17 Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends for 2027: What’s Replacing Navy?

Navy blue has been one of the safest ways to add color to a kitchen for years. It works beautifully with white countertops, warm wood, brass hardware, and traditional cabinetry, so it is easy to see why it became such a popular alternative to white and gray.

But heading into 2027, kitchen color is starting to feel a little warmer, softer, and less predictable. Navy is not disappearing, but it is no longer the only obvious choice if you want darker kitchen cabinets.

Smoky blue-greens, deep olive, chocolate brown, aubergine, earthy reds, warm cream, and natural wood are all giving kitchens more depth and personality.

Kitchen Cabinet Color Trends for 2027

Designers are specifically predicting smoky blue-green, petrol and muted blue-gray as the next evolution beyond navy. Pinterest is simultaneously reporting large increases for searches including aubergine kitchen +495%, sage green and cream kitchen +410%, moody blue kitchen +325% and vintage pink kitchen +275%.

Broader 2027 forecasts are pointing toward aubergine, pomegranate, organic greens, mustard and sun-faded colors, while Dulux has just named Soulful Sage its 2027 Color of the Year.

If you are planning a kitchen renovation or simply wondering what colors we might see more of next year, here are the 17 kitchen cabinet color trends I would watch for in 2027.

1. Smoky Blue-Green

If there is one color that feels like the natural successor to navy, it has to be smoky blue-green.

It still has the richness and depth that made navy so popular, but the green undertone makes it feel softer and a little more relaxed. Think muted teal, petrol blue, deep blue-gray-green, and those difficult-to-name shades that seem to change depending on the light.

These colors look especially beautiful with warm oak, walnut, creamy marble, handmade tile, and aged brass hardware. They can work in both modern and traditional kitchens, which makes them an incredibly versatile choice.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Still Water, Riverway and Mount Etna
• Benjamin Moore: Mediterranean Teal, Newburg Green and Narragansett Green
• Behr: Thermal, Dark Everglade, and Black Evergreen

2. Moody Blue

Blue is not going anywhere, but I think we will see less of the very crisp, nautical navy kitchens and more muted, muddier blues. Slate blue, stormy blue, smoky denim, and gray-blue can give cabinetry plenty of color without dominating the whole room.

These slightly softened blues work particularly well on Shaker-style kitchen cabinets, where the color can feel classic rather than trend-led. Pair them with warm white walls and natural timber to stop the kitchen feeling too cool.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Granite Peak, Outerspace and Waterloo
• Benjamin Moore: Providence Blue, Stillwater and Britannia Blue
• Behr: Adirondack Blue, Blueprint and Windsor Haze

3. Faded Powder Blue

At the other end of the blue spectrum, faded powder blue gives you color without making the kitchen feel dark.

This is a lovely choice for smaller kitchens or rooms without lots of natural light. Rather than the sugary pastel blues we have seen in the past, the newer versions have gray or green undertones that make them feel more grown-up.

Pair powder blue cabinets with cream walls, oak flooring, antique brass, and warm stone countertops for a softer alternative to a white kitchen.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Powder Blue, Sleepy Blue and Tradewind
• Benjamin Moore: Gentle Gray, Silvery Blue and Constellation
• Behr: Air Blue, Watery and Light Drizzle

4. Soulful Sage

Sage green has been everywhere for several years, and I do not think it is suddenly going to disappear in 2027. What is changing is the type of sage we are seeing.

Instead of very pale, silvery greens, kitchen cabinetry is becoming slightly warmer and earthier. Look for sage with olive, khaki, or gray-brown undertones.

These deeper sage shades feel more grounded and work beautifully with cream stone, terracotta, warm oak, unlacquered brass, and off-white walls.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Green Onyx, Artichoke and Garden Sage
• Benjamin Moore: Raintree Green, Bed of Ferns and Wethersfield Moss
• Behr: Muted Sage, Milkweed Pod and Dusty Olive

5. Deep Olive

If pale sage feels a little too safe, deep olive is the richer alternative.

Olive green can make a kitchen feel cozy and sophisticated without becoming as dramatic as black or very dark blue. It also pairs effortlessly with the warmer materials that are returning to kitchens.

I particularly like olive cabinets with walnut, aged brass, creamy quartz or marble, terracotta floors, and warm white walls. It is one of those colors that looks surprisingly timeless once it is surrounded by natural materials.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Ripe Olive, Andiron and Secret Garden
• Benjamin Moore: Dark Olive, Mediterranean Olive and Southern Vine
• Behr: Mountain Olive, Eastern Bamboo and Deep Forest

6. Aubergine

Aubergine might sound like a brave kitchen cabinet color, but it can be incredibly elegant. The secret is choosing a deep purple with plenty of brown or red in it rather than anything too bright.

