White cabinets.

Everybody wants them.

A lot of people have them.

And most new(ish) houses come with them.

But you don’t have to have white cabinets to give the illusion of a bright and airy kitchen.

The key is balancing colors and contrast to make the room reflect light naturally.

As I dream of my new kitchen that we are ever so slowly updating, I thought I wanted white.

White cabinets, white counters, white backsplash, white walls.

It all seemed so clean and cheery.

But the more I browsed inspiration photos, the more I found myself drawn to actual colors.

And just like that, the stubborn me that never changes my mind, changed my mind.

So now I’m flip-flopping between these six beauties.

Taupe

I’m crushing hard on this look from B&Q’s Cooke & Lewis Carisbrook Taupe Finish at diy.com. Paired with wood countertops and a white subway tile backsplash, it’s so natural and cozy.

Navy

Lately I’ve been a little obsessed with navy blue. Maybe it’s just a phase, but I can’t help swoon over this kitchen remodeled by Allie Phillips and shared at The Blog Issue. She really made Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy look A-mazing!

Celedon Green

The epitome of a beach house. I live nowhere near a beach, but I wouldn’t mind creating a relaxing coastal feel in my kitchen with this gorgeous color featured in a Massachusetts home by Country Living.

Black

I know what you’re thinking. Bless her heart, this Lela girl has lost her mind. Black won’t make my kitchen bright at all! Hear me out though, because black and white is not only a classic and timeless look, but by bringing in natural light and white textured stone, this room designed by Jenny Siebert, featured on Callier & Thompson, is anything but dark.

Light Blue

Light blue cabinets like these featured in Better Homes and Garden’s magazine really take a farmhouse kitchen to a new level. They add such a pretty pop to an otherwise neutral space.

Jade Green

This bold green is a gorgeous compliment to white and gold. I love the pop of color it adds to this kitchen designed by Redo Home and Design and featured by Style Me Pretty.

But you all know me oh, so well. I’m a lover of all things gray, so I’m leaning towards a deep and hearty gray with lots of wood and white accents.

Or navy. Or blue. Or green. Or black. Or fuchsia.

Okay, maybe not fuchsia…

Let’s just agree that I’m not ready to pick a paint color just yet.

Have you stepped out of the wood or white cabinet color box? What colors do you love to see in the kitchen?