How To Choose The Best Cabinet Paint Color For A Laundry Room Refresh

A fresh coat of paint for your cabinets may be all it takes to give your laundry room the refreshing reset it needs, but choosing the right color is no easy feat. Laundry rooms are among the smallest rooms in the house and often lack natural sunlight. While light colors like off-white and light blue can make the room appear bigger and brighter, they may also make your laundry room seem dirtier by putting scratches and stains on full display. Dark colors like charcoal gray and earthy green can provide a stylish contrast to white tile floors and stainless steel appliances, but they will make a cramped laundry room feel even smaller.

Neutral colors are a popular choice for laundry rooms because of their timeless appeal, but there are many to choose from within that category. Warm neutrals evoke a cheerful atmosphere and cool tones inspire relaxation. The wrong shade could clash with other elements in the space and appear mismatched, which is why it's essential to consider your finishes, such as appliances, flooring, hardware, and countertops. Let's start the process of discovering the perfect cabinet color for your laundry room and identifying common mistakes to avoid when making your final decision.

To find the right cabinet color for your laundry room, the first step is to take note of its features, starting with the size. If your laundry room is small, then you will want to stick to paint shades that won't overwhelm a small laundry room, such as white, light gray, or pastel blue. In general, light tones evoke a feeling of cleanliness, which is definitely appropriate for the space where you wash your clothes. However, with that being said, white may not be the most practical choice if your laundry room is also a storage room for coats and boots. Instead, you may want to opt for beige, as it can better camouflage stains.

Another important factor to take into consideration is whether or not your laundry room has windows. If the space does not have any natural light, you can make your windowless laundry room brighter with your cabinet color. Cooler paint tones, such as pale gray and light blue, make dark rooms appear lighter and more spacious.

Other features to note are the fixtures and finishes. It's essential to create a complementary color palette or to apply contrasting colors with intention to give your laundry room a cohesive design. For example, if you have light-colored tile or hardwood floors, you may want to create a striking contrast with earthy green or taupe cabinets. Conversely, brighter cabinet shades will complement dark floors and stainless steel appliances.

Some people choose to go bold with their laundry room design with vibrant patterns and shades. However, if you plan to sell your home someday, this may do more harm than good. In an interview about laundry room additions that'll improve your resale value, interior design and real estate expert Chenise Hinds told House Digest that statement colors could make your home less sellable. "Neutral colors are a safe bet when it comes to selling, so avoid bold patterns in this room," said Hinds. Warm neutrals with red, yellow, or orange undertones will make your space feel more cheerful and inviting, whereas cool neutrals with gray and blue create a calm and relaxing atmosphere. 

Another common mistake is forgetting that durability is just as important as the color when it comes to cabinet paint. As high-touch surfaces, cabinets are prone to scratches, fingerprint marks, and discoloration. Further, low-quality paints tend to peel and flake off. It's important to be realistic when it comes to choosing paint colors for your space, knowing that there will likely be some level of maintenance involved to keep your cabinets in pristine shape.

It's worth spending the extra time and money on high-quality paint and durable finish. Paints with shiny finishes that reflect light tend to be more durable against scratches and scuff marks. For better protection against wear and tear, opt for eggshell, silk, satin, or gloss paint finish instead of matte.