Upper and base cabinets can match if you want them to. However, if you want to add variation to your space, they don't have to match. It's all about the appearance and mood you would like to achieve.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to whether or not your kitchen cabinets need to be symmetrical. It's a matter of personal preference and what will work best for your specific space. Whichever route you choose, just make sure that your kitchen is a reflection of your own personal style.
Contrasting the upper and lower cabinets is a great way to break up a boring kitchen, and, if done properly, it can even make the kitchen appear larger. Contrasting the island and cabinets is the more traditional of the two routes, but it too can have a massive visual impact on the space.
Two-Tone Kitchen Cabinet Ideas
Choose contrasting colors for upper and lower cabinets: Try differentiating your cabinet colors for each set of cabinets you install. For example, you could choose white for your upper cupboards while using a darker shade for the bottom ones, such as gray or black.
Though two-toned cabinets may not seem like an obvious choice, they're actually super popular with kitchen designers. This is because using different colors, finishes, or materials can help break up different sections visually.
Two-toned cabinetry is a popular trend for 2023. This trend allows you to mix and match different colours or finishes for a unique and personalized look.
Paint lower cabinets in the darker hue and uppers the lighter one. If you have distinct colors in mind, think about their brightness and lightness. Very bold colors (like vibrant orange) demand more visual energy and should be balanced with a more neutral hue.
Go with Light Colors
Light blues, greens, or pale yellows are other great colors to make your space look larger than life.
Two-Toned Cabinets
Two-toned cabinets are timeless and will not likely go out of style in the new year. It denotes any type of kitchen space with two different tints, and a combination takes several forms.
There are many reasons you might decide to use a mismatched cabinet design for your kitchen. This style reflects a free spirit approach to design. You can customize and personalize your kitchen to fit your personality and tastes. If you're on a tight budget, buying mismatched cabinets may be a good option.
At the end of the day, as long as you're not planning on listing your home any time soon, there are really no rules you must follow when it comes to cabinet transformations. Keep in mind your cabinets should complement each other and flow well with the rest of the decor throughout your home.
For those who are feeling bold, mixing and matching cabinets is also the ideal way to add instant drama to your kitchen remodel. Get really creative with not only mixing colors with woods for example, but also consider other materials, textures, or even styles.
Additional ways to create cohesion when designing with mismatched cabinets include giving all the cabinets the same distressed finish, using décor strategically, or lighting the space carefully. Ultimately, you can create a space that is both stylish and coordinated overall, even when elements don't match perfectly.
Cabinetry, countertops, and flooring are three major components of the style and color scheme in your kitchen. Properly matching cabinets, countertops, and flooring will not only give your kitchen a peaceful tone but also increase your home's aesthetic value.
Mixing and Matching Kitchen Cabinets
If your preferred style of kitchen is a fresher, more updated look, your kitchen cabinets don't have to match. The key to making sure that your kitchen still looks and feels cohesive is to have some level of consistency.
The two most timeless colors of all, are white, and black. No one can deny the appeal of bright white cabinets streaming across a kitchen, they lighten the entire room and give it an airy, refreshing ambience. Likewise, black cabinets are equally timeless.
Use lighter colors.
A light color on the walls and cabinets instantly brightens a space making it look larger and in turn, more expensive. Light colors reflect light and hide a multitude of sins, including those scratches, dings and dents in your old cabinets.
Most real estate agents will tell sellers that neutral colors will appeal to the widest audience. While white is a very popular color for kitchen cabinets, other neutrals like gray, black, and beige are also good. Stained wood cabinets have an appeal, especially if they are of high quality.
Bright white, off-white, soft white and cream will always be a popular choice for kitchen cabinets of every style, from ultra-modern to country cottages. The beauty of these laid-back neutrals is that they can be given a bespoke look with different worktop materials, brassware and wall colors.
Install a backsplash with strong horizontal lines, like shiplap or subway tile laid in a bond pattern. Those horizontal lines make the kitchen feel wider than it really is.
Benjamin Moore's Simply White
Many design experts swear that Simply White by Benjamin Moore is their go-to paint color for kitchen cabinetry. And we don't disagree, as this warm white can cozy up even the most sterile, cold kitchen layouts.
The larger the space, the more likely it is that a glossy finish will help reflect light and provide an overall brighter feel to the room. On the other hand, if your kitchen is on the smaller side, then matte paint can be a great choice to add some texture and depth to your cabinets.
Dark Wood Tones
In 2023 we will see a return to dark-stained wood cabinetry in the kitchen. In recent years, lighter tones like birch and white oak have been in vogue, but homeowners are now trending to deeper wood stains to lend a cozy, traditional vibe to their homes.
White kitchen cabinets have become the most popular paint color - and are loved for the bright, welcoming atmosphere they create.