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Benjamin Moore Hale Navy for Your Kitchen Cabinets (Dated or Classic?)

    Navy has long been a popular choice for a pop of understated color on kitchen cabinets…but has it been too long? Here we will look at Benjamin Moore favorite Hale Navy in the heart of the home: The kitchen!

    closeup of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on island with camel leather seated bar stools.
    Photo credit: @creekside.designs

    We will see it on kitchen cabinets in a variety of real homes, and look at some other options.

    But first, let’s address the elephant in the room:

    Is Navy Still a Good Choice for Cabinets?

    I won’t sugar coat it: The fevered peak of navy blue kitchen cabinets is over…

    But let’s talk about why that isn’t bad news!

    If you look at trend data, you will see that popularity for navy blue kitchen cabinets peaked between January 2021 and January 2022.

    Google trend data shows navy blue kitchen cabinets peaking in popularity between January 2021 and Jan 2022.

    However if we look at more recent portions of the graph, you might notice that the trend data is actually stable from September 2022 to now.

    Google trend data shows interest in navy blue kitchen cabinets stabilizing between September 2022 and September 2024 (present day at the time of the screenshot).

    This means while the “trend” may have peaked, there is still a good amount of people choosing navy for their kitchen. This seems to indicate that navy is actually a pretty classic choice for your kitchen.

    Two-toned kitchens specifically have been in style for a long looong time, and I don’t personally see the fashion dying entirely…probably ever!

    Basically, you can pick navy for your kitchen and not be participating in a fad.

    Choosing a Navy for Cabinets

    Which navy color is best for your kitchen will depend a lot on your lighting and space.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on an island with matching lower cabinets in the background and white uppers.
    Background photo by: @grcabinetpainting

    If you have a smaller kitchen and not a lot of light, you may want to pick a navy at the lighter end. Try to stick to an LRV around 8 – 10. (You may be able to push it a little lighter even, to an LRV of 12-13.) Darker navy colors may tend to look almost black.

    If you have loads of space and light, feel free to go as dark as you want!

    Hale Navy marked at 8.36 on a chart from 100 (true white) to 0 (true black) over a photo of Hale Navy on a kitchen island in a bright white space.
    Background: @creekside.designs

    For a kitchen, I recommend choosing a navy that isn’t too super saturated. The more neutral the color, the more classic it will be. Hale Navy is a great choice because it has a little helping of gray to it.

    Hale Navy brushstroke swatch

    For any navy paint color, the most popular kitchen use is on the island, followed by all other lower cabinets. It’s rare to see a kitchen in all navy, and you will only want to attempt that if you do have lots of light.

    Hale Navy on Real Life Kitchen Cabinets

    Let’s take a look at Hale Navy in some beautiful inspo kitchens!

    Hale Navy How it Most Often Looks on Cabinets

    First I want to go over a very “typical” look for Hale Navy. We can see that here in this kitchen by Creekside Designs (@creekside.designs).

    Hale Navy looking like a nice "stereotypical" navy color on a kitchen island with leather seated bar stools and white perimeter cabinets.
    Photo Credit: @creekside.designs

    On this island, Hale Navy looks like a nice true navy with a subtle cast of charcoal. Despite the fact that the photo is very bright, this is a very typical look for this color.

    Here is another kitchen where Hale Navy looks pretty predictable:

    Hale Navy lower cabinets and island with white uppers and white countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    Just to fully illustrate the look, here is Hale Navy on a nice big stretch of wall, where it also looks very typical:

    Hale navy living room walls with white door, trim, and wainscoting
    Photo Credit: @chromacustompainting

    You can get a good sense from that photo, of the full spectrum of Hale Navy from light to dark.

    Hale Navy Where it Looks the Darkest on Cabinets

    I happen to have a few kitchens where Hale Navy looks a bit darker, thanks to artificial light. Here is something in between normal Hale Navy and black:

    Hale Navy lower cabinets and island with white uppers and white countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    Here is the same kitchen where the glimpses of Hale Navy look even darker:

    Hale Navy lower cabinets and island with white uppers and white countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    Finally we have one slightly different angle where the color looks like a deep blue-charcoal.

    Hale Navy lower cabinets and island with white uppers and white countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    If you favor this particular look to Hale Navy, you might prefer Benjamin Moore Soot, which we will look at more in just a minute.

    Here is one more kitchen where Hale Navy looks quite charcoal, and not necessarily that blue at all:

    Unfinished kitchen with Hale Navy island and lower cabinets with white uppers
    Photo Credit: @heritagecabs

    Hale Navy Where it Looks More Gray on Kitchen Cabinets

    Because Hale Navy does have a bit more gray, it can occasionally look like a mix of gray and navy. (Gravy?)

    Closeup of Hale Navy cabinet with beige granite countertop
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    Bear in mind that this is another set of photos where the lighting is mostly artificial, so while it may not be the truest representation of the color, it might also be what you will see most of the time. (Depending on your own lighting.)

    Hale Navy Island with modern gas stove
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    I will add that the sheen on the island, in combination with the overhead lights, and the stone floors, is creating more of a reflection than you might see.

