These Warm Alternatives To Gray Cabinets Are The New Neutral

There's a lot to love about gray in home decor. It's cool, it's versatile, and it blends seamlessly into a wide variety of design styles. For at least some time, gray may have been the right paint color for your kitchen cabinets. But if you're feeling like you want to ditch the gray for a trendier new color, you're not alone.

As designers look to 2025 and beyond, many are stepping away from cool, stark tones and overly minimalist home decor to embrace warm, more maximalist vibes. In some rooms throughout the home, you might do this by using bold, vibrant colors or unique statement pieces. But in a kitchen, you might be looking to warm things up without overpowering the space — or maybe your design aesthetic just skews a bit more pared down. In those cases, designers are recommending turning to warm neutrals like cashmere, mushroom, beige, and taupe. These shades are more gentle and cozy than gray, but still bring the same versatility and neutrality that gray offers.

As design trends turn toward adding more warmth to your house, the kitchen is a natural place to start. It's a place for gathering and sharing, so you want it to feel homey and inviting. And since gray is a color with cool undertones, the shade might not be right for creating that cozy vibe.

Cashmere has gained traction among people who want their kitchen to feel sophisticated and harmonious, while mushroom has a more organic feel that pairs well with a kitchen that incorporates natural elements like wood floors or stone countertops. One of the 2025 colors of the year from Dunn-Edwards, Caramelized, is another option. It's an earthy shade of clay, imbuing tranquility while staying subtle.

Like gray, these can easily adapt to a wide variety of aesthetics, and provides tons of styling potential to your kitchen. Features like brass handles and knobs, playful backsplashes or wallpaper, and seasonal elements like fresh spring flowers or a bowl of winter citrus fruits are fun ways to play off the warm neutral cabinet colors. Each can give the space some personality and intrigue while still helping it feel timeless and practical.