White, blue, green, beige, gray –there are so many colors you can choose from! We know it’s pretty daunting, but picking the right kitchen cabinet color can make or break the look of your space. Different cabinet colors have their own pros and cons. Each one affects the vibe of your room in different ways. Some can make your space look bright and lively, while another can bring a moody and heavy atmosphere.
Don’t fret, though! We’re going to guide you through the process of choosing the right cabinet colors. There are various factors to consider such as style, room size, and even your own habits! Let’s get started.
Things to Consider When Choosing Kitchen Cabinet Colors
Your Kitchen Style
The first thing to look at when picking the right color is the style of your kitchen. Traditional styles, especially those with more intricate details and mouldings, call for a more subdued color palette. In such cases, you want the focus on those elements. This is why you’ll commonly see traditional style kitchens sporting white, beige, or natural wood cabinets. Loud colors with traditional detailing can clash and look too busy.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have the ultramodern and contemporary kitchen style. Such designs feature a clean and streamlined look, often with flat slab doors. Sometimes, they even do away with kitchen hardware. In such cases, loud and daring combinations can work –think bright red glossy cabinets, or black and yellow two toned kitchen cabinets.
That’s not to say that traditional looks can only go with neutrals or that contemporary styles need loud contrasting colors. Remember that styles are more of a spectrum than a defined list. It’s more a matter of how you combine the two elements of color and style together to form a cohesive look.
The Desired Mood
The colors of our environment also have an effect on our psychology –our mood. For example, shades of green, brown, beige, and other “earth colors” evoke feelings of calm, serenity, and relaxation. Bright warm colors like red, orange, and yellow are associated with intensity, energy, and excitement. On the other hand, darker blues, grays, and violets, can create a more sophisticated and dramatic interior.
Consider what kind of mood or vibe you want in your kitchen. Remember that this will be a space you’ll see and use every single day. It’s best to choose a mood and color that you’ll enjoy, and not just because it’s the latest cabinet color trend.
Kitchen Dimensions
Unless you’re doing a major renovation, you can’t just add or remove a wall to make your kitchen smaller or larger. As such, we also have to consider what effect our cabinet colors will have in relation to the overall size of the space.
Imagine a small galley kitchen. Since you’re already physically pressed for space, you probably don’t want to also feel cramped and confined. Choosing a lighter cabinet color can help with this. It helps make a room feel more open and spacious, and it’s great at bouncing light around. This results in a bright and airy atmosphere. You can use white, light beige, and pastel colors. You can even combine them for a two toned kitchen! Just make sure the lighter color goes on the upper cabinets, and not the other way around.
For those of you with larger kitchens, light colored cabinets can start to feel very cold or distant. Darker shades can help bring down our perceived size of a space, and make things feel closer than they really are. This creates a space that feels more intimate and personal.
Of course, those rules are not set in stone. Take a look at these two small galley kitchens below. The left photo shows the usual strategy with a kitchen of such a size –light colored floors, white cabinets, white walls, and a white ceiling. Compare this to the photo on the right. While the kitchen itself is small, it’s not fully enclosed. Because of this, the kitchen can have dark lavender cabinets, but not feel cramped and constrained.
Small Kitchens with Cabinets in Different Color Schemes by Wood & Co.
Other Colors in the Space
Your cabinets do not exist in a vacuum. While you may want to paint your cabinets in your favorite color and call it a day, it’s best to also consider the other colors in the space. Look at your walls, ceilings, floors, and even your preferred appliances. What colors are they? This is especially important if you’re renovating and you don’t want to totally replace everything in the room.
Let’s look at flooring as an example. Imagine you have a beautiful dark-stained walnut floor. You can choose white for your cabinets to create a strong contrast and really make your floors pop. If you want to capitalize on the warmth brought in by wood, why not also have walnut cabinets to match? Maybe you prefer a splash of color. If so, you can opt for a navy blue. This can just be a single accent kitchen island, combined with a lighter color for a two toned scheme, or having all your cabinets in navy blue.
It’s all about looking at the bigger picture and seeing what combination of colors will work best in your space.
Your Preferred Accessories
Are you the type that likes to accessorize? Do you like coordinating the color of your pot holders, kitchen towels, and curtains to match the season? If so, then choosing a neutral color palette for your kitchen cabinets will be ideal. Colors like white, light beige, or gray will grant you maximum flexibility to change up your décor. These colors will work well whether you want pastel blues for a beach-side summer vibe, or shades of brown and orange to match the autumn leaves.
Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash
Still Can’t Decide on a Color?
We won’t be surprised if you’re still stumped on what color your kitchen cabinets should be. It’s a tough choice to make, and it’s not something you can just easily change later on. There are few more things you can do to help come to a decision!
Look for Inspiration
These days, just about every combination of size, shape, color, and style of kitchen cabinets can be found online. Not sure what a navy blue cabinet would look with a butcher block countertop? Just plug that into your favorite search engine! This is especially useful if you’re thinking of more daring cabinet colors. It can really help you nail down what exact shade of color you want.
Go With Your Gut Feeling
If you’ve narrowed down your choices to about 2 or 3 colors, that’s when going with your gut feel may work out for you. If a friend’s telling you to go with beige, but olive green is your favorite color, then you’re likely going to be happier with green. Ultimately, you will be the one using your kitchen. Not your friends or relatives. Go with the color choice that makes you happier!
Hire a Designer
Like in most other fields, you’re likely to get the best results when you hire a specialist. Working with a designer, especially one you jive with, can achieve stunning results you might not have even imagined yourself! There are plenty of benefits when you choose to work with a professional.
They know the all the ins and outs of kitchen design. They’ll give provide insight on things like functionality, ease of use, finishing, and many more! A designer will make sure that not only does your space look good; it’ll also feel good to use.
Options, options, and more options. Because they’ve worked with plenty of other kitchens and interior spaces than you have, they can give you more ideas. They also have access to a wide array of material samples and color swatches so you can see things in person –way better than just a photo on Instagram!
Ready to start on your new kitchen cabinets? Then don’t hesitate to get in touch with Wood & Co. We are a cabinet maker in the New York City area, specializing in custom luxury cabinetry and handcrafted interiors. You can schedule a consultation with us and we’ll help you decide on the perfect color combination that goes with your home.