Against creamy stone, antique brass, dark wood, or a checkerboard floor, aubergine can feel wonderfully traditional and atmospheric.

It is also a great choice if you love moody kitchens but have become tired of seeing the same dark green, navy, and charcoal combinations.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Carnelian, Merlot, and Marooned
• Benjamin Moore: Dark Walnut, El Cajon Clay and Pine Cone Brown
• Behr: Aubergine, Death by Chocolate and Twinberry

7. Oxblood

Rich, aged reds are another kitchen color direction I think we will see more of. Oxblood sits somewhere between burgundy, brown, and deep red. It has the drama of a statement color without feeling overly bright.

This shade looks particularly good in English-style and farmhouse kitchens, especially when paired with natural wood, creamy plaster walls, brass hardware, and old-fashioned tiles.

You could use it across every kitchen cabinet, but it would also look fantastic on a kitchen island surrounded by softer cream cabinetry.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Beetroot, Sun Dried Tomato and Rustic Red
• Benjamin Moore: Dinner Party, Arroyo Red and Brick Red
• Behr: Red Pepper, Red My Mind and January Garnet

8. Pomegranate Red

For something a little livelier than oxblood, pomegranate red brings warmth and personality into the kitchen. It works beautifully when you want the cabinetry to feel joyful rather than serious.

Try pomegranate on an island, pantry cupboard, or lower kitchen cabinets, then balance it with warm white walls and timber elsewhere.

Deep reds are surprisingly easy to live with when they have an earthy undertone, especially alongside natural textures.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Stolen Kiss, Red Bay and Bolero
• Benjamin Moore: Heritage Red, Raspberry Truffle and Pomegranate
• Behr: Timeless Ruby, Morocco Red and Fire Cracker

9. Chocolate Brown

Brown is making its way back into interiors, and kitchen cabinetry is a natural place for it. Chocolate brown feels rich, warm, and grounding. It gives you much of the depth people love about navy or black cabinetry but without the cooler undertone.

It can look gorgeous with creamy marble, beige stone, brass hardware, and medium or dark woods. I also think chocolate cabinets suit kitchens beautifully in autumn and winter while still looking timeless enough to live with all year.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Java, Terra Brun and Vintage Leather
• Benjamin Moore: Wenge, Mississippi Mud and Mink
• Behr: Fire Roasted, Dark Cherry Mocha and Royal Liqueur

10. Charcoal Brown

If you like the drama of black cabinetry but worry that it might feel too harsh, charcoal brown is a much softer option. These almost-black browns have just enough warmth to stop them feeling flat.

They are particularly effective when paired with natural stone, lighter timber, warm white walls, and aged metals.

In lower light, charcoal brown can look almost black, while direct sunlight reveals the warmer undertones. That subtle color shift gives the kitchen much more depth.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Deep Forest Brown, Bohemian Black and Cracked Pepper
• Benjamin Moore: Night Horizon, Black Ben Soup and Night Shade
• Behr: Black Mocha, Peppery and Potting Soil

11. Mushroom Taupe

For anyone who wants a neutral kitchen without going back to cool gray, mushroom taupe is a brilliant middle ground. It sits somewhere between beige, gray, and brown, which makes it extremely easy to pair with existing flooring and countertops.

The nicest mushroom shades have a little warmth to them and look particularly good next to oak, limestone, cream quartz, and soft white walls.

It is one of the safest choices on this list if you want your kitchen to feel current without choosing an obvious trend color.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Fawn Brindle, Perfect Khaki and Taupe Tone
• Benjamin Moore: Weimaraner, Waynesboro Taupe and River Reflections
• Behr: Perfect Taupe, Smoked Tan and Desert Khaki

12. Caramel

Caramel is another warmer neutral I think we are going to see more of.

It has more color than beige but still works almost like a neutral. Depending on the shade, it might lean golden brown, tobacco, tan, or even slightly ochre.

Caramel cabinetry looks especially beautiful in kitchens with plenty of cream, stone, and wood.

For a softer look, combine caramel lower cabinets with warm cream uppers. For something richer, pair it with walnut or chocolate brown accents.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Autumnal, Bosc Pear and Gallant Gold
• Benjamin Moore: Italianate, Milk and Honey and Grazing Fawn
• Behr: Roasted Seeds, Trick or Treat and Nairobi Dusk

13. Warm Cream

White kitchens will never disappear completely, but the type of white we choose continues to change.

