Move over navy! Green cabinets are the next big thing in kitchen trends.
Here I will show you some of the best and most popular green colors for kitchen cabinets, as well as hardware and contertop choices.
I will also put your mind at ease about being an interior design fashion victim, by showing you why green cabinets won’t soon be an outdated choice.
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you choose to make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products that I use.
Are Green Kitchen Cabinets Popular in 2024?
Yes!
Green kitchen cabinets are still popular in 2024 and rising! I have written about a lot of trending colors here, and I would say that most of the brand new kitchens I have seen are creamy white, natural tones, or greens.
Best Green Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors
One thing to note about green paint colors, is that they usually look more green in real life than on the swatch.
When sampling greens, select a shade you like, as well as one or two that you think are more muted – typically either more gray or more brown.
Here are the best green kitchen cabinet colors, in no particular order!
Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage (HC-114)
Benjamin Moore’s Saybrook Sage is such a fresh green color in the kitchen!
Alicia kept things bright with her client’s design by doing sage green lower cabinets and white uppers.
The white tile and white countertops also maintain a light and airy feel. This might be my favorite green kitchen.
I’m not sure if the delicate hardware is gold or brass, but it adds a little pop of a third color to this space.
Just to give you another idea of how Saybrook Sage could look on cabinets, here is a full wall of built ins.
Even though the whole wall is Saybrook Sage, the room is still fresh and light.
(Check out Ultra Sophisticated Gray Green Paint Colors for more Saybrook Sage and other similar colors!)
Valspar Shady Lane
Valspar Shady Lane is a color that is best described as a warm dark green.
In some lights it can have a hint of olive tones, but as you will see in this kitchen, it can also look true green.
Here Shady Lane pulls a little more olive:
Shady Lane is a color from the Valspar UK line, and their website doesn’t share any info about the color composition. You should be able to ask a rep for the US equivalent, but if I find it I will update it here!
(I have actually contacted Valspar, so I will keep you posted.)
Sherwin Williams Cascades (SW 7623)
This isn’t kitchen cabinets, but this beautiful built in does give you a good idea of what Sherwin Williams Cascades could look like in your kitchen.
Cascades looks beautiful with creamy whites, and either brass or gold hardware. It’s not as easy to tell here but Cascades is a deep blue green.
In this kitchen with white upper cabinets, you can see the color a little better:
You can see a few more pictures of Cascades in my post: Dark Green Paint Colors.
SW Cascades is very rich, and is a nice compromise if you are torn between blue and green for your cabinets.
Sherwin Williams Greenblack (SW 6994)
Sherwin Williams Greenblack, as the name implies, is very nearly black. You can pick up the slightest hint of green, or none at all, depending on the light.
It’s a popular alternative to a true black, like Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black, because it provides a hint of warmth.
Because it’s so black, Greenblack can be paired with all different countertop and hardware choices.
Here Jake and Candi went with copper accents, which was a smart and fun choice!
The upper cabinets and walls were all finished in Sherwin Williams Pure White.
Benjamin Moore Vintage Vogue (462)
Vintage Vogue is one of my favorite darker green paint colors! From the swatch it looks a lot warmer and more brown than it looks in real life.
It’s a true sage green color.
Check out my post: Vintage Vogue: Benjamin Moore’s Stylish Neutral Green (Plus Dupes!)
Vintage Vogue looks great with butcherblock countertops in Allie’s off the grid cabin.
Here is another kitchen that gets a little less natural light than Allie’s:
In this picture you can really see what a difference the lighting makes:
Karin used Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for her white paint color.
Also, take note that she used both white countertops and butcher block!
Benjamin Moore Essex Green (HC-188)
Essex Green is another very dark green color that can look almost black.
Benjamin Moore Essex Green is actually a very dark shade of emerald, and in rooms with more light it does look significantly more green.
(This is another color that I cover in my dark green paint colors post. I will link it at the bottom.)
Benjamin Moore Black Forest Green (HC-187)
Benjamin Moore Black Forest Green is another very dark shade of green that can look black.
It looks gorgeous in this kitchen by @bespokeredesign with white countertops and brass hardware.
In this brighter photo you can see that Black Forest Green does have a blue-green quality.
Black Forest is my favorite kind of cake. Is it your favorite kind of green?
