Although white reigns as the main color in the kitchen, regular Over the years, gray has also been a timeless color, adding depth and interest without being too bold. Its earthy, moody sensibilities create a calming, striking color that wraps around your cooking space. Whether you're looking for the perfect gray paint color, gorgeous marble countertops, stylish tile, or just a few gray accents, check out these gray kitchen ideas. It's sure to inspire your next cooking space upgrade.
1. Pair with mid-mode colors.
This Chicago dining room shows how well gray pairs with bolder, brighter colors, especially colors like teal and mustard yellow that tend to give off a midcentury modern vibe. It's a neutral backdrop that reduces visual clutter in your space and makes your eclectic table pop like crazy.
2. Always add greenery for a beautiful contrast.
The green color stands out beautifully against the classic gray and white tiled background in this Boston kitchen. Picture a field full of gorgeous green trees on a gloomy gray day.
3. Creates an elegant beauty.
A dark and brooding atmosphere is the overall feel of this stunning Swedish kitchen, which incorporates a monochromatic cabinetry and backsplash combination (the trick of using kitchen cabinets the same color as the walls is always a success). I love how the wooden cutting board stands out against the dark gray background.
4. Pair gray, black, and white for a bold look.
The retro black and white checkered flooring pairs perfectly with the gray cabinetry in this Michigan kitchen. A great combination of boldness and neutrality that won't overwhelm this relatively small kitchen.
5. Gray pairs perfectly with pink.
We love everything about this gray and pink Swedish kitchen. A beautiful pink vase and pink rug stand out against the barely-there pink paint on the walls, and the gray cabinets serve as a gorgeous base tone.
6. Use tiles in unexpected places.
We love how designer Tamara Day added a tile backsplash to make these drool-worthy kitchen cabinets even more beautiful. For color lovers, this is a great way to balance out your kitchen while creating a unique layered space.
7. Go all out with moody neutral colors.
Designer Autumn Dawn Pochiro of Autumn Dawn Design says gray is a highly underrated color, and we often don't even realize its power until we incorporate it into the stylistic drama of a room. Here, the designer used gray throughout the kitchen, creating a sophisticated and warm cooking space balanced with brown.
8. Go beyond marble countertops.
This kitchen, designed by Sarah Bartholomew, shows how subtle marble can be when used throughout a kitchen. Here, it frames a bright window and acts as a backsplash that brings elegance to this attractive and comfortable kitchen.
This neutral kitchen isn't drab and forgettable thanks to these killer tiles. This gorgeous New York cooking space designed by Young Huh strikes the perfect balance of practical elegance.
10. For more drama, choose darker shades.
Designer Alexandra Köhler proves that with just the right shade of gray, you don't need much more to make your kitchen feel rich and moody. This color always shines with acrylic chairs and pendants.
Similar to what we saw in the light-drenched kitchen of a San Francisco home, dark gray walls create a rich contrast with simple white cabinetry and woodwork, while also allowing silver fixtures to shine.
12. Consider a square tile.
Don't like gray walls? No problem. Gray square tiles create an equally elegant kitchen scene and double as a backsplash, as seen in this Illinois home.
13. Add an accent to your sophisticated kitchen.
Dark gray-painted cabinets add depth and dimension to a high-ceilinged, white-walled kitchen like the one found in Katie Day's eclectic Australian home.
Never underestimate the power of a little grayscale in your kitchen. Chelsea took a cue from her Ellis and dressed up her kitchen island with a display of grayscale mosaic tiles and art in an all-white kitchen, just as she did in her Australian residence. Let's add subtle expressions that are specific.
15. Activate neutral spaces.
A glossy gray backsplash, like the one found in this New York City apartment, enlivens a compact kitchen with plain white cabinets and dark floors without straying from an industrial color palette.
16. Paint the cabinet under the sink.
In an all-white kitchen, a touch of light gray paint can go a long way. Case in point: the minimalist kitchen in this Pennsylvania home. The pale gray cabinet under the sink brings a pop of character to the whitewashed space.
Gray-colored cabinets work wonders to tame a patterned backsplash, like the one found on a home in Massachusetts. Butcher block countertops can also help neutralize a space while adding texture and visual interest.
Chic brown-gray cabinets warm up a monochrome kitchen palette without sacrificing the industrial feel, as seen in this super cool Chicago loft.
19. Draw from similar tones.
Light gray cabinetry, like the one found in this charming Silver Lake bungalow, balances the cool tones of white subway tile and pale teal walls to create a warm and inviting cooking space.
20. Upgrade your small galley kitchen.
Painting your kitchen cabinets gray can add drama to a small kitchen without overwhelming the space, as we saw in this renovated home in Pennsylvania.
21. Utilize unfinished floors for a modern, relaxed look.
Gray concrete floors create a casual, stylish feel in a modern kitchen, similar to the one found in this Austin home.
22. Make the most of a small kitchen.
Dark gray floors, like those seen in this New York City studio apartment, add depth and drama to a small kitchen without overpowering the neutral space.
23. Update your floors affordably.
As seen in this London apartment, smooth gray rubber flooring provides a sophisticated (and affordable) alternative to concrete floors in contemporary kitchens.
The pale gray floor tiles found in this London home incorporate the tone of the dark gray cabinetry and light gray painted kitchen walls.
25. Use lots of textures.
Light gray floors, like this one in this San Francisco rental, complement the gray veined marble backsplash and gray cabinetry.
26. Color block your entire kitchen.
Gray-painted cabinets create an eye-catching scene in a black-and-white kitchen, as seen in this Kansas City home.
Nothing brightens up a gray kitchen palette faster than a few cheerful houseplants. Follow in Jennifer Biswas's footsteps and place some pretty plants around your gray kitchen cabinets like she did in her home in Minnesota.
As seen in Australian homes, natural wood floating shelves complement the warm tones of gray kitchen cabinets while providing additional storage space.
29. Try a statement light fixture.
30. Go to the hood vent.
The kitchen range hood is a sophisticated focal point in this chic and airy kitchen designed by Alexandra Köhler. The range hood is painted to match the island and lower cabinetry for a seamless, thoughtful feel.
