The Kitchen Cabinet Color Trend Completely Taking Over 2025

Most rooms rely on the wall color to set the tone for design, but in the kitchen, it's the cabinet color that tends to take the lead. The best kitchen cabinet colors have often been seen as neutral or classic tones, but in 2025, homeowners are looking to embrace a paint that feels a little more unexpected and trendy. The kitchen is the heart of the home — a place where family and friends can gather to feel welcomed and comforted. The color choice for your cabinets should exude a sense of warmth, and more kitchens are starting to embrace this approach lately. The latest color trend for kitchen cabinets is leaning towards this look with the cozy, optimistic energy of buttery yellow paint colors.

Butter yellow hues have been bringing a burst of joy and style into every space from home decor to fashion, but there are many reasons why this shade is capturing so much attention. Whether you're wondering how butter yellows became the "it-color" of the year, or you're looking for ways to incorporate them into your kitchen, this cheerful hue is definitely worth considering for your next cabinet upgrade.

Even if you're not too familiar with the butter yellow trend, the odds are that you've probably seen it popping up in all kinds of designs. There hasn't been a color that's taken over home decor with such force since millennial gray dominated the design scene a few years ago. Many speculate that the rise of the butter yellow shade comes from today's need for comfort and brightness in stressful times, as well as its versatile tone that pairs just as easily as popular neutrals. It also comes with a touch of nostalgia, with retro interiors like Martha Stewart's butter yellow kitchen in the '70s, coming back as a major source of inspiration for the trend. In terms of kitchen cabinets, professional designers note that it's a great way to introduce a sense of warmth into the space without it feeling too aggressive.

Butter yellow, however, is more of an umbrella term for a range of yellow hues, from muted to more vibrant shades. For instance, celebrity actress Emilia Clarke hopped on the trend with a brighter, more energetic take on butter yellow kitchen cabinets, adding a stylish contrast to the design. Among the range of possibilities, soft, creamy butter yellows work best when creating a cozy and nostalgic look, while more intense mustard or saffron variations offer a more modern, vibrant appeal.

Yellow isn't typically considered a neutral color, but designers believe buttery shades can work as one by using soft variations to add warmth and to contrast more colorful tones without overpowering the look. Similar to triadic color schemes using primary colors — light, subtle butter yellow cabinets offer a sophisticated twist on the scheme, pairing well with darker, colorful accents like deep teal floor tiling and a burgundy red kitchen island. If you're aiming for a bold way to incorporate the trend into a simpler kitchen design, opt for a deeper, mustardy shade — when paired with starker neutrals, the yellow cabinets will make the space appear more lively.

If you want to stick to a fully neutral look with the cabinet color being the main attraction, organic textures, warm metal accents, and off-white walls help to subtly lift the butter yellow tone with an elegant style. For some nostalgic texture, a light and creamy butter yellow on paneled cabinets keeps the look understated while adding a comforting, vintage flair. The paler variations of the trend can offer a light, familiar feel to kitchen cabinets in more traditional designs. Warm white walls and wood accents elevate this classic, airy aesthetic, even complementing small splashes of color in your decor to add character. The key is to set the foundation of your design with your choice of style and butter yellow cabinet shade, and experiment with its versatility — taking the trend and making it timeless.