10 Popular Colored Stain for Cabinets in 2023

If your cabinets are in need of a refresh, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite colored stain for cabinets and how to style them in your own home.

Over the past few years, stained cabinetry has become more and more popular, especially among homeowners who prefer a more natural appearance that highlights the wood’s natural texture.

Keep reading, here are 10 popular cabinet stain colors for your reference.

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10 Popular Colored Stain for Cabinets

We have listed our favorite cabinet stain colors below.

Classic Chestnut Stain

This classic chestnut wood stain from The beauty of natural wood is really brought out by Michelle Lisac Interior Design. The bathroom is given a lot of texture by the attractive wood grain, which really stands out in this space.

We advise pairing with lighter hues like white or gray and keeping the rest of the space muted because this stain is so rich and the wood textures are so vibrant, allowing the cabinetry to truly take center stage.

Clear Stain for a Weathered Look

This cabinet stain idea from If you want to brighten your current dark brown wood cabinetry, the Dotted Bow is a great DIY.

A clear stain was applied to seal it after the original varnish was removed to give it a rustic appearance. Rather than a bigger project like a kitchen, we advise using this look on smaller ones (like this bathroom vanity), but it’s a great way to refresh a worn-out vanity.

Medium Gray Stain

This medium gray strain is a great option if you love neutral cabinets but don’t want to go for the painted look. It blends well with lighter countertops and is ideal for modern farmhouse kitchens.

In order to prevent the room from feeling too dark, you should steer clear of darker accents.

Gray and White

This spacious kitchen from Indiana Kitchen Company not only has lovely white painted kitchen cabinets, but the island also has a light gray stain, which adds some depth and gives the room a more rustic feel.

It’s a great way to add a contemporary aesthetic to the more conventional use of wood stains to pair a stain with a painted cabinet.

Blue Stain

Can’t make up your mind whether to paint or stain your cabinets? We adore this look by townandcountrykitchenandbath, which combines gorgeous white painted cabinetry with a unique blue stain on the island.

Without being too bold or clashing, this combination adds a pop of color. For someone who wants a little color but still wants a neutral appearance, the blue stain is a great option.

Blonde Wood Stain

A cabinet stain is a great way to achieve the popular Scandinavian minimalism in your own home.

The best way to create the appearance of unfinished wood is to use a blonde stain, as seen in this lovely kitchen from eyeforpretty. It’s an excellent substitute for a white kitchen and works well in both small and large spaces.

Dark Brown Stain

Even though white bathrooms and kitchens are becoming more and more popular, a deep brown stained cabinet still has its place in traditional and classic decor. A mahogany stain gives this bathroom vanity from Normandy Remodeling a rich, warm appearance.

Put your attention on lighter or cooler hues when working with stains this dark. A lighter color will produce a lovely contrast and a more neutral color palette, though dark hues can work with rich stains like these.

Grayish Green

Another gorgeous and distinctive kitchen with dark greenish-gray wall cabinets. This stain color is a fantastic neutral that makes it simple to incorporate other hues. Alternatively, you can keep the palette earth tone and neutral, as was done here, for a cozy and welcoming feel.

Natural Wood Stain

Check out this bathroom vanity from ourhamptonhouse if you prefer a more organic look. The distinctive wood grain can be seen through the medium brown stain, which gives the wood a textured appearance.

This stain is a versatile choice that works well with lighter or darker palettes, even though it is used here to complement the natural wood with shiplap and industrial accents.

Dark Gray

A nice alternative to a darker brown or a gray is this rich gray stain from the Indiana Kitchen Company. The color’s richness and depth add warmth to the environment.

With black or paler accents like light gray or beige, this stain looks fantastic. Here, a nice contrast is produced by the use of both black and white in conjunction with the deep gray.

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Final Words on Colored Stain for Cabinets

Staining your cabinets an unexpected color is a terrific way to put a custom touch on your kitchen cabinetry.

If you have some prior experience staining wood, this could be a good DIY project if custom-built and stained cabinetry is out of your price range. You can buy unfinished cabinets and stain them yourself or strip and refinish existing wood cabinetry.

But if you have any doubts about your stripping and staining skills, it’s definitely worth hiring a pro.

What Color Stain is Popular for Kitchen Cabinets?

For most kitchen cabinets, the stain color people love is the darker color cherry stain.

Can You Stain Cabinets a Color?

Using a different color stain—even as simple as going one shade darker or lighter—can give your kitchen, bathroom, or other rooms in your home the new, updated look you want.