This Is the New "It" Color for Kitchen Cabinets: Here's How to Pull It Off

1. Create a Cozy, Vintage Feel

Buttery yellow cabinets make this Portland kitchen by Reath Design just feel welcoming. The creamy color (Benjamin Moore's Golden Hills 262) fills the space with constant sunshine—a welcome reprieve from rainy Oregon weather—and imparts a sense of vintage nostalgia, especially when used on a grooved flat-panel cabinet and finished with a simple round knob. A wood-topped island on turned legs acts like a piece of furniture; its sepia-toned shade is a palette cleanser that tones down the yellow.

A kitchen with an island, cabinets, barstools, and window

Chris Horwood / Interior Designer: Natasha Quick

2. Pair Simple Design with Bold Color

The warmth of mustard yellow envelops this London kitchen. Interior designer Natasha Quick paired sunny cabinetry (in Scullery Yellow by deVOL) with dark wood and black countertops, creating a cozy, utilitarian feel. A matching range hood and wall shelves ties the space together. In lieu of upper cabinets, Quick used pot rails to display the homeowner's beautiful collection of copper cookware. A matching rail on the island holds kitchen towels, adding color and movement to all the yellow.

A narrow kitchen with cabinets and countertops along both sides, stool at a counter, and sunlight through a window at the end

Francesco Lagnese / Interior Designer: Veere Grenney

3. Reach for a High-Shine Finish

This look is traditional—with a twist. Interior designer Veere Grenney’s petite London kitchen features glossy cabinets in a strong, saturated yellow (Gamboge by Paint & Paper Library). The high-shine finish is both durable and reflective, bringing a bit of glow to this galley layout. A matching painted flip-down table on the other side makes clever use of space and bridges the visual gap.

Modern kitchen with yellow tiled backsplash, matching cabinetry, and open shelving with decor items

Adam Potts / Interior Designer: Hommeboys Interiors

4. Mix Monochromatic Materials

This dynamic kitchen by Hommeboys Interiors is drenched in yellow hues; textural differences create interest. Sleek, flat-panel cabinets (painted in Dylan by Portola Paints) contrast with the irregular zellige tile backsplash by Zia Tile. A bold, faceted range hood adds a sculptural note. Personal details throughout, like art and ceramics with their deep, almost-black details, create visual tension and interest.