Even though blue is the least common color in all the foods we eat, it is quickly becoming the most common, non-neutral, color used in kitchens. And for those wanting to moderate their eating, it is also said to aid in suppressing your appetite. (This claim is not validated by the FDA.) Actually, there are a lot of great qualities associated with this color, such as encouraging productivity, even helping to calm and regulate your heartbeat and breathing. No wonder blue is the most commonly referenced “favorite color” and found throughout the home – including blue kitchen cabinets.
When you think of the color blue, what color comes to mind? There is literally an ocean of blue tones out there, so it’s doubtful we all visualize the same blue tone. A similar occurrence is happening in kitchens, and while dark, navy blue kitchen cabinets seem to be the most common, the array of popular blues is truly vast. So let’s dive right in to what makes each one so usable for this blue cabinet trend in kitchens and other rooms.
Dark Blue Cabinet Hues
Navy blue, simply defined as a very dark blue, typically has undertones of black and/or charcoal. Sometimes this color can drift towards purple or green variants, but generally, the impression given from navy blue should be a dark, midnight color of blue. The reason this color works so well across the board is very much a similar principle as to why your favorite pair of jeans or navy slacks are a wardrobe staple, navy blue is a great neutral color that works well with a wide variety of other colors. Because of this, homeowners don’t have to feel locked into a single color palette but rather, this accent color continues to give them flexibility in décor updates as the kitchen ages or design preferences change. Some examples from our palette include Admiral, Maritime, Mt Etna, Starless and Amalfi.
A slight variant of navy blue is a bold classic blue. This tone tends to have less black and less depth but more intensity in the richness of the blue tone. Still a highly complementary blue that works well with other tones, but maybe not quite the variety of other colors since this classic blue has a higher saturation of color giving it more dimension of its own. Since lighting and individual perception of color play such a huge part in how we see colors in our homes, this color tends to be preferred in lower light settings where navy blue kitchen cabinets might appear too black or even in very white or bright settings where the color intensity is needed as a contrast. Some examples from our palette of this color are Blue Ash, Naval, Lapis, Blueberry or Abyss.
Light Blue Cabinets
Now if a lighter tone is more appealing for your consideration, you are still in good company with these popular blue options. The lighter blues range anywhere from gray-based to the palest of hues, so no matter if you want the slightest infusion of blue into your stormy space or the hint of color to your light and bright vista, these blues can satisfy almost any need. The great thing about these lighter tones is their ability to bring a breath of freshness from nature-inspired colors into the home and at the same time are designed to work well with wood tones commonly found in home interiors today. This is an important factor when choosing blues for cabinetry because of adjacencies to flooring, trim or other furniture items within the home. The ability to mix these items seamlessly is why these particular shades are chosen for blue kitchen cabinetry and can be very different than the blues considered for walls which act more as a backdrop than an arrangement of pieces within the space. Blue colors on dimensional pieces need to have an air of neutrality from dusty or earthen undertones to be able to work universally with other materials in the room. Check out these beautiful finishes in Rain, Stillwater, Interesting Aqua and Grays Harbor.
