7 Kitchen Paint Colors That Will Instantly Shrink Your Space

When refreshing a kitchen, the focus usually goes to big-ticket items like cabinetry, countertops, and shiny appliances. However, paint color is just as important. The wrong shade can work against you, making the room feel smaller and more cramped. Dark tones, for example, absorb the light; some saturated hues can overwhelm the eye—both can undo all the hard work you've put into making the space feel more welcoming.

To help avoid those traps, we spoke to designers about the colors they'd steer clear of in kitchens—plus, a few alternatives that will instantly open up a room.

Dark Charcoal Gray

In a kitchen, the darkest grays can work against you.

“Although elegant, [they] are light-absorbing and can produce a heavy, trapped effect,” says Douglas Conner, interior designer and home improvement expert at Universal Windows Direct.

Interior designer Robbie Maynard agrees. “Charcoal gray is often more bland and heavy in a kitchen, especially when you want the space to feel bright," he says. "Instead, I recommend lighter, warmer neutrals, such as greige.”

Navy Blue

Navy may be a classic, but dark blue kitchens can often feel heavy.

“The walls seem to be closing in, particularly when there's a lack of natural light,” says Conner. Gilberto Rodriguez, owner of GRH Painting, points out another drawback: “Navy blue walls often take attention away from the cabinets and countertops that you want to highlight."

Instead, Rodriguez recommends a baby blue, which will make the light bounce around the room and won't soak it all up.

Dark Reds

Burgundy and other dark reds might seem like a bold, stylish choice, but in a kitchen, they can quickly overwhelm.

“We get requests for burgundy more often than you’d think, but it makes the kitchen feel darker and enclosed," says Rodriguez. "Even lighter reds aren’t much better."

The intensity of these tones may create drama, but they also absorb light. The result is a kitchen that feels more boxed-in than inviting.

Chocolate Brown

Chocolate brown is often chosen for its warmth and coziness, but in a smaller kitchen, that comfort can quickly tip into claustrophobia.

“Dark, rich brown is very welcoming, but can be suffocating unless it's [paired] with bright highlights or an abundance of light,” says Conner.

Rodriguez agrees: “Chocolate brown can look muddy and confining in a small kitchen. Better alternatives include lighter, earthy shades such as sage green, terracotta, or robin egg blue.” These softer tones still deliver warmth, but with an airy quality that will make the space feel open.

Forest Green

Green may feel timeless and grounding, but in a compact kitchen, certain shades can work against you. “Forest or hunter green can engulf the space, making it seem less open," says Conner. While these shades add depth, their heaviness tends to swallow light, leaving the room feeling closed off, rather than refreshed.

Eggplant

Purples may be trending, but they’re much harder to pull off in a kitchen.

“Deep plum or eggplant shades minimize light reflection and can cause a claustrophobic effect,” notes Conner. Maynard says aubergine is “regal and moody, but if used on all the walls or cabinets, it can encompass the kitchen and make it feel confined."

Instead, save these beautiful tones for more subtle touches, rather than a full backdrop.

Black

Black is undeniably sleek and modern, but it absorbs nearly all available light. “Black walls or cabinets have a severe effect on the feeling of a space when overused,” Conner warns.

Unless it's balanced with ample natural light and lighter finishes, black can make a small kitchen feel even more closed in.