Sherwin Williams Thunderous (SW 6201)
Sherwin Williams Thunderous is a complicated warm green color that shifts a lot with the light.
Thunderous can look a little olive, but more often it looks like a murky gray green.
(And I mean murky in the best way possible!)
Thunderous is still quite dark, but it is a great neutral choice if you don’t want to go emerald or lighter sage.
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204)
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt is a very soft gray green color. It looks light and bright on cabinets, and works well with almost any color of hardware.
Sea Salt is a very popular wall color, and an unexpected twist on cabinets.
Sherwin Williams Retreat (SW 6207)
Sherwin Williams Retreat is a true sage green with a good amount of calming gray.
Retreat looks gorgeous in this all white kitchen with gold hardware.
(I love a stacked tile also!)
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom (SW 7062)
Yet another very dark green, Rock Bottom is like a smoky forest green.
It looks very sophisticated, and is neutral enough to go with most wall colors and finishing choices.
You will want to make sure that you have a good amount of light in your kitchen if you choose a color this dark (and with this much gray in it).
Here the kitchen was not quite done, but brass or gold hardware would be a welcome pop of color to finish off this space!
Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay (SW 6206)
Sherwin Williams Oyster Bay is a gray green cabinet color with a bit more blue in it than similar colors.
The result is a cool muted aqua color.
Morgan paired Oyster Bay with rose gold hardware and gray stone countertops.
Sherwin Williams Ripe Olive (SW 6209)
I am always declaring multiple colors to be my “favorite,” but Ripe Olive is another green cabinet favorite.
Ripe Olive is a true ripe olive color. It’s not quite as bright or yellow/brown as a stereotypical “olive green.”
This is a beautiful rich green that works amazing with wood and other natural tones.
Green colors found in nature are the best for acting as a neutral!
Of course SW Ripe Olive is quite dark, so these homeowners were wise to keep their countertops and walls white, and go for open shelving instead of more green upper cabinets.
Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze (SW 9132)
Acacia Haze is another true sage color that has a bit more gray to it.
This two toned kitchen features Sherwin Williams Oyster White on the upper cabinets:
The homeowners chose sleek gold hardware to go with their green cabinets.
To see more of this kitchen (and this color) check out my post: Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze: A Delicious Gray Green
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog (SW 9130)
Evergreen Fog was Sherwin Williams “Color of the Year” for 2022, so it would be a pretty safe choice if you want your cabinets to stay in style!
The color of the year tends to stay popular for several years.
Here Evergreen Fog has been paired with gray countertops, black hardware, and a white contrasting island.
Benjamin Moore October Mist (1495)
Not to be outdone, Benjamin Moore also chose a sage green as their “Color of the Year” for 2022.
(And of course, that means I have written a dedicated post about it!)
October Mist is another cabinet-friendly green that should have some staying power!
October Mist is highly influenced by lighting! It runs the full range from looking quite light to medium dark.
On this pantry and bench, the homeowners chose a darker wood to complement October Mist.
I love those black and white floor tiles!
(I probably would have opted for a creamy white on the walls.)
Sherwin Williams Jasper Stone (SW 9133)
Jasper Stone is a cheery blue-green gray cabinet color. It is a similar to Oyster Bay, but a little darker.
Jasper Stone looks particularly good with these natural wood tones throughout the kitchen.
In this photo you can see Jasper Stone in the same kitchen with different lighting:
Benjamin Moore Misted Green (2138-50)
Benjamin Moore Misted Green is a soft gray green that will make green cabinets accessible to even the faintest of heart!
Isn’t this color calming?
Misted Green is so neutral that virtually any tile, hardware, or countertops will work with it.
Maybe Misted Green can be your segue to being brave with color in other areas?
(I’m not preaching! I am actually quite the chicken.)
Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull (2138-40)
Carolina Gull is a really rich sage color with chameleon like qualities.
Carolina Gull does change a lot depending on the light, so it can look warm or cool:
Don’t Forget Your Supplies!
This little brush might look funny, but it’s my absolute ride or die!
Rollers like these hold the most paint and make the job faster. Get a metal roller cage for easy on and off.
DryDex is the fastest (and funnest!) way to make chips and dents disappear. (Make sure you get a small spackling tool that actually fits in the container, and a sanding sponge.)
