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As smooth as the name suggests, cream is the ultimate neutral, especially in home-décor speak. The soft hue is as timeless as white or gray but warmer, making it easier on the eyes and helping to make any space feel less stark and clinical. It also pairs effortlessly with any accent color or material, from brass finishes to dark woods—the sign of a truly great neutral.
Elegant off-whites, alabaster tones, ivory shades, and linen hues splattered across your cabinets can make even the largest and most light-starved kitchens look welcoming, yet, boast the ability to open up smaller spaces. Ahead, 20 cream kitchen ideas that will convince you to channel your softer side.
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Table of Contents
Modern Lines
Cream cabinetry may make you think of cottage-style or traditional designs, but this kitchen is proof you can boast a modern style with the soft shade. Keeping the design of your cabinet doors minimal is just the way to pull off the demure color in a more contemporary way.
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Marble Pairing
While stark white cabinets can sometimes throw off the color of marble countertops, a cream shade makes them pop. It has a way of making the white stone look brighter and the vein patterns jump off the surface. It’s a match made in cream kitchen heaven.
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Complementary Backsplash
One of our favorite ways to tie colors together in a kitchen is via a printed backsplash. This kitchen perfectly merges the cream color of the cabinets and the white from the walls with a diamond-patterned tile behind the stove.
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Off-White Color
If the thought of cream-colored cabinets brings visions of old-timey beige to mind, consider opting for barely-there off-white shades. A soft ivory tone will warm things up without looking outdated or dingy.
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Larger Than Life
Although we all wish we had more space, very large kitchens tend to feel cavernous, especially when they’re painted in a bright white shade of paint. A soft cream tone warms things up and makes the space feel less clinical and jarring.
Add other elements, like warm woods and greenery, to make this space feel even more inviting.
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Greige Cabinets
The perfect color marriage between grey and beige, greige is a creamy tone that boasts a cool undertone that’s, well, cool. Coordinating the shade with dark warm woods gives it a modern farmhouse feel that is utterly timeless. With a shade like this, you won’t feel the urge to repaint any time soon.
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Golden Undertones
A super warm and buttery, almost-gold tone of off-white is surprisingly much more versatile than it seems. It serves as the perfect backdrop for both warm and cool-toned additions. The slate-shaded marble looks right at home alongside the gilded accents, thanks to the cream-colored cabinets.
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Traditional Touches
There’s so much about this kitchen that screams traditional farmhouse in the best way. The Bellevue cabinets (characterized by beveled frames) paired with a combination of paneled and square tiles on the backsplash and topped off in a cream hue feels straight out of the countryside.
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Au Naturale
If boho touches like rattan and greenery are a favorite in your home, consider opting for a grayish cream tone. The cool undertone balances the warmer hues you likely gravitate to the most, striking a stunning pairing.
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Hot and Cold
The great thing about neutrals is they pair just as wonderfully together as they do with statement colors. If you can’t choose between a creamy warm tone or a soft cool shade, you can incorporate both for a striking look. We love how this kitchen pairs a linen tone on the island and a powder blue on the remaining cabinets. It feels bright and airy without feeling basic.
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Go For Gold
The best part about the warm undertones in creamy alabaster shades is they feel made for the fan-favorite brass fixtures. Go all out with the guided details, from faucets to drawer pulls and lighting fixtures.
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Window Shopping
If you’re looking to add some sparkle to this muted color, glass hutch doors on upper cabinets add tons of dimension and texture to a neutral color palette. Just be sure to keep the glass clean, as any smudges can be glaring in a light-colored setting.
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Magic Carpet Ride
Make the modest shade pop off your cabinets with the help of a vintage (or vintage-inspired) Turkish rug that boasts rich jewel tones and incorporates cream shades throughout. A single runner adds so much warmth to a space that often lacks soft textures.
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Two-Toned Cabinets
A take on business on top, party on the bottom, this two-toned paint job opens up this small kitchen. To recreate the look and create the illusion of a taller, more spacious kitchen, utilize the lighter color on the top and the darker on the bottom.
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On The Floor
If you plan to incorporate multiple colors into your cabinetry (like this kitchen that incorporates a creamy linen tone on the cabinets and a deep navy on the island), you’ll need something to tie both hues together. What better way to do this than with a printed tile that merges the colors? This gorgeous floor boasts tones of blue and cream, which set the tone perfectly for this duo.
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Silver Lining
While cream tones have a way of melding with gold accents, they look just as good paired with silver fixtures. A cooler-toned cream looks right at home with chrome drawer pulls, sink, and faucet.
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Blondes Have More Fun
We can’t think of a better flooring to pair with cream-toned cabinets than a warm blonde wood. Incorporate the soft-colored material throughout your kitchen design, via a coordinating pantry door, shelves, and additional accessories.
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Mixing Metals
A truly impactful neutral has the ability to merge a variety of materials together in a seamless and cohesive way. This kitchen incorporates brass handles and drawer pulls with a chrome range hood—and the result doesn’t feel the least bit ill-defined. Cream tones are perfect for dwellers who love fusing different styles together.
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Monochromatic Range Hood
If you prefer a more custom look, opt for a custom paintable range hood. You can pair it to your cabinets’ style and color so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
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Pair Your Cookware
What’s chicer than a black and cream-colored kitchen? Matching appliances and cookware. We love how this luxe space does the extra mile to show some added flair via matching cream-colored pots.