Olivia Munn's 'quiet luxury' cream kitchen cabinet color will continue to dominate our homes in 2024, say experts

Is there anything more suited to 2024 than a pale cream or beige color scheme? At a time when our happiness and health have seemed more important than ever, it's only right that we'd want to surround ourselves in shades that symbolize calm, serenity and tranquillity. 

This hasn't gone unnoticed by interior designers and decorators, who recognize the power of decorating with neutrals and have introduced it into their kitchen color ideas in a variety of smart and sophisticated ways. 

In actress Olivia Munn's neutral kitchen, the subtle cream kitchen cabinet color scheme is the star of this modern space. Classic, calming, and synonymous with nature, cream is a hue that keeps the peace.

The power of a beige color palette to add warmth and elegance to a kitchen should not be underestimated. Decorating with neutrals can create a feeling of seamless calm in a home.

However, the search for the ideal neutral is not as easy as it would initially appear. Pure whites can be too stark, while trying to warm it up means possibly staying into gray territory. Olivia Munn's magnolia color scheme is a beautiful middle ground. 

‘For a tranquil, low-key look keep to pale hues when designing a kitchen – like soft sandstone with chalky off-white,' says Judy Smith, color consultant, Crown. 

Interior designer James Thurstan Waterworth agrees: 'I gravitate towards natural palettes, and materials too, as for me they can bring a certain timelessness and longevity to design. 

Follow Olivia Munn's lead and team your neutral cabinetry with darker tones underfoot. Cocooning and surprisingly versatile, browns, in particular, are growing in popularity, and are wonderful when paired alongside magnolia and sand tones. Offering myriad warm hues that sit harmoniously together, this calm color palette is loved by designers for its ability to create relaxed, grounding spaces with enduring appeal. 

‘For me, neutrals such as cream, beige and sand are grounding cabinet colors,' says Henriette Von Stockhausen, creative director, of VSP Interiors. 'It’s important to remember that sometimes a classic interior is just the ticket: calm colors, gentle schemes, traditional furnishings – no pattern clashes, no huge color pops, just comfort and a quiet space to relax in.'

Shop the cream kitchen look