This tool will save your back and limit time on a ladder.
Here Carolina Gull looks quite gray:
Carolina Gull is a subtle accent color in this otherwise all-white kitchen.
Oak Story Design used Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull on their client’s island, and Sherwin Williams Shoji White on the rest of the cabinets.
Sherwin Williams Rosemary (SW 6187)
I have written a whole post about SW Rosemary, so if it’s calling your name, be sure to check that out!
This next photo is not the most accurate capture of Sherwin Williams Rosemary – it wouldn’t normally have that hint of blue – but it is a super pretty kitchen:
In real life, Rosemary is a bit warmer and a little more green. It’s like if sage and olive had a baby.
This kitchen island is more accurate:
Sherwin Williams Clary Sage (SW 6178)
I actually have an entire post about Sherwin Williams Clary Sage!
These kitchen pictures are a bit warmer and brighter than how Clary Sage actually looks, but I have more pictures in that post to give you a better idea.
Madison chose black hardware and gray countertops to go with his sage green cabinets. For the island, he chose a contrasting charcoal color with gold hardware and butcher block countertop.
Benjamin Moore Rushing River (1574)
Benjamin Moore Rushing River is another gray green with a bit more blue in it.
So far I only have a photo of built ins, but this would be a beautiful cabinet color!
I like Rushing River a lot, because it’s bright but not bright at the same time.
(I know that makes no sense…)
What Countertops Look Best With Green Cabinets?
Now that you’ve settled on going green in your kitchen, what about finishings?
Of course you can always scroll back and take a look at all of the hardware and countertop choices that others have made, but here are some popular ones for reference!
Green Cabinets with Wood Butcher Block Countertops
You may have noticed that far and away the most popular countertop choice for any shade of green cabinets is wood butcher block.
In my mind this is good news all day every day:
- Butcher block is affordable
- Butcher block is an easy DIY install
- Butcher block is absolutely classic
I honestly think that butcher block will be in style forever and ever!
I remember watching reruns of a UK design show that began in 2001, and they were using butcher block back then.
Considering that you can get it from Ikea for a fraction of the cost of any stone countertops, butcher block is begging you to take a second look.
The most common and popular shades of butcher block are natural, or a warm oak color.
Here Alishya went outside of the box and chose a walnut finish.
This is a sophisticated twist on butcher block if you don’t like the warmer wood colors.
Green Cabinets with White Countertops
The second most popular countertop color to use with green cabinets is white.
White countertops in quartz or natural stone will also work well with any shade of green that you choose.
If you want to choose a very dark green, white countertops are probably the way to go!
If you pop back up to Vintage Vogue, you can see how Karin used both butcher block and white countertops in her kitchen!
Green Cabinets with Gray Countertops
Finally the third most popular countertop color for green cabinets is gray.
Gray countertops are a little tricky to categorize, because they run the gamut from almost white, to dark gray, with some sandy grays in between.
Here are a few examples:
These lighter sage cabinets look great with a medium gray stone on the countertops:
These quartzite countertops are almost more of a cream or sand color than gray:
I would say that in general, medium to light countertop choices are best for green kitchen cabinets.
I have not seen a single person choose black countertops or even very dark gray with their green cabinets.
If you see it in the wild and it looks fab, tag me on Instagram! @modnmood
What Hardware Looks Best with Green Cabinets?
What hardware looks best with green cabinets, and what hardware is the most popular, are not one and the same in my opinion.
(Unlike countertop choices where I do feel butcher block and light stone are both the best looking options and also the most popular.)
The most popular hardware choices for green cabinets are black and petwer.
The best looking are brass, gold, or even copper.
Green Cabinets with Pewter Hardware
Pewter handles, knobs, and pulls are tied with black for the most popular option for green cabinets.
I would never say that pewter hardware looks bad with green cabinets, because it is very much a classic and safe option.
I do think that a little more contrast complements green cabinets better.
Especially when so many cabinet colors have a lot of gray in them, pewter hardware can get a little lost.
I do understand not wanting to go too trendy, but hardware is one of the quickest, easiest, and most affordable things to change in your kitchen down the road.
You can even spray paint it!
I say go bold.
