important to choose the right shade of gray. Otherwise, you could dull down your kitchen. Think about the other elements of your space like your countertops, walls, and flooring before landing on a shade.

Post-Painting Regrets

The cost to paint kitchen cabinets runs from $420 to $1,400, so choosing a cabinet color you’re sure to love is very important. However, after selecting gray cabinetry for their kitchens, some homeowners do feel a tinge of regret. Depending on the shade of gray you choose, your kitchen can look dark and isolating—even on sunny days. However, you can warm your kitchen with light and bright colors on the walls, countertops, and backsplash.

Pros of White Cabinets

White cabinets are classic and refined—adding a nice brightness to your kitchen. You’ll also find that white cabinetry pairs well with many different colors, styles, and aesthetics, making it easy to select new countertops, lighting, flooring, backsplash, and hardware. Here are the pros of white cabinets. 

Always In Style

White paint is like a classic trench coat: timeless and never goes out of style. White cabinets can be an excellent complement if you punch up your other kitchen remodeling designs, like the backsplash, countertops, and even flooring.

Opens Up the Space

In general, white tends to open up spaces and make them appear bigger. So if you have a kitchen on the smaller side, white cabinets can help create the illusion of more room.

Cons of White Cabinets

While white cabinetry pairs well with different shades of hardware, lighting, countertops, backsplash, and appliances, white cabinetry has some cons. For example, white cabinets are more challenging to keep clean, and the color may lose its luster over time. Here are the cons of white cabinetry.

You’ll See the Dust

Just like with white clothing, white fixtures are hard to keep clean. Dust buildup is very noticeable on white, so learn how to properly care for kitchen cabinets. In contrast, gray will hide dust and dirt better.

Yellowing Does Occur

White cabinets also tend to yellow with age, especially if they’re in the path of direct sunlight. Another reason white cabinets turn yellow is frequent cooking, especially if you’re not properly filtering out cooking grease with a vent hood. The grease will stick to your white cabinets, slowly turning them yellow over time. However, yellowing can happen much quicker if you don’t frequently clean your white cabinets.

Not Uncommon To Find

Since white has been so popular for kitchen cabinets, you can find it everywhere, which isn’t optimal if you want your kitchen to look unique. In addition, if you make the rest of your kitchen neutral—with light appliances, hardware, flooring, countertops, and backsplash, your kitchen can look dull and lifeless over time.

Ways to Style Gray Kitchen Cabinets

Gray kitchen cabinets, though modern, are still versatile. Here are some ideas for how to style them.

White Subway Tile

White subway tile has been traditionally used as a backsplash, and that’s no different when thinking about incorporating gray cabinets. Use a repose gray for a more subtle look or gauntlet gray for more drama.

Go Really Dark

If you’re looking for uber drama, try a dark gray. Just remember that it may make the room look smaller. Dark gray is best paired with either white or light brown countertops and light-colored walls and backsplashes.

Paint the Island

No rule says all of your kitchen cabinets have to be the same color. Add a pop of gray by just painting the cabinets on the kitchen island. It’s a good way to test-drive the color without committing all at once.

Ways to Style White Kitchen Cabinets

White kitchen cabinets are a classic look great for brightening up your kitchen.

Pop of Color

You can experiment a little more freely with other color elements in your kitchen with white cabinets. If you’re looking for something specialized, hire a ceramic tile pro to get a custom backsplash made. A fun backsplash works well with white cabinets, as do different colored appliances and creative kitchen wall colors.

Go All White

White cabinets. White countertops. White backsplash. An all-white kitchen certainly has a dramatic flair. Just remember that while a darker-colored surface or granite countertops may hide crumbs and other miscellaneous spills, white shows everything. This option isn’t for the faint of heart or those short on cleaning time.

Experiment With Hardware

Looking for a little more pizzazz? Try some dark handles. Want a more classic look? Nickel-brushed hardware is just the thing. There are tons of options out there, and you can usually swap out hardware pretty easily. Going antiquing can also yield some creative finds for kitchen hardware.

Try Both

Still can’t decide? You don’t have to. Mixing gray and white kitchen cabinets can bring a cool vibe to your kitchen. If you’re unsure how to mix it up, stick with gray on the bottom and white on the top for a sleek look, or try gray on the top and white on the bottom to pump up the drama.

Gray Cabinets vs. White Cabinets: Which Is Better?

If you’re on the fence about whether to choose gray or white cabinets, here are some other factors to consider.

Appearance: Tie

As far as appearance goes, choosing between gray and white cabinets is a matter of personal preference. If you’re looking to open up your room and give it a larger feel, white cabinets are a good option. But if you want a more dramatic, modern look, you may want to consider gray.

Winner: Tie

Options and Customizations: White Cabinets

When looking at options and customizations, gray cabinets have more choices for color gradients. You can choose light or dark gray or any number of shades in between. The color is also versatile because, depending on the shade, it can lean toward a cooler feel with slightly blue tones or more warm.

With hardware, white cabinets are more versatile because they provide a blank canvas, while choosing hardware for gray cabinets will be trickier because you have to consider the specific hue. Design options like shaker versus traditional cabinets are available for both, and gray and white look good on either one.

Winner: White cabinets

Maintenance: Gray Cabinets

Maintaining the appearance of kitchen cabinets can be a challenge, especially if you and your family cook a lot. Gray cabinets are easier to maintain because they hide dirt better, whereas white will show every little speck of dirt, dust, or grime.

Winner: Gray cabinets

Length of Life: Tie

When it comes to cabinet longevity, it depends on the type of paint for cabinets you use and whether you choose cabinet refacing or completely replace your cabinets. Gray cabinets will last 10 to 20 years for well-painted cabinets, while white cabinets can last 20 years or more with proper maintenance. Both cabinets can last for a long time, so the trend is the defining factor. White and gray cabinets don’t seem to be falling out of favor anytime soon, so you won’t need to re-paint, resurface, or completely gut your kitchen anytime soon.

Winner: Tie

ROI and Resale Value: Gray Cabinets

Kitchen remodel costs are very high, with cabinets being one of the higher ticket items. When thinking about your home’s resale value, neutral colors or colors that appeal to many homebuyers are the way to go. Light gray cabinets are a good option because they can match with many different decor styles, while darker gray cabinets may not increase a home’s resale value as much because of their modern look.

While white cabinets may seem like the ultimate neutral, they can decrease a home’s value because people are concerned they won’t be able to keep them clean.

Winner: Gray cabinets