    Hale Navy Island with modern gas stove
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    Here is one more look at this kitchen where you can see the sliver of natural light on the island reveals its true color:

    White cabinets with hale navy island and beige stone floors and countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    Hale Navy’s Purple Undertone on Kitchen Cabinets

    It would be wrong to get through this whole post without letting you know that Hale Navy can have a slight purpley undertone. We can see that on these cabinets:

    Tall Hale Navy pantry where the color looks slightly more purple.
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    The undertone is subtle, and in my opinion the color stays navy. If you hate purple, this is something to note, and you may prefer something like Sherwin Williams Grays Harbor.

    Hale Navy When it Looks the Lightest and Brightest on Cabinets

    Here are a couple of photos from the same kitchen we saw first in this post, but where the brightness is cranked up a bit.

    Hale Navy on a kitchen island where it looks like a blue gray charcoal, with white perimeter cabinets.
    Photo Credit: @creekside.designs

    This is not a very typical look to Hale Navy, so try to imagine it darkened.

    Here is something in between the ultra-light, and the typical:

    Hale Navy on a kitchen island where it looks like a blue gray charcoal, with white perimeter cabinets.
    Photo Credit: @creekside.designs

    This is still more charcoal than you should expect. If you prefer this look, you will probably also prefer Sherwin Williams Peppercorn.

    Moving away from “lightest” and onto “brightest,” we have this bank of built in cabinets in a living room. It’s not a kitchen, but I wanted to show you this brighter look:

    A wall of built in cabinets painted in hale navy housing a tv in a media room.
    Photo Credit: @mldesignskc

    It’s definitely still navy, but a bit brighter than a typical look for Hale Navy.

    What Color Hardware Should You Use with Hale Navy Cabinets?

    For navy blue cabinets like Hale Navy, I recommend sticking to more cool toned metal hardware like silver or black.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on kitchen cabinets with silver and black hardware on top.

    Some shades of bronze or gold might also work, but I think in this case it is better to let the color of the cabinets be the showstopper.

    What Color Countertops Go Best with Hale Navy Cabinets?

    For counter tops with Hale Navy, I recommend keeping things light. Any white stone or stone look will help keep your kitchen bright.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on kitchen cabinets with white countertops and white subway tile

    Another solid counter option is butcher block. Butcher block is affordable, timeless, and works well with any color of cabinets. You can also get it in a variety of light shades.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy on kitchen cabinets with butcher block countertops

    Butcher block is also very popular for a contrasting island, which is where most people use Hale Navy in their kitchens.

    Other Navy Colors You Might Like for Cabinets (Hale Navy Alternatives)

    Not to be confused with dupes for Hale Navy (actual color matches), here are a few other cool and dark paint colors that you might like for your kitchen cabinets:

    Other good navy colors for kitchen cabinets including Naval, Soot, Cyberspace, and Cracked Pepper.

    Sherwin Williams Naval

    Naval is a slightly brighter alternative to Hale Navy. It’s not too in-your-face, but it doesn’t ever look charcoal like Hale Navy can.

    Nebulous white cabinet with SW Naval Island and black hardware.
    Photo Credit: @turquoisebydesign

    This is a good choice if you want your cabinets to look navy in all different lights.

    Benjamin Moore Soot

    Soot is pretty similar to Hale Navy, but it is darker and more gray. This color is great if you want a deep charcoal with a hint of blue, and not necessarily a true navy.

    Benjamin Moore soot on a kitchen island with camel colored leather barstools and white walls
    Photo Credit: @contourcabinets

    Behr Cracked Pepper

    Cracked Pepper is another charcoal option, but this color can have a shapeshifting undertone that flips between blue and green.

    Behr Cracked Pepper on a wall behind a butterfly chair
    Photo Credit: @maistyleforyou

    This is a great choice if you want a color that is unique to you and your kitchen. Fun Fact: Cracked Pepper was Behr’s color of the year for 2024.

    Sherwin Williams Cyberspace

    Cyberspace is a deep blue charcoal with a slightly more purple undertone than Hale Navy. This color can look anywhere between true charcoal, navy, and black.

    Cyberspace on a kitchen cabinet hutch
    Photo Credit: @thefinishingroommke

    This is a personal favorite of mine!

    Should You Choose Hale Navy for Your Kitchen Cabinets?

    Ultimately it is up to you if you want to choose a navy blue color for your cabinets, but if you do, I think Hale Navy should definitely be a contender! It is well known for acting almost like denim, and pairing well with pretty much any color you throw at it!

    For upper or perimeter cabinets with Hale Navy, you might like Benjamin Moore White Dove.

    Not sure yet? Here are some more great shades!

    Benjamin Moore Deep Royal Color Palette featuring Edgecomb Gray, White Dove, Kendall Charcoal, Carolina Gull, and Classic Gray
    Sherwin Williams Indigo Batik color palette features Indigo Batik, Accessible Beige, Stardew, Pure White, and Sparkling Sage all on paint lids over a background of Indigo Batik on kitchen cabinets.
    Color Palette for Sherwin Williams Black Pearl features Perle Noir, Shiitake, Original White, Oyster Bay, and Snowbound below a charcoal painted background, and 4 polaroids of Perle Noir inspired materials and two rooms using the color.