8 Kitchens With Light Gray Cabinets That Soothe the Soul

Choosing light gray kitchen cabinets is a decision you make when you want to play it safe, right? Not necessarily. While its not-too-dark, not-too-white quality allows it to fade into the background, don’t mistake this shade for boring. In the right setting, this laid-back hue can sing. There’s no one way to make light gray cupboards stand out (a metallic backsplash can elevate the flat color, but so can traditional glass door fronts). Once you’ve nailed the right paint color, fill in the gaps with these ideas.

Extend Brass Beyond the Hardware

The gray cabinets in this studio kitchen designed by French-Israeli architect Emmanuelle Simon aren’t the result of a lick of paint. The cupboards are made of a waxed limestone cement, giving them a monolithic appearance. The luminous brass backsplash and counters add a contemporary spin to the Stone Age vibe.

Use It as a Base for Color-Blocking

The rainbow isn’t off the table once you decide on gray cabinets. Designer Rhonda Drakeford used the color in conjunction with pink and yellow in this chef’s kitchen, and she didn’t stop at the edges of the doors. Drakeford completed the “zones” by swathing the concrete-tiled countertops in the same hues.

Add Visual Interest to the Doors

After making the decision to maximize sunlight in this small space with a window cutout above the backsplash and a skylight, Lori Gilder chose glass fronts to reflect the rays streaming in. The beaded detailing and built-in open shelves lend further dimension to the room, allowing shadows to move around more freely. 

Pick Brighter Woods and Stones

This Plain English–designed kitchen is all about airy, natural textures. The oak countertops play nicely with the milky undertones of the cupboards, and the grainy speckles in the Carrara marble look almost like sand. 

Partner Up With Pink

Joanne and Luke Bartels’s kitchen cabinets are nothing particularly fancy (Luke used FSC-certified plywood), but the monochromatic pulls and glistening blush zellige backsplash make the basic material look expensive. 

Go Moody With Green Undertones

Melissa Colgan’s surface-level kitchen facelift called for covering her simple Shaker-style cabinets in a soothing green-gray and refinishing the backsplash in a glossy subway tile. Rather than fight the humble galley layout, the Washington, D.C.–based designer made it feel cozy and quaint with the earthy shade. 

Show Off Your Favorite Dishes

This farmhouse kitchen by Sabbe Interior Design takes full advantage of the tall ceilings with soaring built-ins. The white china shines through thanks to the tall glass fronts.

Ground the Room With White Uppers

Studio McGee created the illusion of height by using gray on the lower cabinets to ground the space and a bright white up top for that coveted airy feeling.