IN THIS BLOG…
No element transforms a kitchen quite like the color of its cabinets. It affects a wide variety of things — including the mood, the resale value of your house, and even how often you’ll have to clean — so it’s worth taking ample time to choose what is perhaps the single most important color in your home.
Start off by weighing the following:
Here’s a guide to some of the moods popular cabinet colors evoke:
White kitchen cabinets have become the most popular paint color – and are loved for the bright, welcoming atmosphere they create. They also produce a calming effect, which is perfect for the room where you begin your day. Additionally, white cabinets are effective at making smaller kitchens feel bigger.
If you are planning to select white cabinets, it will give you the opportunity to add flourishes of color to other parts of your kitchen. You can add personality with colorful appliances and elegance with glass cabinets featuring fancy tableware.
In addition to white, gray cabinets are another popular cabinetry color. Gray is a unique color in that it is neutral but can also bring warmth to a room – which is the perfect combination in a kitchen.
Gray stains and paints are beloved by homeowners since the neutral color allows for creative license in other areas of the kitchen.
As the majority of kitchens feature mostly lighter colors, black can help you achieve a striking contrast.
Keep in mind “black” doesn’t necessarily mean pitch black — for example, our Wolf Designer cabinetry line offers a variety of black finishes. The colors of the rest of your kitchen — and how much you want your cabinets to stand out — will largely determine which shade of black will work best for your cabinets.
Black works particularly well with angular cabinet designs. A lighter black can suit more traditional cabinets as well, especially if your walls and countertops use lighter tones.
Blue cabinetry is an emerging trend in the kitchen and bath industry. Designers and homeowners alike are opting to add fun, unique colors to transform kitchens.
Darker blues will add a touch of elegance to a room, but in some cases, these stronger colors will need to be used sparingly to prevent the space from seeming too busy or crowded. Lighter blues, on the other hand, are a great way to add warmth, especially in a smaller kitchen.
Choosing a shade with bright undertones can work in a room that has lots of natural sunlight. Stick to cooler colors if you rely heavily on artificial lighting.
At the end of the day, there are really no rules to follow when selecting a cabinetry color – you can even choose to paint your cabinets the color of your favorite t-shirt! For example, Wolf Designer cabinets offer a custom paint option that allows homeowners to select any color to reflect their individual style. From a bright and sunny color yellow to light lime, which is simultaneously bright and soothing, even intense red cabinets common in mode or “mode retro” kitchens, colors can be used as a unique and fun design element.
When choosing a bright color, remember there are a lot of shades to choose from. Don’t shy away from picking a bolder shade. Brilliantly bright colors are becoming more common in kitchens these days.
If you’re having a lot of trouble deciding on a color, remember you don’t have to choose just one.
Two-toned cabinets are a great option for homeowners who want to make their kitchens more visually interesting. These cabinets allow you to work with more colors and bring out certain strengths in your kitchen.
Two-toned cabinets are popular ways to create a focal point in your kitchen. A common example is when homeowners choose island cabinets in a complementary or contrasting color from the rest of the cabinets.
Another popular use of this idea is selecting different top and bottom cabinet finishes. You can ground the lower cabinets by selecting a darker shade, or you can create a cozier environment by using dark cabinets on the bottom and light ones on top, which “pulls the ceiling down.”
While you’re searching for a color for your cabinets, you should also give some thought to whether you want painted or stained cabinetry. We’ll cover the advantages of each option.
One benefit paint provides is a sense of crispness. Stained wood has a lot of character marks so if you prefer a smoother, more flawless look, painted cabinets are probably the better choice for your kitchen.
Paints stick to the surface of the wood and don’t get lost in the grains and knots like stains do, so they’re better at displaying the exact hue you have chosen. If you plan on using really customized colors — like a bright blue — paint will do a better job of showcasing these hues.
One charming feature of stained cabinets is that they highlight the natural character of your wood. Wood grains provide an interesting texture that adds visual interest to your space. Because the stain seeps into the wood, it enhances its natural beauty.
Many homeowners enjoy stained cabinets because staining allows knots, grains, color inconsistencies, and other features of the wood to show, which adds character to your kitchen.
While you can select any color you want, it’s also important to be thinking about whether light or dark kitchen cabinets make sense in your home. Here are benefits of each side to consider.
Some benefits of going with lighter shades include:
Darker cabinets also have their share of advantages:
As working with darker cabinet colors is notoriously tricky, here are some tips to guide you through the process.
With unlimited paint and stain options, there are literally hundreds of dark shades to choose from. Although black and gray are the first dark colors that come to most people’s minds, you can find dark hues of practically any color.
If you want your kitchen to feel luxurious, black and gray are the best options. If you have brown flooring, dark brown and red cabinets work particularly well. Less common colors like dark green can give your kitchen a unique look. Dark yellow gives you both the excitement of bright colors and the calming effect of darker colors.
The most important thing to figure out is which color will work with the rest of your kitchen and help achieve the overall look you’re going for. While all dark colors have a calming effect, each dark shade has a unique impact and feel of a kitchen.
When choosing a dark color for your kitchen cabinets, it is crucial to know how to put them together with other colors and textures. That will ultimately determine how good your kitchen looks. Here are some helpful tips for mixing and matching with dark cabinet colors.
Follow these tips to add dimension and texture to your kitchen’s design with light-colored countertops and cabinetry.
Green, white, yellow, gray and blue are excellent light colors for your cabinets:
Each of these colors comes in various shades to complement your whole home.
As you determine how to use light-colored kitchen cabinets in your home, remember the following tips:
Light-colored cabinets can make a small room look more spacious, but you can use other tricks to add space to your kitchen. Explore how each color type affects a small kitchen.
White and other light colors reflect the natural light from your windows, visually push back walls and make a small room appear bigger. Colors such as light blue or gray are attractive and inviting. When you use a light color as a focal point in the kitchen, such as your cabinets, you establish a complete design that draws the eye outward.
Add texture and accent colors to your kitchen’s design, so the room feels brighter and has more space and dimension.
Even though light colors work better in small kitchens, you can still use dark cabinets. Dark colors tend to dominate a space, making it feel cramped. To make the room feel brighter and more inviting, balance darker cabinets with lighter colors throughout the rest of your kitchen. Create an aesthetically pleasing contrast with white or light colors with your dark cabinets.
Pair white or dark cabinets with the following countertops to bring your kitchen’s whole design together.
Consider the following combinations for dark cabinets and countertops:
Consider these color combinations for your light cabinets and countertops:
Our last and perhaps most important tip to choosing a kitchen cabinet color is to select colors you love and can live with. Regardless of what’s trending or traditionally popular, you are the one who will be looking at your cabinets every day. For that reason, it’s best to go with colors that represent you and make you feel at home.
Searching for your favorite colors, however, can be a daunting task. If you’re having trouble settling on the perfect hues, count on an experienced Wolf Home Products independent dealer to lend a helping hand.
