Experts Rank the 10 Worst Paint Colors for Your Kitchen

Bright Red

Red is a color that's known to stimulate the appetite, so it's a perfect accent for kitchen details. But that doesn't mean you should go all-in on candy-apple red cabinetry.

"I don't like to say never in design, but I would stay away from a bright red kitchen," says Aoife Tobin, creative director and interior designer at Style So Simple. "Too much of an intense shade can feel overwhelming, and can even make tempers flare up."

Cool Gray

Gray is a popular choice for kitchens, particularly for those looking to maximize their resale value (though your personal preference should always come first). However, like white, you have to get the right gray, or it can go all wrong.

"While grays are popular, cool tones can make a kitchen feel extremely stark and uninviting," says Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs. "Warmth and vibrancy are essential in kitchens, and overly cool grays can fall flat, especially under bright lighting."

Bright Yellow

Yellow has been a timeless choice in kitchens for years. It can certainly be a cheerful and upbeat color, setting the stage for early mornings and sunny afternoons. But it can also go so wrong, so quickly. The trick is finding just the right yellow that's inviting and crisp, without venturing into neon territory. "Bright yellow can be overstimulating and even impact appetite," says Curtis. "Softer tones can work, but saturated versions can feel overwhelming."

Yellow-Tinted Beige

Beige is a welcoming color in the kitchen—if you can find the perfect balance of warm and cool undertones. A yellow-tinted beige, for example, is the quickest way to make a kitchen feel outdated. "It’s better to use taupe in a light or medium color," says Curtis. "It maintains warmth without feeling overly yellow,"

Blue

Blue may be one of the most popular colors in design—and it's right at home in many a gorgeous kitchen—but that doesn't mean it should be your first choice when choosing a color. "Blue has been shown in some studies to suppress appetite—likely due to the fact that it's not a color commonly found in natural foods," says Jennifer Jones, principal designer at Niche Interiors. "This leads to a subconscious association between blue and unappetizing or spoiled food."

Deep Red

Intense hues can be overstimulating. That's fine in a smaller space where you spend time occasionally, but in a kitchen, where you may spend significant time daily, designers advise against deep, rich colors. "Steer clear of saturating the whole kitchen with an intense shade of red," says Jessica Maros, founder and interior designer at Maros Designs. "It might not be ideal in a space meant for gathering and entertaining."

Dark Brown

Moody kitchens feel of the moment, but not all dark colors are right for a kitchen. "While dark brown may seem sophisticated, it can make the space feel smaller and more oppressive, blocking out the light that’s essential for creating a warm, inviting atmosphere," says Haley Kiarash, interior designer and owner of Kia Interior Design. 

Kiarash also points out that dark colors show more dust and smudges—and more cleaning is not what you want in a kitchen!

Orange

Like yellow and red, orange can look amazing and is full of personality for a kitchen—it is a playful color that can make a room feel ablaze with energy and life. However, that isn't always what you want, particularly if you'd rather have a delicious pasta dish or a beautiful oven take center stage. "Choosing a color that makes your food sing and your space feel luxurious is important to me in kitchen design, and orange can detract from a space," says Nureed Saeed, creative director of Nu Interiors.

Bright Teal

A rich blue-green can be gorgeous in a living room or a library, but a deep, vibrant teal isn't exactly known to stimulate appetites. Instead, it may do the opposite, making the kitchen feel both cold and high energy in the worst way. "A bright teal is a great example of a color that would be awful on a winter morning with no natural light," says Metzger.

Stark White

A white kitchen is timeless, but getting just the right tone is critical—and stark white is all wrong. "While white is undeniably classic and can evoke a sense of cleanliness, an overly bright, sterile color can drain a space of warmth," says Philip Thomas Vanderford, owner and founder of Studio Thomas James.

If it's true that the kitchen is the heart of the home, then it needs a more soulful palette than stark white, he says. Vanderford suggests looking for a softer, more layered version with undertones of cream or taupe. "These nuanced tones allow natural light to play across surfaces, casting a gentle warmth that invites you in, rather than pushing you away," he adds. "It’s about finding that balance—letting the space feel crisp and clean, yet unmistakably comforting and alive."