For 2027, I would expect to see even more warm cream cabinetry replacing the stark, brilliant whites that dominated modern kitchens for years. Cream works beautifully with wood flooring, natural stone, brass, handmade tile, and vintage-inspired fixtures.

The trick is choosing a cream that feels warm without becoming obviously yellow. Think soft parchment, ivory, linen, and creamy off-white.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: White Flour, Creamy and Casa Blanca
• Benjamin Moore: Manchester Tan, Cream Fleece and Feather Down
• Behr: Antique White, Natural Almond and Authentic Tan

14. Terracotta and Clay

Earthy clay colors bring instant warmth to a kitchen. Terracotta cabinets can range from muted orange-brown to dusty pinkish clay, so they do not need to feel bold or Mediterranean unless that is the look you want.

They are particularly pretty with cream plaster walls, oak, stone flooring, and rustic ceramics.

If painting every cabinet terracotta feels like too much, try it on a pantry cabinet or kitchen island and keep the rest of the cabinetry neutral.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Baked Clay, Red Cent and Copper Wire
• Benjamin Moore: Terra Mauve, Sienna Clay and Firenze
• Behr: Balcony Sunset, Terra Cotta Clay and Moroccan Sky

15. Dusty Vintage Pink

Pink kitchens are becoming much easier to imagine now that the shades themselves are getting softer.

Instead of sugary blush, think dusty rose, plaster pink, faded terracotta-pink, and muted mauve. These colors have enough brown or gray in them to work almost like warm neutrals.

Pair dusty pink cabinets with dark wood, burgundy accents, brass hardware, creamy stone, or deep green to stop the kitchen from feeling overly sweet.

Paint Color Ideas:

• Sherwin-Williams: Classic Sand, Sashay Sand and Pink Shadow
• Benjamin Moore: Milk Shake, Cedar Ridge and Groundhog Day
• Behr: Rosewater, Vintage Tea Rose and Pink Quartz

16. Honeyed Oak

Not every cabinet color trend involves paint. Warmer wood cabinetry is returning too, particularly oak with a richer honeyed finish.

For several years, pale and almost washed-out woods dominated kitchen design. Now we are beginning to see more warmth coming back into timber.

Honey oak cabinetry adds texture and character without needing a strong painted color, and it works beautifully with blue-green, cream, olive, and warm stone.

It is also a great option if you want a kitchen that will age gracefully.

17. Dark Walnut

Leaving the best for last, and something I have seen many times on social media, people are loving dark walnut at the moment! If honey oak is the lighter wood direction, dark walnut is its moodier counterpart.

Walnut gives a kitchen the same dramatic depth people often look for in navy cabinetry, but it feels softer and more natural. It pairs beautifully with pale stone countertops, warm plaster walls, aged brass, and lighter flooring.

You can use walnut throughout the kitchen or combine it with painted cabinetry. A dark walnut island surrounded by warm cream cabinets is an especially beautiful combination.

So, Are Navy Kitchen Cabinets Going Out of Style?

No. I would not start panic-painting a navy kitchen just because we are heading into 2027.

Navy has become a modern classic for good reason. It is versatile, flattering, and particularly suited to traditional Shaker cabinetry. If you already have navy cabinets and love them, there is absolutely no reason to change them.

What I do think is changing is navy’s position as the default dark kitchen color.

There are simply more interesting alternatives now;

• Smoky blue-green offers similar depth with extra softness.
• Olive feels warmer.
• Chocolate and walnut bring natural richness.
• Aubergine and oxblood give homeowners something more individual.

So rather than navy becoming dated, the kitchen color palette is simply getting much wider.

Choosing a Kitchen Cabinet Color for 2027

Trends can be useful when you are looking for inspiration, but your kitchen still needs to work with your home, your light, and the materials already in the room.

Before committing to a cabinet color, look at it alongside your flooring, countertops, backsplash, wall color, and hardware. A beautiful olive green in one kitchen can look completely different in another simply because of the direction of the light.

And if there is one bigger trend tying all of these 2027 colors together, it is warmth.

Whether you choose smoky blue-green, aubergine, chocolate brown, cream, olive, or natural walnut, kitchens are moving away from anything that feels overly crisp or clinical.

The most appealing kitchens heading into 2027 feel layered, warm, and full of character. Navy still has a place there, but it finally has some serious competition.

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