Should Cabinets Be Lighter Or Darker Than Walls?
Renovating a kitchen can be a really fun job if you know exactly what to do and how you want the end result to look.
But along the way, you might find yourself stuck you’re unsure of something or you have to make a few extra decisions.
If one of these questions includes knowing if kitchen cabinets need to be lighter or dark than the walls, here’s a quick answer:
There’s no rule that states cabinets need to be lighter or darker than walls or that they have to match it but depends more so on what kind of effect or mood you’re going for. Light colors can make a space feel bright, clean, and timeless while darker colors can make a strong statement that instantly grabs attention.
If you’d like to explore this topic in greater detail, I’ve put together a simple guide that will help you decide if a light or darker color will be better suited for your kitchen decor.
Later on, you’ll also discover tips on choosing a specific color and a list of the best colors for kitchen cabinets.
Table of Contents
How To Decide On A Color
Here are the main tips you can use to decide if you should choose a color that is lighter or darker than the walls:
Light Colors
One can never go wrong with choosing a lighter color for the cabinets than walls.
The main aspect of lighter kitchen cabinets is that they easily make a room feel and look brighter. It also has a classic and timeless look that is visually appealing.
They are trendy and modern which makes any decor look fashionable, clean, and open which most kitchen interiors aim to achieve.
If you want that sense of space and openness, lighter color cabinets can definitely do this.
Another positive to light colors is that they are relatively easy to match so you won’t have to be concerned about any other problem when it comes to matching colors to the walls or the rest of your decor.
Dark Colors
If you want your kitchen cabinets to draw attention and stand out, choosing a darker shade for the cabinets will do just that.
Darker colors are known to be bold and strong. They can create this interesting mood and vibe that instantly gives off a captivating and dramatic statement.
However, if you have dark walls and you choose to use the same dark color for the cabinets, you might want to pay close attention to make sure these cabinets do not just blend in, to the point they become unnoticed.
But if you have light-colored walls, using a darker color for the cabinets can create a nice, strong contrast that will make your kitchen interior look even better.
Intent
It may not be easy to decide immediately on the exact color or whether cabinets should be lighter or darker than walls, but you can look at a few other factors that will help you come to the right decision.
For instance, take a look at the intent. Here are a few questions you can consider:
- What kind of statement do you want your kitchen decor to have?
- Is there a particular color scheme you would like to incorporate that blends both light and dark colors together?
- Or would you like to create a timeless kitchen that will never go out of style?
- What kind of mood or aesthetic do you want to have with your chosen color scheme?
Colors can play a huge role when it comes to mood. Mainly, they can enhance the way you feel and influence the atmosphere of the room.
Figuring out the answers to any of these questions will help you decide which option will be better suited for your kitchen since every kitchen interior will differ from home to home.
Type of Surface
The surfaces and finishes of cabinets will also matter when it comes to color. They do play a role in the effect that it has on the entire look of the kitchen decor.
Let’s take a quick look at what this entails:
Wood
If you are planning to use a natural wood finish cabinet, you’ll have to choose between a light or darker finish.
Certain wall colors might do better with lighter wooden finishes compared to those with darker wood finishes.
If you take a closer look at the kitchen above, you’ll notice that this darker wood finish blends in perfectly with the white marble walls and countertop.
With light walls, you may use any type and color of wood finish and this will create a beautiful result.
Matte
Matte surface cabinets are great if you’re not fond of having a shiny gloss surface. It’s also in keeping with a more modern and trendy decor style.
If your kitchen decor is mainly decorated in a traditional or farmhouse style, it might be better not to have a matte finish for the cabinets unless your aim is to incorporate a few modern elements into the design.
Gloss
A shiny surface like gloss finish cabinets can really make most colors stand out. It also gives a nice finish to the overall decor creating this expensive and classy look.
Best Cabinet Colors
By now you might be wondering which are the best colors to use for kitchen cabinets.
Here’s a quick list of the most popular options that are known to look amazing in just about any decor.
But first, you’ll have to decide if this color will go well with the overall color scheme and if not, you may want to have a second option in mind.
White
A color that is timeless and versatile, having white cabinets will match literally any decor. It won’t matter if the walls are a darker shade or not, the color white will create that feeling of elegance and class, adding brightness to the space.
Beige
This color tends to look nice in most kitchen decors and it’s generally the perfect shade that goes with light or dark walls. It also can be used with a variety of similar matching colors or contrasting colors.
Brown
Although brown is more of a traditional cabinet color, you will find plenty of kitchen designs that still make use of it for a good reason.
The great thing about brown is that you’ll find a variety of shades from light to dark that you can use to match the rest of your decor.
Grey
Another timeless color that won’t go out of style where you probably won’t ever need to change your kitchen decor for years is the color grey.
This color will make any kitchen decor look classy and modern.
Depending on the color of the walls, you have the option of choosing any shade of grey for the cabinets but usually, the best color combination is light walls + dark grey cabinets.
Blue
For a bold color that will make your kitchen pop, you can use the color blue.
Dark blues, like navy blue, are especially great for kitchens that are mainly painted in really light colors like white or grey.
This can easily create a strong statement and add interest to your decor.
Natural Wood
Another great color for kitchen cabinets is the natural wood finish.
Many kitchen cabinets sold range from light to dark and the great thing about wooden cabinets is that you don’t necessarily have to pay much attention to the exact wall color.
These cabinets tend to go pretty well with any color, especially the light-colored cabinets.
Related Post: What Color Cabinets Go With Black Countertops?
Should Your Cabinets And Wall Color Match?
If you would like your kitchen cabinets and walls to create an effortlessly beautiful look, it will depend on whether those certain shades or colors complement each other.
Matching cabinet and wall colors do offer a sense of unity and an overall cohesive design.
It’s also much easier to choose colors that match and go well together than it is to match contrasting colors as this can be tricky at times.
But contrasting colors do have their appeal and taking the chance to try this out can be more worth it in the end.
Therefore, it’s not really necessary for the color of the cabinet and walls to match.
In fact, there are so many decors that benefit from having white walls paired with a bold, contrasting color like a dark blue.
These two colors do not match in terms of the same color or value yet when used together, it creates an interesting and dynamic kitchen decor.
As long as the colors you choose to use will complement each other and not clash, it’s definitely okay to not have a matching wall and cabinet color.
Final Thoughts
To sum things up, whether cabinets should be lighter or darker than walls really depends on the color scheme and intent in mind.
But you can definitely break things up by going with lighter cabinets + dark walls, or dark cabinets + light walls.
Alternatively, you can keep things safe by sticking with a close-range of shades of a particular color that will still help you achieve your desired effect.
Related Posts:
What Color Walls Go With White Cabinets? (8 Best Colors)
What Color Knobs For White Cabinets? (& Tips On How To Choose)
