One of the best ways to improve your kitchen is to invest not just in appliances and countertops but also in the cabinets. Cabinets do most of the organizing work in a kitchen. Imagine your kitchen without any, and it is easy to see how hard it would be to work in.
There are many things to consider as a homeowner when planning kitchen cabinets. For one, you need to decide between custom, semi-custom and stock cabinets. If your budget allows it, custom cabinets are worth a serious look.
Although they cost more, custom kitchen cabinets give you the most control. They add a personal character to your kitchen, and because they are made to order, you are not limited to a short list of standard colors.
There are many ways to customize a kitchen cabinet. One of the most effective is picking a color that ties the cabinets to the rest of the kitchen. With so many color options, it can be a challenge to find the shade that works with your space.
To make the decision easier, here are the kitchen cabinet colors that are most popular with kitchen contractors and homeowners alike, and why each is worth considering.
Natural Wood Look
You don’t necessarily need to paint your cabinets at all. A stain or a clear coat of varnish can be more than enough to make a kitchen look beautiful. This is why many people prefer natural wood kitchen cabinets to painted ones.
The natural wood look is tried and tested. It is most at home in traditional and transitional kitchens, although the right species and a simple door style can suit a contemporary kitchen as well.
A lot depends on the type of wood. Lighter woods give an airy, casual feel, while darker woods and stains look richer and more formal. Either way, a protective finish is necessary to give the wood the sheen and protection it needs in a kitchen.
Broadly, there are three tones of wood to choose from: light, medium and dark. Which is right depends on what you like and how your kitchen is styled. If you are undecided, a medium tone is a safe bet.
White Kitchen Cabinets
If you want a safe, proven option, white kitchen cabinets are hard to beat. Many homes have them because white is a neutral color that works with almost any modern or traditional kitchen. There are other benefits too.
For one, white cabinets make a kitchen feel bright and open. White catches the eye, but it does not take attention away from the rest of the kitchen. White fixtures are very common, so white cabinets blend with almost any style.
The main drawback is that white cabinets show dirt and can discolor over time. They are a better fit if you have the time to wipe down your cabinets regularly. If you can’t commit to that, you may end up with off-white cabinets sooner than you would like.
Black Kitchen Cabinets
If you want a modern look for your kitchen, black is a strong color choice. There was a time when few people wanted black kitchen cabinets, but tastes have changed and black is now among the popular kitchen cabinet ideas.
One upside of black cabinets is that they pair easily with other colors. Whatever scheme your kitchen has, black cabinets are likely to work with it, in a traditional or a modern home.
Dark cabinets also hide stains and scuffs well, although dust and fingerprints can show on very dark or glossy surfaces. Black is worth considering alongside your choice of kitchen countertop, since the contrast between the two does a lot for the room.
Bold Blue Cabinets
Blue has become a popular cabinet color as well. Solid colors used to be a hard sell with homeowners: they felt risky and were hard to match with the rest of the kitchen. Among solid colors, however, blue has started to take the spotlight.
Blue is a comparatively safe color because it complements many others. It is a particularly good match with white kitchen fixtures and finishes. It might seem like an unusual choice, but when it works, it works very well.
Darker shades such as navy and teal tend to be preferred over light shades like sky blue and powder blue. A matte finish is often recommended, as it makes the kitchen look clean and modern. If you are having a tough time picking a color, give blue some thought.
Two-Tone Cabinets
You don’t have to stick with one color for your kitchen cabinets. More homeowners are choosing two-tone cabinets instead. It is a great way to add accent and individuality to a kitchen, and it is worth considering for your own.
When combining two colors, it is best to pick one light shade and one dark shade. Black and white is a classic example. The result is a simple, handsome kitchen with a distinctive touch.
Alternatively, you can pick one dark color and make the second tone a couple of shades lighter than the first. This adds depth and personality to your cabinets. Two-tone cabinets might sound like an odd choice, but there is a good reason the look has become so popular.
Build Your Own Style
These are the most popular kitchen cabinet colors, but you don’t have to limit yourself to them. It is often better to build your own style from the ground up, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
With so many options, picking a kitchen cabinet color can feel intimidating. The right choice depends on many factors, including the style of your kitchen and the fixtures and finishes already in it. When in doubt, ask a designer to help you.
These colors have staying power. If you want kitchen cabinets that look current and attractive for years, they are a good place to start.
At the end of the day, the cabinet color you pick should be one you are happy and comfortable with. There’s no point in following a trend if you don’t like the result. Your home should be a place you enjoy through and through.