Green Cabinets with Black Hardware
Black hardware is the second most popular choice for green cabinets, and it can look wonderful or just so-so.
On these lighter cabinets, black hardware works well. There is enough contrast to make it pop.
If you scroll back through all of the other kitchens you will see black hardware in several of them.
On medium to dark green cabinets, black hardware can either get lost, or make the statement a little flat.
Green Cabinets with Gold Hardware
I love a bit of gold hardware on green cabinets!
Because yellow is next to green on the color wheel, gold and green work amazing together.
I didn’t cover Benjamin Moore Tarrytown Green here, but here is an example of a beautiful emerald green with gold accents:
Jewel tones always work together!
Again, hardware is so easy to update that I would really go for it! (Gold for it?)
Green Cabinets with Brass Hardware
I like brass hardware with green cabinets for the same reason that I like gold: The warm yellow tones accent green beautifully.
Remember this kitchen?:
I realize that a lot of people have already lived, loved, and left brass in their lifetime, but it’s back!
Again, there are more cabinets in this article that feature brass hardware, but I didn’t want to repeat too many photos.
Green Cabinets with Copper Hardware
Now for a choice for those who are really not faint of heart: Copper!
Copper and green are really having a moment:
And I know this is cheating because it’s not a kitchen at all, but here is another copper and Greenblack moment:
You can barely see the Oyster Bay island from earlier in this photo, but here is a better look at Morgan’s hardware:
Love the copper!
Green Cabinets with Silver/Chrome Hardware
Silver or chrome cabinet hardware is another safer choice, but I do think it pops a little more than pewter, particularly on dark cabinets:
I wonder if colorful hardware will ever make an entrance?
Of course glass or wood pulls would also look great with green cabinets, for a little something different!
Are Green Kitchens a Fad?
There is a difference between a trend and a fad. Trends are rising design choices that have long lasting appeal, but like everything, will go out of style eventually.
Fads are flash-in-the-pan styles that might be out before you even finish the project.
Green kitchens are here to stay for a while, probably 5 – 10 years or more, and I will show you how I know!
The Navy Blue Cabinet Trend
Navy blue kitchen cabinets were the “it girl” before green cabinets came into style.
Using Google Trends, you can see how searches for “blue cabinets” started trending upward all the way back in 2009, and they aren’t done yet!
You can see that “navy cabinets” started trending in 2009 too, but where they really take off is in late 2015.
Again that trend line appears to have peaked, but it is continuing, so many people are still looking to paint their cabinets navy today!
Depending on what graph you are looking at, navy cabinets have been in style for an astonishing 7 to 13 years!
(This kitchen by The Finishing Room is Sherwin Williams Cyberspace.)
How to Read Google Trends
Now before we take a look at the trend line for green cabinets, you need to know that Google Trends is always a scale of 0 – 100, with 0 being least popular and 100 being most popular.
This is a scale, and not representative of an actual number.
That’s important, because it will adjust over time as a trend continues to climb. So a 25 for green cabinets today, is not the same number as a 25 on blue cabinets over the last 13 years.
It is a relative number.
The Green Kitchen Cabinet Trend
Okay let’s take a look at green cabinets in Google Trends! :
You could read this like the green kitchen cabinet trend started in 2007, but not only was the trend line relatively flat until 2020, as the popularity of green cabinets keep hitting record highs, the scale will adjust.
What this graph actually tells us, is that green cabinets started really rising in January of 2020.
Therefore, we can reasonably expect that green cabinets will be in style for another 5 – 11 years plus!
Considering that fewer people may be choosing navy blue cabinets in 2024, but they are by no means out of style, the trend could last even longer.
I’m going to say that by the time green cabinets are out, you will already be itching for a change!
Are Moody Green Cabinets for You?
That’s all the examples of gorgeous green cabinets that I have for now! I plan to update as I encounter more, so check back if you are still contemplating your final choices.
Final thoughts:
- By far the most popular green cabinet colors are sage greens (I’m including gray greens in that category) and very dark greens
- Pair your green cabinets with butcher block countertops for an affordable coordinated look
- Go wild with hardware to give your green cabinets even more personality
Feeling all the two-toned looks you saw here? Check out this post:
I promised to link my dark green post here, but here are a couple other green articles too:
