The One Color You Should Never Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

Thinking about updating your kitchen cabinets? It may be tempting to repaint them with a bold color, say navy blue, since it's one of the hues dominating the trends in modern kitchen remodels and upgrades. However, while deep blues have gained such widespread popularity among many homeowners, you should know that design experts and real estate professionals don't necessarily recommend it to everyone. HGTV's Hilary Farr even considers bringing in such a bold color among the kitchen upgrades that are a waste of money.

Dark blue's appeal to modern homeowners is understandable. It feels clean and timeless and just screams modern elegance, especially when paired with gold hardware. Unfortunately, it isn't the best choice if you are planning to sell your home any time soon. Real estate agent Jennifer Leahy told Apartment Therapy that the color may deter potential buyers. "Dark colors are too much of a commitment for most buyers," she said before noting that she had a hard time selling a newly constructed home with a blue kitchen than another new house with a white kitchen.

The thing is, even though blue cabinetry has been trending, there is no guarantee that it will remain among the best kitchen cabinet colors in a few year's time. It's good if you're only repainting your cabinets for a personal upgrade and you're not selling the property soon. But if you are doing it to boost its market value, you might want to consider more buyer-friendly hues instead.

It's undeniable how deep blue colors on kitchen cabinets add a striking visual contrast and an upscale, designer feel to the kitchen space. Not only that, their darker shade also conceals stains and scratches, making the cabinets appear impeccable even in the busiest of kitchens. Still, real estate professionals, such as Jennifer Leahy, are against deep blues when staging a property for sale.

Since buyers tend to favor clean, bright, and neutral aesthetics, they are likely to choose homes with white, cream, or even soft gray kitchen cabinets. A dark kitchen can make a house look more personalized, which is a bad thing for buyers who already see the remodeling expenses they would incur if they were to buy the property. "Even if you have an old kitchen and give it a refresh with white paint and updated hardware, you can totally change how buyers feel about the house," Leahy told Apartment Therapy. "The cost of painting a kitchen is far less than the hit the seller will face if the kitchen keeps turning off buyers."

Another issue with dark blue shades that can affect the resale value of a home is that they can make the kitchen space feel smaller and less inviting, particularly when there is a shortage of natural lighting. So take note that while the best cabinet colors to make a small kitchen feel more spacious are white and neutrals, deep colors will shrink the space visually.

There are many alternatives to navy blue if you are serious about boosting the appeal of your home, specifically the kitchen, to future buyers. The safest and most stylish is white. It never runs out of style; hence, it's considered a classic for a reason. White cabinetry makes the kitchen space bright and open as it reflects light. Plus, it pairs well with just about any countertop and backsplash. Buyers won't have a problem imagining the possibilities they could do with it upon purchase.

Another excellent choice is greige — a combination of gray and beige. It has an earthy sophistication to it, and it is also timeless. This color combo is highly versatile, so it can work well with various kitchen styles, including modern, traditional, or even farmhouse. Using gray on its own is also a beautiful choice, provided you match it with a stunning color palette to give your kitchen a modern look.

It's important to note at this point that not all neutral colors can be a good alternative to deep blue. Some neutral kitchen cabinet colors may drive homebuyers away. Warm neutrals, such as tan and gold overtones, can be overpowering and off-putting. Aside from not being easy on the eye, such colors have the tendency to make the kitchen look old and dated. They also clash with other design elements and colors, and in certain lighting, they can cast a strange glow over their surroundings.